Great Patrons of Art

Above: Picture of Bishop Asicus

Kings and princes, indeed, were great patrons of art. Not only did they require jewels, brooches, pins, beautifully wrought swords and daggers for themselves and their friends, but, in Christian times, they presented chalices, bells, crucifixes, shrines and the like to monasteries and churches: the Irish, however, had attained to a great skill in the art of design and the working of metal and various processes of enamelling before the coming of Patrick. The holy bishop Asicus is said in the Tripartite Life of our national Apostle to have been Patrick‘s own coppersmith, in honour of whom he made altars, quadrangular tables and quadrangular book-covers. Three smiths expert at shaping, Mac Ceacht, Laebhan and Foirtchearn, are named as belonging to St. Patrick’s family, and mention is likewise made of three artificers of great skill, Aesbrule, Tairill and Tasach. Foirtchearn is also referred to as first teacher of St. Finian of Clonard. St. Conlaech of Kildare was engaged principally in making chalices, bells and other requisites for St. Brigid. St. Doig of Inniskeen, Louth, chief artist to St. Ciaran of Saighir, was a brazier, smith and scribe, and is reputed in the Martyrology of Donegal to have made 150 croziers, 150 bells, and covers for sixty Gospel books : braziers, the Tripartite states, made the patens, the minstrals and the altar chalices.
" The chief object," says Keating, " for which the Feis I of Eamhain and the Feis of Cruachain were convened was to approve those who practised mechanical crafts in  Ireland, such as smithwork, woodwork, stonework or the like handicrafts.    And the nobles and ollamhs who were at these two assemblies selected from each assembly three score masters of   each   craft.    These   were   then   distributed   throughout Ireland, and no fellow-craftsman to these was permitted to practise his craft without permission from the district-master of that craft,  who must  examine him  as to competency. These masters were called ioldanaigh,  i.e. ilcheardaigh,  on account of being skilled in many crafts."    Thus we find the most  adequate  provision  made  for  the  efficient  teaching, direction and development of metal-work, wood-work and architecture ;  and hence it is that, particularly in the domain of metal-work, such a wealth of sacred relics still remains, including croziers, bells, shrines and similar treasures.