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St. Nathy of the fields of Achonry – 9th August
St. Nathy enjoys the highest reputation for virtue and sanctity, of all the notable Irish saints. He is given the greatest accolades, as most holy (sanctissimus) as of exquisite sanctity, (sanctimonice spectatissimce) as of consummate perfection. He is patron of the diocese of Achonry along with St. Attracta.
Nathy lived in the sixth century, and “His master,” says historian Colgan, “was St. Finian of Clonard.” (Vita S. Fechini). The principle event in the life of Nathy, is the establishment of a monastery on the fields of Achonry. It was a joint initiative between St. Nathy and Saint Finian. Towards the end of Finian’s life, this missionary paid a visit to Connaught, to evangelise the inhabitants there. When Finian reached Leyney, he met Nathy, a priest of great virtue and perfection; a priest capable to govern an ecclesiastical community. So Finian resolved to make good use of his super virtuous new friend Nathy.
Finian then went looking for a suitable site for to establish a monastery for Nathy. He desired a pleasant picturesque place. Finian found such place at the fertiles fields of Achonry, along the foot of Mucklety, near the beautiful lake of Templehouse. His next task was to procure the land, which was easier said than done. The owner of the land was called Caenfahola, (Caput lupi, or Wolfhead). We have an account of the transaction history, taken from the written works of the old life of Finian;
“After this Finian proceeded to a place where a holy priest named Nathy lived, and here an angel appeared to him and said: ‘You shall found a church on whatever spot the man of God shall select as a convenient and pleasant site. And when they had reached the chosen spot, the prince of the territory, that is, of Leyney, whose name was Caenfahola, approached them in a rage, for the purpose of driving them from the place; but the man of God, seeking to convert this hardened sinner to the faith by a striking miracle, made the sign of the cross on a great rock that lay hard by, and broke it into three parts. This spectacle astonished and softened the savage prince; and being now changed from a wolf into a lamb, he humbly made over to Finian the scene of the miracle, which is called in the Irish language, Achadchonaire, and in which the man of God established the aforesaid priest of the name of Nathy.”
With that pleasant land now procured, the monastery was established and it became an esteemed school of piety and learning. St. Nathy taught several eminent persons; for example, Saint Kenan and Saint Fechin. The later followed his relative, Nathy, into the monastery, at the dawn of it’s foundation. The two relative saints were close friends. Fechin eventually left Achonry, to found the great monastery of Fore.
It is believed that Nathy lived to a very advanced age. We take this on the basis of circumstantial evidence. For example, he may have been around thirty years old in 552, at the year Saint Finian of Clonard’s is believed to have died. Nathy was still alive when Saint Fechin founded the abbey of Fore. Nathy, we consider to have reached the age of around ninety years when he passed away. These considerations are taken from Terence O’ Rorke, History, antiquities, and present state of the parishes of Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, in the county of Sligo (Dublin, 1878), 411-24. St. Nathy was buried within the monastery, before his body was translocated to the cathedral of Achonry, which was dedicated to him.
by St. Declan; patron and the Patrick of the Deise of the Waterford and Lismore Diocese – 24th July
St. Declan
We have a latin account of Declan’s life called ”Vita Declani” in which we can learn about this distinguished Irish saint. Declan is the patron of the Waterford & Lismore diocese, of the ancient territory of the Déise. Declan was born around 373A.D at Dromroe between Lismore and Cappoquin, to his father Erc Mac Trein and mother Déithin. His parents were of noble blood and his father’s line extended back to King Tuathal Teachtmhar in the 1st century. Around the 1st century, a dispute happened at the Royal Seat of Tara, where the Désii tribe were expelled from the Royal Province. This tribe moved south to Tipperary & Waterford, and its from this tribe that Declan comes from. Another section of the tribe was exiled to the South West Wales, settling in Meniva.
Coming back to the birth of St. Declan, a holy priest called Colman, baptised Declan and explained to his parents that the child was blessed by God. Declan was fostered, trained and educated by his Uncle Dobhrán, for seven7 years. As Declan grew older, he was sent to a holy man named Dioma to further his studies. Whilst with Dioma, his reputation grew and many follower came to Declan.
Around the year 395, he later travelled to Rome via Gaul, now France, to study. At Rome, he met and became friends with Ailbe, the future bishop of Emly. Humble Ailbe is considered the Patrick of Munster. During Declan’s stay in Rome, he was ordained priest and bishop by the pope of the time. While still in Rome, as he began his pilgrim journey back to Ireland, he met Patrick, Ireland’s future patron. They became providentially acquainted during this encounter. Today, St. Declan is considered “the Patrick of the Déise.
St. Declan was to establish a monastery Ardmore (meaning great height), which grew into a large town. He is one of the pre-eminent figures in the early Irish Church. Declan was one of four pre-patrician saints (along with Ailbe of Emly, Ciarán of Saigir, and Abbán of Moyarney) who preached the Gospel along Ireland’s south coastal regions, before Patrick arrived in Ireland.
