Beoan, or Dabheoc (October 26th or 28th), of Glen Geirg, who flourished about A.D. 610, and is quite different from Dabheoc, or Beoan, son of Brychin, the Cambrian. In the Naemsencus Leabhar Breac occurs— "Dabedg glindi geirg tra Mc Dicon for mċ Trichim.” In Father O'Hanlon's most learned and invaluable work, Lives of the Irish Saints (vol. 1., No. 1), the parentage of the Cambrian Dabheoc is thus given :-" St. Dabeog was the son of Brecan, or Bracan, who ruled over a territory in Wales, formerly denominated Brechonia, or Brechinia. The parents of Bracan were his father Bracha, or Bracmeoc, an Irish-born prince, and Marcella, a noble British lady." Father Shearman thinks it must have been the Cambrian Dabeog, who predicted the birth of St. Columba, who was born December 7th, 521. This St. Dabheoc may have been likewise at Lough Derg, though the 7th century Dabheoc is more likely to be the patron of it. The prediction regarding St. Columba is thus narrated by Father O'Hanlon, in his Life of St. Dabheoc, already referred to. He says: "When St. Dabheoc had here" (at Lough Derg, probably), "protracted his vigils to a late hour one night, in company with his clerics, a wonderful brightness appeared towards the northern part of the horizon. The clerics asked their master what it portended. In that direction, whence you have seen the brilliant illumination,' said Dabeog, 'the Lord himself, at a future time, shall light a shining lamp, which, by its brightness, must miraculously glorify the Church of Christ. This shall be Columba, the son of Feidlimid, son of Fergus, and whose mother will be Ethnea. For learning he shall be distinguished; in body and soul shall he be chaste; and he shall possess the gifts of prophecy.'" Father Shearman adds that "Bioc of Glen-geirg, is perhaps, the same as Beon, Bishop of Tamlact McNainn (not identified), and loċ brictenn (Loughbrickland(?).” That St. Dabheoc, patron of Lough Derg, came to that lonely island, long known as St. Dabheoc's Island, towards the close of the sixth, or beginning of the seventh century, seems certain. To the austerities practised by this saint, Cummian of Connor refers in a poem on the characteristic virtues of the Irish saints, which is given, with its English version, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, edited by the late Rev. Mathew Kelly, D.D., of Maynooth College. The stanza on St. Dabheoc runs thus : Mobheog,* the gifted, loved, According to the synod of the learned, That often in bowing his head, He plunged it under water." Now it is worthy of remark that the aforesaid penitential act for many centuries was practised at this pilgrimage; and even yet it continues to be observed by some in a modified way. Such force, we may well say, has the continuance of a pious usage in the transmission of historical facts. After St. Patrick, St. Dabheoc was the special patron of this pilgrimage. There were three festivals annually observed at Lough Derg in his honour, on the 1st of January, on the 24th of July, and on the 16th of December. These three festivals noted three important events in his life. The first may have been his dies natalis; the second the anniversary of his installation as abbot; and the third his dies obitus. These festivals appear to have been kept in Colgan's time; but for many years past they have not been observed. At the present day, indeed, the only one of these festivals which might be observed is that of the 24th of July, as, during the occurrence of the others, the station is closed. We have already seen that the site of the monastery, founded here by St. Dabheoc, is marked by the old us, which is still discernible on Saints' Island. The name of St. Dabheoc is perpetuated in the town * Mobheoc is the same as Dabheoc; mo and do being prefixes denoting affection. land denomination of Seeavoc (suidhe dabheog), which means St. Dabheoc's seat, which stone seat is still to be seen there, much the same as in the days of the saint. The "Seat" lies in an out-of-the-way place, and the way towards it is difficult and precipitous. After sailing from the Ferry-house towards the south-western expansion of the lake, the visitor will perceive a little quay, or landingplace, nearly midway between St. Brigid's Chair and Portcreevy. Taking a direct line from this point straight up the mountain side, he will reach, after proceeding about one hundred perches, a carn-shaped eminence, on the very summit of the mountain. Here a stone seat is certainly to be seen, with a grave-like opening immediately in front of it, measuring about three feet deep, and between four and five feet in length. In this "cave" one could kneel with some difficulty. Its sides were built with stone flags, which, after the lapse of so many centuries, must have slided in, thus leaving the enclosed space at present so confined. It is pretty clear that a covering of some sort must have originally protected this seat and cave from the storms, which, at this elevation, are occasionally somewhat alarming. Sitting on this "Seat" the lake is entirely in the background, and nothing meets the view but a long stretch of mountain, running south towards Pettigoe, and the valley through which ran the ancient roadway to Saints' Island. Standing however in the "cave," and looking towards the north, a full view of Lough Derg meets the eye; and I must confess that a better standpoint could hardly be gained for obtaining a "bird's-eye view" of this most interesting locality. The best view of the mound, on the summit of which the seat is located, can be obtained as you ascend more than midway from the lake towards it. It is evidently artificial, and was raised by heaping together the heath and sods of the mountain. At the time this "seat" was constructed, the habitations of the Irish were very rude. Cave-like and beehive shaped edifices (remains of which may still be seen along the western coast of Ireland), were more patriæ availed of at this period of transition, having their prototypes in the Pagan period of our country. And hence, the very formation of this "seat," and its archaic character, are the |