Category Archives: Irish church history

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St. David of Wales and the Irish influence – 1st March

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St. David is the national saint of Wales. He lived in the 6th century and his mother Non was Irish. David’s mother became a devout Christian and later became a nun. She had David baptised by the Irish St. Ailbhe of Emily. She also had her son educated by a monk called St Paulinus and later David founded the monastery at Meniva in Pembrokeshire, in south Wales.

How this monastery came about is fascinating. St. David lit a fire on the grounds of Meniva where he was directed to, by an angel. At that time, a pagan druid named Baya, ruled those lands and beyond with an iron fist. Upon seeing the fire lit, Baya was filled with dread, for he knew it was a Christian fire that would take possession of the land. Baya only granted the land of Meniva to St. David after Baya’s troops failed to expel him.

The Irish connection with Meniva is quite strong. The monastery was built on the promenade and was frequented by Irish pilgrims. For example, there is St. Senanus who ploughed the land using himself for an ox. St. Brendan took a retreat there, after his long sea voyage to the Americas. St. Modomnoch brought back from Meniva the culture of honey bees to the Irish monasteries. St. Aidan of Ferns was a close and early disciple of St. David when founding the monastery at Meniva. St Aidan was even an abbot at Meniva for a spell.

We have biographical accounts in ‘’The life of St. David’’ written by Rhygy-Farch. This author wrote on the saint some centuries later. He depicts David’s mother Non as a type of Mary of Wales. David, is depicted as a Christ-like figure, whose birth was prophesised to St. Patrick by an angel. David was a thaumaturge, a mathematician, a musician and theologian, as well as curing the blindness of a teacher with a simple touch.

St. David was known for drinking only water, refraining from beer. His monks were called the water drinkers, and were known for austere living. St. David encouraged all his monks to be their own ox when ploughing the land. He lived on vegetables and herbs.

David advised Welsh soldiers battling against the Saxon to wear leeks in their hats so that they knew who to strike and who not to. This advice gave rise to the depiction of the saint with the leek, which is the national emblem of Wales.

A great miracle attributed to St. David was that while preaching to a large and gathering crowd, many of those who came, could not hear or see David very well. Suddenly, a white dove landed on his shoulders, and the earth beneath him began to rise upwards forming a hill which enabled his voice to travel further, and the crowds at the back rows could now see him as well.

It was along the coast of Wales near Meniva where was St. Patrick foretold of the future Saint David to be. It was St. Patrick’s return trip to the Irish, this time as a missionary. When St. David was canonised a saint in 1120 by Pope Callistus II, the Pope declared that two pilgrimages to the national holy shrine of Wales at Meniva is equal to one to Rome.

St. David feast day is celebrated on 1st March

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St. Fintan of Clonenagh; the austere Irish monk – 17th February

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Fintan of Clonenagh was born about 524. He studied under St. Colman in Terryglass in north Tipperary. The Irish for Terryglass is Tír Dhá Ghlas, (which means ‘land of the two streams’). In 550 Fintan settled along the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the solitude. His dwelling was near present day Portlaois town. Fintan set up an oratory which attracted numerous disciples, and formed his own austere rule. Such austerities along with miracles recalled the apostolic ages. Fintan founded his monastery at Clonenagh in Co. Laois. Among his disciples were St. Comgall of Bangor, St Colmán of Oughaval, and St Aengus the Culdee. Culdee in Irish is Céile Dé which in Irish which means spouse of God.

A thaumaturge, Fintan was a prophet, and performed miracles. For his austere living Fintan is considered an Irish equivalent to St. Benedict. Fintan is also considered as the “Father of Irish Monks”. According to a disciple Oengus, Fintan lived on “bread of woody barley and clayey water of clay”. Despite the hardships, Fintan’s monastery flourished with young monks from all over Ireland. The monastery of Clonenagh was an important seat of learning with students coming from all over Europe. Among the disciples at Clonenagh was St Comgall, founder of Bangor moastery. There was Oengus, the disciple of Fintan, who became an associate of St Maelruain of Tallaght and was also a member of the Céilí Dé reform movement. Fintan was succeeded by Fintan Maeldubh at the Abbey of Clonenagh.

At St. Fintan’s Tree in Clonenagh, there is a well that sprung up in in a field and the farmer who lived close by, refused people a visit to this holy well. So much so, that the well miraculously transferred itself to St. Fintan’s tree. It became known as “The Money Tree” as people hammered coins into its bark with prayerful intentions. This tree was blown down in a storm in 1994.

The lost Book of Clonenagh is a source cited by Geoffrey Keating in his Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (The General History of Ireland) regarding the Synod of Rath Breasail which was to lay the foundations stones for the current diocese structure in Ireland.

Fintan died on 17th February, around the year 603.