Anecdotes of St. Declan.
Declan’s monastery at Ardmore has long been a place of pilgrim significance, with large crowds that gather every year for his feast day on July 24. The story behind this pilgrim, has it routes in a religious and political meeting that took place. Declan and Patrick met at Cashel, and this ancient meeting is commemorated today in a long-distance trail known as St Declan’s Way. In the 5th Century, St Declan walked 110 km from his monastery in Ardmore, Co. Waterford to visit St Patrick in Cashel where he was resident. Patrick had been appointed a bishop by pope Celestinus and at that time, and was preaching and converting the King of Cashel Aongus MacNatfrich to Christianity. At the same time, a man named Ledban, the King of Déise, was antagonistic to Christianity. There was a persecution brewing, and so an Angel of the Lord appeared to Declan to tell him that he must make a journey to Cashel before matters escalated. Declan made his way over the Knockmealdown mountains, passing through Mount Melleray, Lismore, Ardfinnan, Cahir and met Patrick at Mullach Inneonach which is just off the R687 road spur from the N24 not far from Clonmel. Here, Declan was greeted with hospitably by his old acquaintance, Patrick. They held a meeting and came to an arrangement and encouraged the deise people to denounce Ledban and follow Patrick instead. A new King of the Deise was selected by Declan and Patrick, named Fergal Mac Cormac; a Déise relative of Declan, he led his people in the grace of God and Ledban was banished and never heard of again.
Another anecdote
An imminent naval attack threatening Ardmore was averted when Declan asked St. Ultan to intervene. Ultan then raised his left hand against the attackers and the sea engulfed them. Declan and Ultan disputed the originator of the miracle, but the saying holds sway today in Ardmore “The left hand of Ultan be against you’’.
Nb* Much of the information here is taken from the book ‘’’Declan’’ by Liam Suipéil, published in 2020
[When Declan realised that his last days were at hand, his disciples brought him back to his citadel Monastery, for Declan dwelt in a small venerable cell, built in a quiet place near the sea called Diseart Decláin (Declan’sHermitage). Before he died, He received the body and blood of Christ and he blessed his people, his dependents and his poor and he kissed them in a token of love and peace.]
Taken from Canon Donal O’Connor’s book -‘The Pilgrim’s Round of Ardmore’ Co. Waterford 2000.
by St. Killian the Irish bishop and martyr who became patron of Wurzburg in Germany – 8th July
The oldest biographical texts refering to Killian are an 8th century necrology at Würzburg, as well as a reference by Hrabanus Maurus in his martyrology. We have diverse spellings such as Chillian, Killian, Cilian, and Kilian. St. Cillian is the name used in the Irish liturgical calendar.
Cillian was in born in Ireland in the mid 7th century, in Mullagh, County Cavan. He is of Irish nobility and dedicated his life to the service of God, which culminated in a life as a missionary. In the early days, Cillian became a monk at the Monastery of Hy.
Tradition holds that Cillian received his religious formation at St. Fachtna’s monastery in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork. Cillian then founded a monastery of his own near Kilmakilloge harbour in Kenmare. There he formed his monks in preparation for a Peregrinatio Pro Christo to continental Europe. From Kilmakilloge harbour, Cillian and his twelve companions, set sail for Europe and with time they found the Rhine River estuary. They followed up the Rhine until they reached Wurzburg in Bavaria. Cillian then travelled to Rome with Colman and Totnan, seeking approval for an apostolic mission at Wurzburg. In Rome, Pope Conan conferred on Cillian an apostolic mission to the old province of Franconia, in Germany. Cillian officially established his apostolic mission at Wurzburg in the year 686. He began preaching the gospel and succeeded in converting the local duke, Gosbert.
But things quickly went sour for Cillian over a moral & political stance he took with the count over a sensitive marriage he deemed the duke was involved in. The duke married the wife of his dead brother… in the Franconian province, it was the norm for a widow to be remarried to the brother of the deceased husband.
Now if we look at the biblical verses surrounding this matter, we shall see that it says:
”If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is severe defilement and he has disgraced his brother; they shall be childless.” (Lev. 20:21)
Elsewhere the bible says:
”When brothers live together and one of them dies without a son, the widow of the deceased shall not marry anyone outside the family; but her husband’s brother shall come to her, marrying her and performing the duty of a brother-in-law.” (Deut. 25:5)
So, to give a simple explanation, marrying your brother’s wife is forbidden except if the brother dies childless. But in canonical terms within the catholic church, there seems to be no obvious grounds for advising seperation from such a marriage in the case of Duke Gosbert and his wife Gailana… Cillian however advised separation from Gosbert’s former sister-in-law. At present we can only offer an opinion as to why this advice was given… Perhaps it was to stabilise the province from future family feuds amongst step brothers to be. Leaving such opinion aside, we can say for certain that an irate Countess Gailana began seeking for revenge on Cillian for giving advice to Gosbert. When the duke went off on a military campaign, Gailana ordered the assassination of Cillian. He was stabbed along with Colman and Totnan who were praying beforehand. Their bodies were secretly buried in the count’s stables.
