The Irish Builder from Dublin, Dublin, Ireland • Page 5

1884. THE IRTSE 49 i ETJ. legs, though the latter costnmo, including the outer skin. present, we fear, there is not a nation undar tho heavens who care so little for retaining their old costumes than our countrymen, particularly tho lower or working population. The garb of the labouring poor is made up of a medley of all kinds, comprising specimens of tho cast-off clothes of all clauses and nations.

i H. ing saints at Clonkecn; but as there were other places so called in different parts of Irelar 'i, we may not too hastily conclude that all of those whose names follow belong to this place Thus, Ariiinus or Aaron, said to have been venerated at the loth of August, Daghdus.i whose feast occurs on the 18th of August and Diniocus or who was commemorated at the 10th of December, are all styled bishops at C'luain Caoin. It is evident, however, that the foregoing saints were not all connected with the present locality. Duald MacFirbis places a Bishop named Lngach at Cluain-Aitchenn, in Leix, assigning his festival to the 6th of October. He wonld, therefore, seem to be identical with a St.

Lugech or Lnghaidh, mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Donegal, at this same date. The latter martyrology, however, says ho was of Cuil Beanuchair.n and of Rath Mtiighe Tuiscirt.o But we are not able to ascertain the period when these) saints flourished. It was, however, most probably at a vc early date. It is said a St. Fintan hud been venerated here at tho 11th of May.

Ho dhd, it is thought, iu the year if bt the saino as Fiuan of Cluain Caoin, bishop and anchorite. However, Dr. O'Donovun staies that he belonged to Cloukeeu, near Arclee, in the County of Louth. The saint, whose feast is recorded at the 11th of May, is called simply Fionntaiu, of Cluuin-Caoin, by the O'Clerys. By Colgan, he seems confounded with a St.

Fionntain, Priest of who is venerated iu our calendars at the 7th of February but wo deem them to have been district personages. Tho Church of Cloukeyn is represented here on tho old Elizabethan Map of Leax aud Ophaly. In the year 1G16 the rectory of and Clonenagh was impropriate in ono Peter Crosby, who probably lived at Ballyfin. The serving vicar of both places was Derm it Horoghan, an old and infirm man at that time. The value of this living was then which represented more than ten times that amount at the present day.

James Waller was then tho curate. At this period, too, the Church of Clone- DWELLINGS FOR THE POOR." Now that our city architect is in London making inquiries into tho working and arrangements of the dwellings of the London poor, for the benefit of our own city, we hope that the serious defects in those buildings referred to ill the speeches mado at the Sanitary Inspectors' Meeting in that city on the 2nd will receive attention in his plans and recommendations to our Corporation. Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and other large centres of population, are taking warning by the comparatively unreinunerative nature of former undertakings in the metropolis, owing to the enormous cost of site in first instance, and the unnecessarily expensive nature of tho fittings, and unsatisfactory arrangements of plan afterwards. A coniprny is now forming in London for the purpose of building homes for the really poor, such as costermongcrs, labourers, cabmen, and the large class of people whos" wages are precarious. This company propose as a feature in their undertaking, to provide a large kitchen or a common room open to all tenants, in which they shall always find a fire burning and certain cooking utensils for their general nse this to poor people who cannot afford to have a fire lighted in their own rooms when they come home late at night, or leave early in the morning, is a real boon, and ought not to be lost sight of in our own case if we are to find accommodation for the large numbers of the poor who will bo turned out of their present overcrowded and dreary abodes, to make room for tho buildings which will sooner or later replace them.

Vigilaxs. of the workman, but technical knowledge is rot all that our artisans require. The use and abuse of tools is a subject of great importance, yet wo bear no one essaying to say a few jjlu'in words upon the topic. Some years ago the present writer ventured on Giving a little p.uctical advice to members of ihe building branches in the use and abuse of tools used in the pursuit of their callings. There are many workmej who probably pride themselves upon the knowledge of their trade, and who, with a compass, rulo, ai.d 6quarc, may be able to draw a number of lines and curves occurring in the sotting out nf their work.

Even a littlo geometrical knowled'e is useful, yet a little more attention on vu part of these same workmen to the use tad condition of their tools would bo highly desirable. If we tako the caso of a carpenter or joiner, who generally requires to bavo a good kit of bench or workshop tools ut least, it will be usually found that for the one workman who keeps his tools in a proper and serviceable condition, there will So three who will be perfectly careless about the appearance of the tools that they are using. A workman who has a good basket of tools will Cud more favour with those employing him than those who have not a presentable set of tools. Planes, tho wooden part as well as the cutting irous, should be kept in clean condition. In grinding and sharpening tools here is much to learn by many workmen, notwithstanding their constant use.

Chisels and gouges should have firm and well-foimed handles, aud the heads of the handles should not show a battered and ragged appearance. Handsaws and other stnva should not he allowed to be Imckled in the blades, and good getting and careful filing are indispensable. Without going thrnngh tho list, it may be at once boldly said that the character and ability of a workman may be known by the state of his tools. A workman who does not take a pleasure in keeping his tools in good order will not tako a pleasure in executing his work. In fact, no workman can perform good workmanship with a bad set of tools.

There is an old proverb which says that good tools are half the work," which means that a workman with good tools and knowing how to use them, will get through his work in half the time that he would with indifferent tools and so he would. But good tools, at tho same time, in the hands of a bail workman or botch will Lot effect much for him. There is an, art in using tools deftly, and this art is part of the skilled labour that coustitues tho competent workman. There is an animated discussion going on for souio time past about the Highland bou-net, which was about to be discarded in connection with the Highland regiments. The Scotch are resisting the abolition, and probably Caledonian sentiment will bo appeased.