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St. Mel of Ardagh; nephew of St. Patrick – 7th February

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St. Mel was no film director, but he did follow Christ, inspired by His Passion. St. Mel of Ardagh was companion and nephew of St Patrick of British Amorica. Mel and his brothers Melchu, Munis and Rioch accompanied their uncle Patrick to Ireland as missionaries with approval from Rome. They are the sons of their father Conis, and their mother Darerca, sister of Saint Patrick. The ‘’Memoir of Tíreachán’’ and the ‘’Tripartite Life’’, mentions that St Patrick came to Ardagh, in Co Longford.

South of the river Inney, west of Lough Rea, Patrick founded a church at Forgnaidhe. There in Ardagh, he placed Mel as bishop, with his brother Melchu to assist him. Patrick’s other sister St. Lupita also remained at Ardagh as a house keeper. Her presence there was short lived as St. Patrick later felt it better that St. Lupita lived elsewhere, so as not to give opportunity of unfounded gossip by pagans. She moved to Brí Leith where she founded a monastery for religious sisters at Drum Chea on Sliabh Golry.

Mel was a traveling missionary, supporting himself by working with his hands. He was generous with the poor, giving away much of his income, living only on what was essential. On Mel and Melchu’s first missionary journey, they blessed St. Brigid in her mother’s womb and foretold her future greatness. It was Mel who later “gave Brigid the veil”. He also made her an abbess of a monastery.

Ardagh was a diocese established by St. Patrick. But it was formally recognised as a diocese much later at the Synod of Kells (1152). Although St. Patrick established diocese in Ireland, he founded many monasteries and with time and cultural influences, the Irish church became more monastic as the diocesan model faded into the background. St. Mel died in 488, leaving a flourishing influential institution. Shortly after his death, Mel was so regarded as a saint by the local faithful for his authentic witness to Christ. His sainthood is of the pre-congregation canonization type, being proclaimed a saint by popular devotion and recognised as such in this case by a succeeding bishop.

St. Mel of Ardagh is celebrated on the 7th February

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Bridget is Mary of the Gaels, and no fairy of the Gaels – 1st February

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The growing trend of promoting Brigid as a goddess who later adopted Christianity does not hold water. The goddess status is a popularised belief without any real foundation. To claim Bridget was once a goddess, is to align her with fallen angels, who are unclean spirits and fairies. Jesus came to drive out unclean spirits, who are the implacable enemy of God.

So lets take a look at the real St. Bridget. Who was she?

Bridget is the virtuous woman and saint, born of human stock and generated from Christian parents. Ancient sources tell us that Brigid belonged to the early age of Christianity in Ireland as St. Patrick himself baptised St. Brigid. She is known as Mary of the Gaels. Her parents were Catholics of noble birth. Brigid was born at Faughart, Dundalk formerly of the province of Ulster. She lived 80 years, a life of virtue from the cradle to the grave. The name Brigid means virtuous in Irish. She travelled by chariot, establishing religious houses in Ireland, gaining thirteen thousand nuns under her rule.

She founded a monastery in Kildare, which means church of oak. The ancient Leabhar Breac mentions the building of this monastery at the time of St. Brigid. At this monastery the religious wrote some things of note about their founder’s life. These various testimonies were later compiled and fully published one hundred years after Brigid passed from this world. Her biography ‘’The Life of St. Brigid’’ was written by Cogitosus and here are some points of interest on St. Brigid:

1) She milked one cow three times a day to feed three abbots. 2) She replaced a king’s lost fox with another one, who miraculously knew the same tricks as that fox that was lost. 3) Brigid found a secret store of honey under the floor boards just in time to give to a beggar who was came knocking at her door. 4) A leper came to Brigid’s door looking for beer, but Brigid had no beer to offer him. So she got some water and called down God’s blessing on the water. With her faith in Jesus Christ, the water became changed into a fine beverage.

St. Brigid was so virtuous, its easy to see how she recieved the venerated title of Mary of the Gaels. In the 8th century her feast day was celebrated in Luxemburg. Her feast day is recorded in the Calendar of St. Willibrord. Her relics are Venerated in the abbey of San Maurice in Switzerland. Also, Bridewell in London is named after Brigid, for Bride is the anglicised form of Brigid.

The story of St. Brigid’s Cross

Brigid was attending to a dying pagan noble, who was falling in and out of sleep. Brigid at one point took some rushes from the ground and began to weave them into a Cross. The noble man was curious, and in his feeble condition wanted to know what she was making? He somehow felt better in the presence of this strange Cross. Brigid used the Cross to explain Christianity and the salvific power of Christ, so that men could reach salvation. This noble pagan was open to hearing more, and he became baptised before he died.

St. Brigid foretold St. Patrick of St. Colmcille who would convert the Gaels in the north west of Ireland. These three saints are now buried together in Downpatrick in Ulster.

St. Brigid is Mary of the Gaels, and no fairy of the Gaels. Her feast day is celebrated on the 1st February, she is a national patron saint of Ireland

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St. Aiden of Ferns, known as Maedóc the disciple of St. David – 30th January

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St. Aidan is one of the 25 Irish Saints recognised in 19 June 1902 by the universal church via a process of cultus confirmation. This saint helps us to glimpse the close relationship that existed between the Gaels and the Welsh.

