editor:—"The reader will observe the liberal employment of diminutives, so characteristic of Irish composition. … He delights in distributive numerals instead of cardinals, and in the adjective termination ax where admissible. He uses the pluperfect for the perfect, and the nominative instead of the ablative absolute. He occasionally employs Greek or Greco-Latin words; and in a few instances introduces Irish and Hiberno-Latin expressions. Proper names he sometimes inflects according to the rules of Irish grammar." 85 Adamnan's festival is 23rd September. 85 119 234
Adhna, "Chief poet of Ireland," flourished in the reign of Conor MacNessa, in the 1st century. Fragments of laws attributed to him are to be found in the library of Trinity College. The sages Adhna, Forchern, and Atharne are said to have been the first to collect the axioms of Irish law into one volume. 194 339
Aedan, Maedoc, or Mogue, Saint, was born about 560, on a small island in Brackley Lough, County of Cavan. He formed a youthful friendship with St. Laserian of Devenish, and was educated in Wales by St. David, by whom he was much loved. Upon his return to Ireland he settled in Wexford, where he established various monasteries. He lived chiefly at Ferns, on land granted to him by King Brandubh, through whose influence Ferns was constituted a see, and Aedan appointed its first bishop. He was noted for his benevolence and hospitality; and was patron saint of Hy Kinsellagh or Wexford. He died in 632, and was buried at Ferns. His festival is 31st January. He is generally known in the County of Wexford as St. Mogue. 192 208
Aedh, King of Ireland, son of Laeghaire, reigned from 566 to 593. This monarch summoned a convention at Dromketh, now Daisy Hill, near Limavady—to reduce the power of the Fileas or Bards, of whom there were then in Ireland some 1,000, with hosts of followers; also to impose a tribute on the Scottish Dalriada, who until that time were bound to furnish an army and a fleet in time of war only; and to depose Sganlan Mor, King of Ossory, for refusal to pay tribute to the Ard Righ. This convention was attended by twelve "Kings of the Fifths and Lords of Cantons," and by St. Columcille from Iona. Chiefly through St. Columcille's influence and advice, it was arranged that the number of head Fileas should be reduced to those to be supported by the kings and chieftains, who were to allot them regular districts. St. Columcille refused to agree to the King's great desire to tax the Irish-Scotch, or to the deposition of Sganlan Mor, whom he freed from imprisonment, and reinstated on his throne. It appears to have been during Aedh's reign that the Isle of Man was lost to the Irish kings. Aedh fell at the battle of Dunbolg, in 593. 171
Aedh Ollam, King of Ireland, 739 to 748. He was noted as a bard as well as a warrior. The battle of Belach Feli, between Munster and Leinster, was fought in his reign. At a meeting with Cathal, King of Munster, at Tirdalethglas, they "established the rule, and law, and rent of Patrick over Ireland." He defeated the King of Leinster at the battle of Ath Senaid (Ballyshannon, County of Kildare), with dreadful slaughter. He was killed by his successor in the battle of Seridh, near Kells. 171
Aengus, King of Munster, lived in the 5th century. His father entertained St. Patrick hospitably at Cashel, and with Aengus, received from him baptism. It is related that whilst celebrating the rite the Saint unwittingly pierced Aengus' foot with his pointed staff, which the prince bore uncomplainingly, supposing it to be part of the ceremony instituted in remembrance of the Crucifixion. When Aengus became king he endowed the church in Munster with the triennial offering of 500 sheep, 500 pieces of linen, 500 pieces of cloth, and 500 balls of iron, which continued to be paid down to the time of Cormac MacCullinan. 119 171
Aengus Culdee, Saint, flourished in the latter part of the 8th century, and was remarkable for piety and learning. He was educated at Clonenagh in Ossory. Embracing the monastic state, he retired to a forest near Mountrath for prayer and meditation. Fearing that the fame of his austerities would unduly exalt him, he secretly entered the abbey at Tallaght as a lay brother. He continued seven years in this laborious station; but at length was accidentally discovered by the abbot, St. Maelruan. Eugene O'Curry constantly refers in his Lectures to Aengus's Martyrology, speaking of him as "a celebrated and saintly priest, and a great Gsedhelic scholar." This Martyrology, that of Tallaght, styled by O'Hanlon "far the most valuable collection of records on Irish biographical lore that has come down to our time," he is believed to have written in conjunction with St. Maelruan. Very few copies are now extant: they are all more or less imperfect. His festival is 11th March. His death took place about 815, and he was buried at Clonenagh. The
