priests, and served in the choir of the cathedral of Armagh; their president was called the prior of the college of the Culdei, and was as a precentor to the said church; upon a vacancy a prior was elected by the whole college of the Culdei, but he received his confirmation from the archbishop.

A.D. 779. Died Kernach, called the prior of Armagh; he seems to have been brother to St. Feardachrich, the abbot of the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul, who died in the year 768.z

863. Died the prior Kethernach, the son of Farnech.a

919. On the 10th of November, Godfred Hua Himhair, King of the Danes of Dublin, plundered this town, but he spared the college of the Colidei.b

982. Died the prior Muredach, he was the son of Muregan.c

1001. Died the prior Trener.d

1052. Died the prior Gilda Patrick, he was the son of Domnald.e

1063. Died the prior Madagan Hua Kelechain.a

1089. Died the prior Gilda Patrich Hua Kelechain."

By an inquisition taken in the 33rd year of King Henry VIII., it appears that this house was called the priory of the Colidei of Armagh, and that the religious therein were incorporated by the name of the prior and Colidei of Armagh; that the prior was then seized of seven ballybocs or townlands in the county, viz., Cannadisse, Lisleagh, Ennogsegurt, Aghavillic, Lisvonnowe, Killenure, and Maghocarrell.

was generally beneficed, and there exists in primate Mey's register an account of a decision of the year 1448, to the effect that the priory of the Colidei, being a simple office, and without cure, was not incompatible with a benefice.

Within the precincts of the priory, an hall, unum magnum, atrium, Anglicè, a great backside, and a messuage built therein, and another backside and messuage.h

By another inquisition, taken March 24th, 1625, it appears that the prior, with his brethren, had totally forsaken the priory, and were all dead about twenty-five years before the holding of this inquisition; that Sir Toby Caulfield, Lord Charlemount, had, about the year 1620 received, as seneschal to Henry, then archbishop of Armagh, the rents of the said Ballyboes, and that John Symons, clerk, had, from the feast of All Saints, 1623, to the day of the taking of this inquisition, received the profits of the said ballyboes, and of the tenements in the town of Armagh; that the rent of the seven townlands was £46, and that Symons had expended part thereof in erecting some stalls in the choir of the cathedral.i 3

King, p. 133. King, p. 134.

37

37 In 1619, August 1st, there was a royal letter to grant these lands for a choir at Armagh. On 7th April, 1627, King Charles granted a charter founding the college of King Charles in the cathedral church of Armagh; and this body of vicars choral adopted the old name and called themselves Collideans. In 1634, a new charter was granted to remedy some defects in the former one; and, in 1722, George I. issued a supplemental charter in their favour. The vicar's holdings in the city of Armagh represent the original site of the old Culdee priory. They are near the cathedral ground on the south-east.

Temple Brigid's is said to have been founded in this town by St. Patrick.k

Temple Fartagh,39 or the church of the Miracles, was founded without the town by the same saint, for St. Lupita, his eldest sister, who was buried here; and in the beginning of the last century, her body was found buried deeply under the rubbish of her ancient nunnery, in a standing posture; two crosses were also discovered closely guarding the body before and behind.m

January 9, 1618, King James granted the monasteries of Temple Fartagh, and Temple Breed, to Francis Annesley, Esq.

n

Dominican Friary.40 Porter, in his annals tells us, that there was one at Armagh; which is more than probable, otherwise the primate Scanlain, who was of that order, would not have made his foundation for the friars minor."

* War. Mon. vol. ii. p. 274 n.

Usher. Tr. Th. p. 19. War. Mon. m Vard. p. 184. "Lodge,
Burke, p. 339.

38 This little abbey church of St. Brigid is a very ancient foundation. It stood outside the rath, and quite close to the site of the present Catholic church. The "Annals of Ulster" and the "Four Masters," at 1085, record the death of Gormgael Loighseagh, coarb of the Regles Brighde at Armagh. In 1179 the "Annals" record a wide-spread conflagration which spared the church of St. Brigid, though it consumed the greater part of the city. In 1189, Armagh was burned from St. Brigid's cross to the Regles Brighde. At the time of the dissolution of religious houses St. Brigid's was a nunnery, and in inquisitions and patents it is always coupled with Temple-Fertagh. An inquisition of 1612 finds that it was a nunnery, and that after the dissolution it was occupied by a certain singer who resided in said monastery, place, or house called Templebreed. (Ul. Inq. Armagh, No. 3, Jac. 1.) In 1616, it was granted to Francis Edgeworth, assignee of John Eyres. In 1619, it was passed by patent to Sir Francis Annesley, in whose family, as Earls of Anglesey, it was transmitted, till in 1799 the assignment of a lease was converted into a fee by Leonard Dobbin.

39 Na Ferta, or the graves, was the first spot granted by Daire to St. Patrick on his arrival in Armagh, and was the site of the first church there erected by the saint. The word Ferta of itself signifies sepulchres or miracles; but that it has the former meaning here is plain from a passage in the "Book of Armagh." Jocelin renders this name Festum Miraculorum, which interpretation, adopted by Ussher and Colgan, has passed into our author's text. The designation Ferta Martyrum is derived from the relics of the holy martyrs placed there by St. Patrick. At 1078 the "Annals of Innisfallen" record the death of "Dubtach Na Sochaind, sage priest of Na Ferta, at Armagh." On September 25, 1430, Primate Swayne wrote from Termonfechin to David M'Gillade, Prior of the Culdees of Armagh, directing him to procure redress for the Abbess of Na Ferta, whose rights had been invaded by certain persons. At the dissolution of religious houses the possessions of this convent passed, with so much other ecclesiastical property, to the Annesley family, and in the last century, by purchase, into other hands. The place where this nunnery stood is now traversed by Dobbin-street.

40 In Dr. Reeves' opinion there is not a shadow of authority for the existence of a Dominican friary at Armagh. "The Four Masters," he observes (Op. Cit. p. 32.) "At the year 1264, relate that the archbishop of Armagh, Maelpatrick O'Scannail, brought the friars minors to Armagh; and, according to tradition, it was MacDonnell Galloglegh that commenced the erection of the monastery. Here pro

E