As a result of the whole debacle, the Countess suffered mental ill health and soon died in the state of insanity; the hired assassin committed suicide; and count Gosbert was later killed. They all became a by-word for the local inhabitants.
Over 50 years later the remains of the three martyrs were rediscovered. Tradition has it that horses would paw in their stables where the three monks were secretly buried. An excavation was requested, and three skeletons remains were discovered. Later again, a miraculous cure from blindness, of a local philosopher at the find location, spurred on calls for recognition for the holy remains of the three martyred monks. These rediscovered remains became a point of pilgrimage and St Cillian became the patron saint of Würzburg where a Cathedral is dedicated to him.
Although Cillian’s apostolic mission lasted but a short duration, his influence remained. Later when Saint Boniface arrived in Thuringia, he discovered evidence of Cillian’s earlier influence in the region.
In the present days, the Kiliani-Volksfest is a popular festival in the Franconian region, and the celebration lasts over a fortnight around St Kilian’s Day! The Feast Day of St Kilian is held on the 8th of July and his relics are paraded publicly along the streets of Wurzburg. According to the local Franconian farmers’, with St Kilian’s Day begins the harvest time. Additionally, each year a German whiskey distillery named after St. Kilian produces a special edition whiskey.
by The Meath Martyr unjustly condemned at Tyburn in England – 1st July
St. Oliver Plunkett
On the 12th October 1975, St. Paul VI canonized our parish patron St. Oliver Plunkett, addressing about 12,000 Irish pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Rome ‘’as gaeilge’ saying:
“Dia’s Muire Dhíbh, a chlann Phádraig! Céad mile fáilte rómhaibh! Tá Naomh nua againn inniu: Comharba Phádraig… Naomh Oilibhéar Pluincéid”.
St. Oliver’s story
Oliver Plunkett was born in Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co. Meath on the 1st of November in the 1620s. His Father John, was Baron of Loughcrew and the family had excellent connections. As Oliver grew older, he felt the calling to the religious life. In a providential way, in 1643, a Fr. Luke Wadding, an agent in Rome for the Irish Confederates, made a request to Urban VIII, to send an envoy to Ireland. Fr. Scarampi was sent by the Pope to assist at the Supreme Council of the Confederation, whose aims were to unshackle Ireland from England’s grip. Fr. Scarampi arrived in Ireland and he was received by the Irish Catholics as an angel from heaven. The Pope’s envoy was highly esteemed by the Irish bishops, the clergy, and the nobility alike. By 1647, the end of his tenure in Ireland had come, and it was in that same year that Rev. Scarampi conducted St. Oliver Plunkett, with five companions to Rome.
For the next twenty-two years Plunkett remained in the Eternal City of Peter and Paul. He was a student at the Irish College in Rome. For three years, after his 1654 ordination to the priesthood, Rev. Oliver Plunkett served as Chaplain with the Oratorians. For twelve years he taught in the College of Propaganda Fide.
Oliver Plunkett was then appointed bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland for twelve years. His nomination as Primate was welcomed by England, who identified his parents as one of their own. Oliver was accepted by the English monarchy under the parliamentary premunire law, which means to prepare in advance. The monarchy had a big influence on who could be appointed bishop in Ireland and Rome was often sensitive the English politics.
St. Oliver as bishop of Armagh and primate of Ireland did great pastoral and catechetical work. He was highly regarded by the protestants in Ireland, and reached out to all, giving spiritual nourishment. St. Oliver indeed helped England, as he managed to successfully convince the Irish Tories, to lay down their arms, and leave aside appraisal attacks on the new English land owners in Ulster. The Tories had lost their land, but were still a force to be reckoned. St. Oliver convinced them to head to France, and make a new agricultural life for themselves there, rather than spend an eternity in hell for vain gorilla warfare.
Despite all the good that the Primate of Ireland did, to the advantage of England, they did not appreciate his Catholic faith. The English martyred St. Oliver in Tyburn in England of false grounds of political conspiring, He was tried in England, because no-one would dare falsely accuse the Primate on Irish soil. Rev. Oliver’s good reputation was so widespread among Catholics as well as the ruling protestant elite in Ireland.
At Tyburn, Oliver did not receive a fair trial, and his executioners knew it. In his speech on the scaffold, his words of pardon were: «I do forgive all who had a hand directly or indirectly in my death and in my innocent blood». Thus the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is made manifested in St. Oliver Plunkett. Like Jesus, St. Oliver surrendered his life willingly in sacrifice (Cfr. Is. 53, 7; Io. 10, 17). His dying words were: «Into thy hands, o Lord, I commend my spirit».
Today his relics are in St. Peter’s church in Drogheda. His feast day is celebrated on the 1st of July.
by Seventeen Irish Martyrs – 20th June
In 1992 a representative of seventeen Irish martyrs, were chosen from a list of almost three hundred who died for their faith in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were beatified by St. Pope John Paul II.