AVo do not hear our Irish Celts calling out for the retention of the historic "caubeen." 1'erhaps it is because nobody is trying to dispossess them of it. The swallow tail frieze and the long overcoat ith rape are still worn bv the farmers, and even the knee-breeches njj not extinct. Tho different ranks in Ire-laud were, we beliove, formerly distinguished by the number of colours in their garments. The king woro seven, tho ollauihs or doctors six, aud tho peasants or tillers of tho soil only one. In Scotland, even down to our own day, several elans wero distinguished by the arrangement of colours which compose their plaids.

What is termed the royal plaid, contains seven, viz. red, blue, purpb brown, yellow, white, aud green. A local writer fifty years ago said In tho precursory proofs, that Israelites of the tribe of Joseph came from into Ireland, it is asserted that the plaid h.id its origin in the commemoration of the coat of many colours hich Jacob bad prepared for his beloved son. Indeed the pluid has never yet been satisfactorily accounted for in any other way." ell, wo will not set the task before lis of attempting to solve the puzzle. Let tho Scotch enjoy their nation.il costumes, their bonnets, phtiili, kilts, piiilubcgs, und bare OLD CHUKCirES OF LEIX.

No. VI. Clunkkex. The very ancient church formerly oallcd Cluaiuchaoin, and now written was situated a few miies eastward from Cloneiittgh, and near to Bocluain. The 6ite is still traditionally remembered aud it is it a place called where an old burial ground was still used in the early part of this centnry.c Al other name by which this locality appears to havo been recorded, was Cluain-Aitchenn.

Anciently it would seem to have been united as a parish with Clonenagh, and most probably after tho monastery disappeared at the latter place.d Iu old documents this union is calied Clonuhino or Cloukeeu and Clonenagh. We lire told that Cluaiuchaoin was an ancient monastery, ntfar distant from Clon- See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology of Donegal," at this date, for Aruin, Bishop of Clualucaoin, pp. 20S, WJ.

I According to the O'Clerys, he belonged to fnis Caoin Deagtu, in the County ot Louth. See Hev. Drs. Todd's and i.eercs' Martyrolouy of Donegal," pp. 2rl.

The same authorities hfve the entry of his feast at the loin ol December, as Modiun bishop and of Cluaii'-cain-Aradh. in Minister see pp. 350, 31), so ttut ha did lot belong to the Leix Chnkeen. Archdalt has it the sth I December. See Monasticou Hlbcrnicuili." p.

03. see "Sanetl Itumoldi Martytis Inctyti, Archiepiscopi Dubhniensis, Meciidnlcnsiiim Apustoli," A'c "Difl-sertatio Uistorica S. liumoidi, sect 9. 108. See Proceedings ot the iyal hisli Academy," Irish MSS.

series, vol. part pp. Mo, l'l. Now Coolbananlier, in the northern part of the County, attliouith tins lias been by the O'Cli-rys, who find autther Cuil-lteaunchair on tlie brink of Lough Krne. See Kev.

Drs. lodd'a and lieeves' MuityroloLiy of Donegal," pp. 2i7. 0 'l itis place is said to hare been In Ciarraiuhe Luachra see ilit. The district here mentioned is now the County of Kerrv.

The Martyrologies of Tailaeh und of Dr.nccal record this St. Fititan of Cluaoin Caoin (Cionkeen) at the 1 i tit of May. Frobably it was Chiain-Aitelieim, in Leu, and where Fiiitatl is yet a 'favourite name in many families. 7 See Archdali Monasticnli llibemioum," p. This writer acta four other saints in connection with this tnouastery, not to have known there were oilier Cluainchaoins or Cionkeens ill different pans of Ireland.

As usual. Ins references to dates and authorities are very inexact. See CoIl'AH's Acta Sanctorum Ihoeriiiw," lx. Janualii. Appendix ad Acta 3.

Fiuaiii Lpiscopi Lindialat uensi." ip. I p. 4 6. 1 Sec ibiil. xvii, Feliruarli.

Appendix ad Acta S. Fintsui Abbatis dc Cluain-Ldnccli, cap. 1 p. Jtii. See Acta Saiicioriini ebni.irii.

Appendix ad "Acta S. tintani Abbatia dc Clu Cap. P- "55. An ancient name for Klll-o'-the Gramre. near Uiuestown, was Cionkeen.

In (tie Lilier Mirer ol Aichbisl up Alan, this church is said to have been dedicated to a St. Flutau. According to the "Liber Kcgalis YitlUlivdiU'' cnagh.e It is not improbable, that besides a church, some religious establishment there i existed iu remote times. It is possible, too, that the celebrated St. Fiatim, founder aud first Abbot of Clonenagh, was born at this Clonkeen.j i Father II ugh Ward has placed tho follow- a it Is b' the Barony of Marvbopiueh West, and defined on the OMnance suivey Towniand Maps fur Hie tjuecllt County," sheets VJ.

17, 18. 6 li.e place has been hlenclfle.1 by Dr. O'Donoran. a wood eciilavini: and a description of the spot (n llev. John I'lliilllou's Lives of the Irish Saints," vol.

St. Fliilan 01 Clolieilayh. chap, i -'7 6. if We lose historic trace ot its existence afur tho eleventh century. Oilcan's Acta Samtonnn llllieniia." lebruaiii Vita S.

Fintani, Abbatis de Clualli-tdliech," n. p. lie died on the nth ot February, and in tho sixth century. 5eo Appeudix, cup. t.

p. 350..