_Senan._--This is an extremely interesting personality. His island,
Inis Cathaigh (now corrupted to "Scattery") is said to derive its
name from _Cathach_, a monster (mentioned in LA) which had formerly
inhabited it, and which Senan had slain or charmed away. There are
obvious pagan elements in the legends of this saint, and there can be
little doubt that the unknown hermit who founded the monastery,
of which the remains are still to be seen, has entered into the
inheritance of the legends of an ancient deity, most likely worshipped
on the island. This deity was probably the god of the Shannon river:
and the name of the saint is clearly reminiscent of the name of the
river. In their present form the two names are not philologically
compatible: the name of the saint may be explained as an arbitrary
modification, designed to _differentiate_ the Christian saint from
the pagan river-god. That pagan names should survive (modified or
otherwise) in ancient holy places re-consecrated to Christianity is
only natural.
There may be some foundation in fact for apparently supernatural
knowledge such as Senan displays in this incident of the personality
of a coming guest. In reading documents such as this, we are not
infrequently tempted to suspect that we have before us the record of
actual manifestations of the even yet imperfectly understood phenomena
of hypnotism, telepathy, "second sight," and similar psychical
abnormalities.
The story of the cloak is told again in the Life of Senan (LL, 2388).
From the version there contained, we learn that Ciaran gave his cloak
to _lepers_. There is another version of the visit of Ciaran to Senan
in the metrical Life of the latter saint (CS, 750). According to this
story, Ciaran was not travelling alone, but with his disciples; and
they had no means of transport to the island except an oarless boat
woven of osiers. Trusting themselves to this doubtful craft (as Cybi
voyaged in a skinless coracle, _Cambro-British Saints_, pp. 186, 499),
they were ferried over in safety, no water finding its way into the
boat. Then follows the episode of the cloak, omitting, however,
Senan's jest of carrying it secretly. A glossator has added in LA
the marginal note "Priests formerly wore cowls." There are slight
discrepancies between the versions as to the precise garment given by
Ciaran and restored by Senan.
Another episode connecting Ciaran and Senan is narrated in the
metrical Life of Senan (though the passage is absent from the CS copy;
it will be found in the Bollandist edition, March, vol. ii, p. 766).
Briefly, this tale is to the effect that Ciaran and Brenainn went to
Senan for confession. They were received with fitting honour, but the
steward of Inis Cathaigh told his superior that he had no provision to
set before the guests. "The Lord will provide," answered Senan; and
in point of fact, a prince for whom a feast was at the time being
prepared on the mainland was divinely inspired to send it as a gift
to the sacred island. The saints partook of the banquet thus bestowed
upon them; and while they were doing so, a small bell fell from heaven
into their midst. None of the three was willing to assert a claim to
this gift over the other two; and after discussion they agreed to
advance in different directions, and he who should continue longest to
hear the sound of the bell was to be its possessor. This test assigned
the bell to Senan. The shrine of this sacred relic (the bell itself
is lost) is now preserved in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy,
having been acquired from the last hereditary keeper by a generous
donor.[20]
_The Geographical Names._--Besides "the island of Cathi" (Inis
Cathaigh, Scattery) LA refers to "Luim-nich" (Limerick), Kiarraighi
(properly _Ciarraige_, [North] Kerry), and Corco Baiscind (the
southern barony of Co. Clare), now spelt "Corcovaskin."