Below is the list of these martyrs as listed on a plaque mounted on the wall beside the gate at St. Oliver Plunkett’s & the Martyrs’ parish church side entrance; close to the wheelchair carparking area. Stories on these 17 martyrs are largely taken from “Our Martyrs” written by D. Murphy.
1) Dermot O’Hurley was the archbishop of Cashel & Emily, who suffered brutally at the hands of Walter Dunlop and Adam Loftus, heretics with authority in Dublin whom employed enticements and extreme torture of hot oils; burning off the skin and muscles of his feet. Walter later had Dermot killed under court martial for not reneging the Catholic faith in 1584.
2) Patrick O’Healy, was the Franciscan Bishop of Mayo, appointed by Pope Gregory XIII. He set off for Ireland from Brittany accompanied by Cornelius O’Rourke, a fellow Franciscan. They landed at Dingle in Kerry. They were seized on landing by heretics and brought to the Countess of Desmond, who sent them onwards to Limerick, out of political expediency. There, the two Franciscans faced a court martial under a Catholic man of authority named Drury. In 1578, the two Franciscans were enticed with high office to renounce the faith, and having refused, they were tortured; being placed on a rack, with sharp needles inserted between the nails, their fingers cut off, their high bones broken. They were hanged afterwards, for which Drury suffered a strange malady, that brought him to his death three days later. Before he died, Drury confessed that he was guilty of killing innocent religious men.
3) Cornelius O’Rourke (O.S.F.) Was the 1st son of the prince of Brefny, but renounced worldly pursuits for the religious life. He was martyred along with bishop Patrick 0’Healy.
4) Matthew Lambert and the martyred sailors; Wexford 1581 (info taken from Catholic Ireland Website Jun 20 – The Irish Martyrs of the (16th & 17th centuries) – Catholicireland.netCatholicireland.net
Mathew Lambert was a Wexford baker who organised with five sailors safe passage by ship for Viscount of Baltinglass and his Jesuit chaplain Robert Rochford. English troops pursued these two fugitives, for their involvement with the Second Desmond Rebellion (1579-83). Authorities got word of the plan and Matthew was arrested with his sailor friends. They were thrust into prison, and questioned about politics and religion. Lambert’s reply was: “I am not a learned man. I am unable to debate with you, but I can tell you this, ‘I am a Catholic and I believe whatever our Holy Mother the Catholic Church believes.’”
Nb* Mathew’s name does not appear listed in “Our Martyrs” by Rev. D. Murphy, S.J.
5) Edward Cheevers, was one of those Wexford sailors martyred. He was hung drawn and quartered with his Catholic associates.
6) Robert Myeler was another sailor and associate of Mathew Lambert.
7) Patrick Cavanagh was also an associate of Mathew Lambert. The remaining sailors’ names are unknown. Together, all the Wexford associates were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.
8) Margeret Ball in Drogheda was the mother of the infamous Walter Ball, (the royalist who snitched on Bishop Dermot O’Hurley). Margaret desired that her son Walter, would revert to Catholicism, and she often impressed upon her son of the importance of the faith. But the Catholic faith was to be scorned for position of power, and Margaret’s own son as Lord Mayor of Dublin shamefully had his mother thrown into the dungeons of Dublin Castle. Walter had his mother tortured as to force her to renounce the faith. She never did, and she died in the dungeon of failing health in 1584.
Nb* Margaret’s name does not appear listed in “Our Martyrs” by Rev. D. Murphy, S.J. and the information about Margaret has been gleaned from the Catholic Ireland website Jan 30 – Bl Margaret Ball (d. 1584) and Bl Francis Taylor (d. 1621) – Catholicireland.netCatholicireland.net
9) Maurice McEnraghty or Kireghtin (Muiris Mac Ionrachtaigh) was a secular priest from Kilmallock in the Limerick dioceses. He became a chaplain to the Earl of Desmond, who had joined a confederate for the Catholic cause. Maurice was a man of virtue, and fell into the hands of Murtogh Swiney, a blood thirsty soldier who himself was a deserter. Maurice was handed over to Sir John Norris, president of Munster. Maurice was then thrown into prison in Clonmel. He remained steadfast to the Catholic faith, as the unique way of salvation. He was allowed bail for one night to celebrate the sacrament of confession among the Catholic faithful in Clonmel, thanks to a Victor White who provided the jailer with money. However, a wicked spy, brought this to the attention of president John Norris. All who attended a secret mass were then set upon by English soldiers. There was panic in the air, and Catholics fled for fear, jumping from dangerous heights to escape. Maurice hid under a bail of hay, the soldier searched, prodding the hay with swords, but the priest evaded them. Victor was now in grave danger, and so Maurice gave himself up in exchange for Victor’s release. Maurice was cast into the dungeons of the prison. He was illegally sentenced to death by hanging, and would not renounce his faith. His head was later cut off, and his body carved into four parts at Clonmel on 20th April 1585.
10) Dominic Collins was from nobility in Youghal, East Cork. He became a Soldier in France and later served as captain of the marines in Spain under King Phillip before he became a Jesuit priest as a late vacationer. It was during his captaincy in Spain, where there was relative peace, enabling him to pursue spiritual matters. He became a type of army chaplain for the Irish confederate project with the help of Spain. He was good with caring for the war wounded and offering spiritual help. He landed at Dunboy Castle and was seized already by heretics, and put in prison in Cork under George Carew, president of Munster. Mountjoy, the viceroy of Ireland failed to entice Dominic to renounce the faith, sentenced him to hanging and disembowelling after been tied to the rack in 1602.
11) Conor O’Devany entered religious life at the age of twelve as a Franciscan. He studied in Rome at a later age, and Pope Gregory XIII appointed him as bishop of Down & Connor. He administered his duties very well. In 1592 he was imprisoned in Dublin castle. After three years starving in prison, he was released on conditions. The governors of the prison regretted letting him go free, and tried in vain to recapture him. In 1611 he was seized together with a Fr. Patrick O’Loughran. They were brought to trial on false accusations that merely served as pretexts, to gloss over the real problem, namely being a Catholic clergy. They were sentenced to death, and Conor helped Patrick face his martyrdom before his own triumphant martyrdom in 1612.
12) Patrick O’Loughran (O.S.F.) was executed along with Conor O’Devany.
13) Francis Taylor was a Dublin senator (Alderman) who died for the faith in the dungeons of Dublin Castle in 1621. He was the most respected senator in Dublin, and esteemed by all good men. He would never be induced to renounce the faith nor to renounce obedience to Rome.
14) Peter Higgins (O.P.) was taken captive at the beginning of the Irish confederate war. The heretics knew he was innocent of any crime or involvement; however, he suffered kindly the injustice, and later hanged in 1642.
15) Terance Albert O’Brien – He was appointed bishop of Emily by Pope Urban VIII. Terance was a Limerick man from nobility, he studied in Spain. In Limerick city he was besieged and put to death in 1651 by Henry Ireton, Cromwell’s son in law. Henry was struck down by a plague soon after the execution.
16) John Kearney – (O.S.F.) This man was from Cashel. He learned the faith from his mother, and from priests on the run-in safe keeping at his residence. He became a Franciscan priest, and was later seized by heretics, put to the rack, and thrown in the dungeon. He managed to be set free, and was shipped out of the country. He returned however to Wexford from France. In Cashel he fell into the hands of a cruel captain Wilmer, who brought him to prison in Clonmel. The president of Munster Sankey had sentenced John Kearney to death for his Catholic faith. He was hanged in his Franciscan vestments in 1651.
17) William Tirry – (O.S.A). A man of noble birth who chose to become an Augustinian over worldly pursuits. He remained with the viscount Sarsfield living a quiet holy life until he was found out by heretics, who tried to entice him to renounce the faith for lure of riches, then threw him into a dungeon prison before having him executed. At the prison in Clonmel, William welcomed his executioners like they were his best friends doing him the great honour of brining him to eternal life in 1654.
by Blessed Dermot O’Hurley stands up to the Royalists – Martyred on June 19th, 1584
Dermot O’Hurley was born in Lickadoon outside limerick city. His father William was an owner of the estate of Lickadoon, and he also was a steward for James Fitzgerald, the Earl of Desmond. Dermot’s mother was Honor O’Brien, a descendent of the Earls of Thomond, whom were once upon a time the royals of Munster.
Dermot received a good education, and went on to study theology and canon law at Louvain in Belgium. He was appointed Archbishop of Cashel & Emily by Pope Gregory III. With difficulty Dermot was to regain entry to Ireland, as the heretics were always on the watch. The archbishop took a passage on a Drogheda bound ship, from Britany in France. At first, Dermot landed off the coast of Ireland, on the island of skerries. From that island he took a short hop to the Drogheda coastal town. Finally at the port town, he stayed at an Inn, where there was aroused a religious discussion by a heretic called Walter Baal. It was at the Inn, that the archbishop fell into grave danger. His involvement in the discussion, revealed his Catholic identity. Walter suspecting a clergy in his midst, made communication with various Royalists in Dublin about the distinguished Dermot. Thankfully, another man called Dillon warned Dermot to flee Drogheda. Dillon in turn suffered imprisonment for helping the archbishop escape.
Dermot set off for Slane, and went into hiding thanks to the help of Catherin Preston, wife of Thomas Fleming, an Anglo-Irish baron of Slane. As time passed on, security for the fugitive became lax. [One day, a Royalist called Robert Dillon, one of the colonial queen’s judges, came to visit the baron of Slane. While there, a religious question began at table. With some heretics present, they gave their opinions, to such an extreme folly, that the silent Dermot could not restrain himself any longer. To the astonishment of all, he easily refuted the baseless doctrines, with an air of authority, education and eloquence. Robert Dillon quickly surmised that this distinguished person might greatly obstruct heresy. Dillon related the matter to Adam Loftus, Chancellor of Ireland, and to Henry Wallop, Lord Treasurer. Both were Englishmen, and acting as proxy to an absent Viceroy of Ireland, namely the highest colonial British office of governance in the land. Loftus and Wallop ordered Baron Thomas under heavy penalties, to send them the Archbishop in chains.]
The Archbishop, having meantime fled Slane, was hunted down and arrested by the Baron and Royalists emissaries in the castle at Carrick-on-Suir in the month of September, 1583, whilst staying with Thomas Butler, surnamed the Black, Earl of Ormond. The exasperated Thomas Fleming, pleaded with Dermot to accompany him to Dublin in order to be acquitted of any wrong doing. Now the journey was long, so the Baron had the archbishop placed in prisons for security, while enroute to Dublin. Having arrived in Dublin O’Hurley was cross examined by heretics who failed to find fault with the archbishop. So the high rank heretics, namely Henry Wallop and Adam Loftus found themselves resorting to military law to do away with the archbishop, due to the impossibility of such a result through civil and common law. They tried cruelty to implicate him, or that the archbishop might renounce the catholic faith.
We have an account from a Dublin man of nobility, who witnessed the cruelty. The archbishop cried out Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me. He raised his voice each time despite the pouring of hot oil over his body from head to toe, causing horrific wounds to the skin, and the muscles, and the nerves, to such point that the whole body was devoured by the heat, yet at the same time bathed in a cold sweat. The executioner became uneasy, realising that he had applied excessive force on archbishop, and had in fact hastened his death, which was not the objective of the cruelty. To escape the crime of killing an innocent man, the executioner had the archbishop taken immediately into great care, with another torture to follow up later. It was thanks to the medical skill of a Jesuit priest, that brought the archbishop back to a reasonable recovery. In the end Dermot would not give in to temptations of high office or a good life in exchange for the renouncing of the faith which incurs the allegiance of an anti-Catholic monarch in Ireland. So Wallop Dunlop had the archbishop killed by hanging under martial law. His body was buried in the ruinous chapel of St. Kevin’s in Camden Row. Many miracles flowed from him tomb.
Excerpts taken from Our Martyrs by Rev. D. Murphy S. J. P. 126 onwards…
[Some Excerpts added from Part 20 of Chapters towards a History of Ireland in the reign of Elizabeth (ucc.ie)]
by St. Davnet: the Lily of Fire; Irish Virgin & Martyr -14th June
The story of St. Davnet (Damhnait), known as Dympna in the anglicised world, goes back to the 6th & 7th century. Davnet is the patron saint of mentally ill patients. There are accounts of the Irish saint from a 13th century opus called ”Life of the Saint”, written by Pierre, a canon of St Aubert at Cambrai in France near the Belgium border. Piere recounts a tradition where St. Davnet, had been venerated at a church dedicated to her in Gheel, Belgium. Piere drew this biography from oral tradition.
Davnet was the daughter of a petty Irish pagan Irish king of the ancient Oriel Kingdom. By petty, we mean that this ”king” was subject to another King. Davnet’s mother, herself a woman from nobility, was a devout Christian. She was remarkable both for her piety and great beauty. She lavished on Davnet, every affection and attention from birth. The young princess resembled the great beauty of her mother. Heaven favoured Davnet with special graces. She was secretly baptised by St. Gerebernus, a priest who would become her confessor. When still very young Davnet, chose Jesus to be her Lord & Saviour, and took him as her Divine Spouse, consecrating her virginity to Him and to His Blessed Mother by a vow of perpetual chastity.
As a noble family in the ancient kingdom of Oriel, they lead their lives in a state of tranquillity and peace. However, when Davnet’s mother passed away, the petty king was inconsolable. His courtiers advised him to find a new wife, as a remedy for his broken heart. The king agreed… only on condition that the courtiers could find him a match, in the exact image of his late wife. The only choice left to the courtiers then was his own daughter Davnet… The petty father and king went with that idea.
Naturally the young princess became distraught that her own father, would seriously consider taking her hand in marriage. She immediately looked for the good council of her confessor & priest Fr. Gerebernus. He advised her to flee from Ireland, as it was a grave matter; poor Davnet could not delay. With all haste, she set out to head for continental Europe, accompanied by her confessor, as well as the court jester with his wife. Fr. Gerebernus had religious friends on the continent and they would provide a refuge for Davnet. Once they implemented the plan and fled, their lives were in grave risk. There could be no turning back.
Their first day’s journey brought them across Slieve Beagh to what became known as Cooldavnet, (Davnet’s corner) in Co. Monaghan. They rested themselves here, drinking from the fresh bog water of a small well. They travelled onto and stayed in what became known as Tydavnet (Davnet’s house). They then travelled onwards to Lavey in Cavan , before heading for Achill. From the coast of Achill, they crossed the sea to Antwerp. Arriving on the continent, they finally set for Gheel in Northern Belgium, not far from Brussels. Here Fr. Gerebernus had religious friends at the chapel of St. Martin.
The petty Irish king discovered Dymphna’s flight from Ireland, and immediately set out with his followers in search of her possible whereabouts. They eventually came to know Davnet’s whereabouts in Belgium, thanks to the help of identification an Irish money trail that they found in the hands of many of the poor peasants starting from Antwerp. To Davnet’s surprise, her insane father finally arrived at St. Martin’s chapel in Gheel. He tried to persuade his daughter to return with him and be his wife, but Fr. Gerebernus sternly rebuked him for his perverse intentions. The Irish king was stubborn however and gave orders that the priest should be put to death. The king’s wicked retainers executed the order, laying violent hands upon the priest and striking him on the neck with a sword. With one blow, Fr. Gerebernus’ head was cut off from the shoulders. Thus he became a glorious martyr for Christ on the day of 15th of May.
Further attempts by the petty king, to induce the Irish princess to return to Ireland proved futile. With undaunted courage, Davnet spurned his enticing promises and scorned his cruel threats. Such promised and threats persisted for some weeks, to no avail. Infuriated by her resistance, her own father drew a dagger and struck off the his young daughter’s head. The holy virgin fell at the feet of her insane father. Thus she earned the glorious crown of martyrdom at the age of fifteen, in the early half of the 7th century. Public witnesses to the execution became instantly cured from mental illnesses of the mind and for this reason, St. Davnet became the patron saint of those suffering from Mental illness.
The corpses of St. Davnet and St. Gerebernus were put in sarcophagi in a cave until they were later rediscoverd. The body of St. Davnet was translated and buried in the church of Gheel, and the bones of St. Gerebernus were translated elsewhere. From the tombs of these two Holy Martyrs, miracles and cures began to occur in continually increasing numbers. Gradually St. Davnet’s fame as patroness of victims of nervous diseases and mental disorders became widespread from country to country. More and more mentally afflicted persons were brought to the tomb in Gheel by relatives and friends, as well as pilgrims from far off places. Novenas were had, and St. Davnet’s relic was applied to the patients. The remarkable cures reported caused confidence in the saint to grow daily.
Psychiatrists have since stated that psychiatric institutions can help patients with certain mental cases, only to a certain extent. But when that point of help is reached, patients need to have recourse from a source outside the institution if any further progress is to be made. The shrine to St. Davnet in Gheel is the living confirmation of this statement.
St. Davnet is celebrated in the Irish Liturgical Calender on the 14th June
NB* This article on St. Davnet has been peppered with information from a previous article which appeared from Tabernacle and Purgatory, published by Benedictine Convent Sisters, Clyde, Mo., May, 1946.
by St. Colum Cille; the dove of Iona – 9th June
St. Colum Cille is one of the three Patron Saints of Ireland. He was born at Garten, Donegal in Ulster, 7th December, 521. Colum Cille was from the noble O’Donnell Clan. His father was Fedhlimdh (Irish for Phillip) and his mother was Eithne, of Leinster nobility. Fedhlimdh’s father was Felimy, whose grandfather was great King Niall, who was dubbed Niall of the Nine Hostages. King Niall kidnapped St. Patrick along with his sisters Lupita and Dererca and a host of other victims from Armoric Britain. Colm Cille’s baptismal name was Chiomhthainn (Chriffin) but he became known as Colum, which signifies a dove. His name was further adjusted becoming Colum-cille, meaning “dove of the Church”.
When he attained a foundational level of education, he entered St. Finnian’s monastary of Movilla in Co. Down. Finnian had once upon a time studied under St. Colman of Dromore. At Movilla, Colum Cille’s sanctity began to manifest itself by miracles, and he also received his ordination to diaconate. Traditions attests through the writings of St. Eunan, (Adamnan) that by Colum Cille’s prayers, he converted water into wine, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Adam., II, i). St. Columba was also tall and dignified. St. Eunan further says: “He was angelic in appearance, graceful in speech, holy in work” (Praef., II). His voice was strong, sweet, and sonorous capable at times of being heard at a great distance.
From Movilla, Colum Cille travelled southwards into Leinster, and he became a pupil of an aged bard named Gemman for a while. He later entered the monastery of Finnian of Clonard, and became one those twelve Clonard disciples. These twelve subsequently became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. It was around this time, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Etchen of Clonfad. Colum Cille founded several important monasteries, including at places like Derry, and Durrow.
Colum Cille travelled to Tours in France. There he managed to get a relic of those gospels that had lain on the bosom of St. Martin for a one hundred years. Tradition says this relic was deposited in Derry (Skene, Celtic Scotland, II, 483).
Colum Cille left Ireland for Iona in Scotland in 563 in his forty-fourth year. He took with him twelve companions, on a mission, crossing the Irish sea in a currach. The twelve took to land at Iona on the eve of Pentecost, 12 May, 563. Iona island, according to Irish sources, was granted to Colum Cille by King Conall of Dalriada, who was his kinsman. St. Bede however, an English monk, attributes the gift of the island by the Picts (Fowler, p. lxv). These diverse explanations offer expediency; an way to appease Colum Cille’s kinsmen of Dalriada and the Picts of Caledonia.
From Iona, St. Comgall, St. Canice, and St. Colum Cille travelled up to the highlands of Scotland. There, they would seek to visit King Brude at his royal residence near Inverness. However, admittance was denied to the missionaries, and the doors were all shut up, and the gates shut off. To gain entrance, they made the sign of the cross at the gates, and suddenly the bolts flew back, and the doors & gates opened out. The three monks walked right into the castle. Amazed by so obvious a miracle, king Brude, then gave ear to Colum Cille with reverence. From this exceptional encounter the Pictish King Brude was baptized. His people soon followed his example of baptism, and thus Christianity took sway over the whole of Caledonia. The Druids lost their status in the Highlands.
Tradition tells us that St. Colum Cille occupied frequently within an hour, his studies, his prayers, and the likes. He was regularly engaged in transcribing, even upon the eve of his death. Colum Cille was a prolific transcriber and it is believed he wrote 300 books, two of which are extant; “The Book of Durrow” and the psalter called “The Cathach”. This psalter enclosed in a shrine, was once upon a time carried into battle by the O’Donnells as a pledge of victory.
St. Colum Cille was conscious of his death looming, in the spring of 597. By Saturday, 8 June, he climbed up the hill on Iona, overlooking his monastery, giving it his final blessing. He was to make himself present for vespers, and after the prayers, the monastic bell summoned the community for a midnight service. Colum Cille forestalled his monks, deciding to enter the church without assistance. As he made his way to the altar, the aging Abbot sank down, breathing forth his last, by now surrounded by his disciples. This happened between the 8th and 9th of June, 597. He died in his monastery in Iona, Scotland. The relics of St. Colum Cille were carried back to Ireland and deposited in the church of Downpatrick in Ireland. He is now buried there together with the two other national patrons of Ireland, St. Patrick. and St. Brigid.
by St. Colman the Lagan Man, who never lagged far behind – 7 June
This saint is also know as St. Colman of Dromore
Droim Mór, means large ridge, and today Dromore is a small market town in County Down. It was to become an important centre in the days when St. Colman came of age.
St. Colman was born around 450 A.D. He was venerated from early times in Scotland and Ireland. He is affectionately known as Mocholmoc, or Mocholmog which is three words in one, meaning my young Colum; Mo = My, Cholm = Colum / Colman, and og or oc = young or little. The Life of Saint Colman of Dromore preserved in the Codex Salmanticensis. From this, we learn the traditions. They tell us that St. Colman of Dromore was born in the ancient Dalriada Kingdom, which extended from the Antrim Coasts, up into the western Isles of Scotland.
Tradition also tells us that St. Colman was baptized by his uncle, a bishop bearing the same name. The story fascinates, as the Almighty God caused a fountain to burst forth from the earth, and with such fountain, the young Colman was baptized. After this miracle inspired baptism, his parents sent him to be instructed by St. Caylan, abbot over Nendrum on Mahee Island in Strangford Lough. Mahee is interchangeable with Mochay, a term of endearment to master Caylan. Mochay is also known as Coelan or Caetan. The young Colman received the rudiments of literature, and practical lessons for a devout life. He grew capable of learning by perfect memory. One day his spiritual director told him, to remove a certain rock impeding the progress of the monks, when reciting their Matins. Colman miraculously removed this rock, by making a sign of the cross.
After excelling in his studies under Caylan, Colman then studied under St. Ailbe of Emly in south Tipperary. He studied with Ailbe to perfect his knowledge of the Scriptures, staying some years in Tipperary. He returned to Nendrum and acted for some time as assistant to Mochay at his school.
Colman would finally seek advice about his future religious life from his friend, Aengus MacNissi (Macanisius). Aengus had been baptised by Patrick and founded the church of Connor. He advised Colman thus… “It is the will of God that you erect a monastery within the bounds of Coba plain”. The Coba plain lies within the Lagan valley, passing through Dromore. Acting on this advice, Colman established his community by a river, called Locha, now known as the Lagan which passes through Dromore. His most notable pupil was St. Finnian of Moville who went on to establish a monastery at Maigh Bhille (“plain of the ancient tree”) or Movilla on Strangford Lough.
A remarkable account of St. Colman is written, when one time he preached to a great multitude, in the woods, when some importunate bards began to demand of him a gift. Colman replied: “At present, I have nothing to give you, but God’s word.” But they were not happy, and one told Colman to, “Keep the word of God for yourself, and give us something else.” Colman reacted saying, “You foolishly reject the best and select the worst of gifts.” But they urged him all the more to work miracles for them. God’s power was made manifest on those insolent bards. The earth suddenly swallowed them up, and that was the end of that.
Colman’s feast is celebrated 7 June. His monastery along the Lagan River later became diocese of Dromore, and Colman is today the patron of that diocese.
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