Aidan was born c558 on Inisbrefny, in Cavan. He was baptised Aedan. His parents Sedua and Eithne, from the noble families of the O’Neils and O’Briens, later called him Mo-Aidh-og, which means “My little Hugh” or its like saying my little Aed. His Irish name became Maodhóg or in old Irish Maedóc which he is now commonly known as. Maedóc was held hostage as a child by Aedh Ainmire, High-King of Ireland to ensure his family’s loyalty. He was later released, and he directed his life towards the religious, following his childhood inclinations.

Maedóc studied for several years in Wales under St. David at Menevia in Pembrokeshire. David is patron saint of Wales. Maedóc was listed in the Welsh triads as one of David’s three most faithful disciples. To give you a few stories recounted about St. Maedóc during his time in Wales, we have 1) by accident he broke a jug of ale destined for his fellow monks over a meal; but making the sign of the cross over the broken jug, it became repaired and thus he was able to serve his monks. 2) At another time in Wales, a yoke given to Maedóc by David’s steward which was not sufficient in size to fit around the necks of his oxen. Maedóc miraculously accommodated them which permitted him to travel with material to Llanddewi Velfrey.

Maedóc later returned to Ireland. At the same time, there was a victory at Dunbolg, Co. Wicklow, in 598, in which the High King Aedh was slain by Prince Brandrub of Leinster. In thanksgiving the prince gifted Maedóc lands in Wexford, for his prayers attributed to the victory. Aedh was a pagan king, and did not do himself any favours. Prince Brandub belonged to the dynasty of Uí Chennselaig, whose domain was the territory of Ferns. Maedóc’s monastic foundation was became known as Fearna-nor-Maedhog

St. Maedóc died on 31st January 632 on Lough Melvin’s shore, Co. Leitrim. His relics are held inside the tomb at the cathedral crypt in Ferns. St. Edan’s Cathedral in Ferns remains the seat of Church of Ireland diocese.

At the synod of Ráith Bressail in 1111, Ferns became one of five episcopal sees in Leinster. The diocese of Ferns is equivalent to the earlier kingdom of Uí Chennselaig over the territory of Ferns.


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The good Lord Mayor of Dublin; Blessed Francis Taylor – 30th January

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Francis Tayloy was born in Swords in 1550. He was a respected senator of Dublin and was imprisoned because of his adherence to his Catholic faith. We have the testimony of Most Rev. Thomas Flemming, Archbishop of Dublin along with other esteemed clergy which can be found in the Book, ”Our Martyrs” by Rev. D. Murphy, S.J.

To summarise… Francis Tayler was sprung from an ancient noble family and filled several public offices with great credit, as that of Mayor, Treasurer, and Senator in Dublin city. He was a loving husband and father of six children. Francis died in prison, having been incarcerated for seven years due to his Catholic faith. He was told that if he only took the Oath of Supremacy he would be released and could enjoy his comfortable lifestyle again, but he adamantly refused to do this as it would mean renouncing his Catholic faith. He put on the crown of a glorious death after an imprisonment of seven years in Dublin Castle  died in the dungeon at the age of 71 on 29 January 1621 AD.

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. Francis Tayler was beatified among them by St. Pope John Paul II. Francis Tayler is also a patron of St. Oliver’Plunkett’s parish in Clonmel. Blessed Francis is regarded as a patron for politicians and fathers.

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Blessed Margaret Ball, a devout mother and wife, and Martyr to the Catholic faith – 30th January

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Margaret Bermingham was born about 1515 in Skreen, Co Meath, she married Bartholomew Ball, a prosperous Dublin merchant, where she came to live. Her eldest son, Walter, yielding to the pressure of the times, became a Protestant and an opponent of the Catholic faith. Margaret however remained faithful to the Catholic faith, and even provided ‘safe houses’ for bishops and priests passing through Dublin. She would invite her son Walter to dine with them, always hoping for his reconversion to Catholicism.

But her ambitious son then became the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and shamefully had his own mother arrested and drawn through the streets, on a wooden hurdle, (as she could no longer walk), to Dublin Castle. There Margaret was imprisoned, thrown into the dungeons of the Castle for the rest of her life. In the vaults, she remained in a cold, dark, damp environment for three years until she expired, worn out from hardship. Margaret bore this condition with great patience and humility.

She could easily have returned to her life of comfort if only she took the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledging Queen Elizabeth I as head of the Catholic Church. But she refused to do this. Margaret died in the dungeon of failing health in Dublin Castle at the age of 69 in 1584 AD.

She passed over to receive the crown of glory for her steadfast fidelity to Christ. Blessed Margaret’s body was interred at St. Audoen’s Church, Dublin. She is one of the seventeen listed Irish Martyrs and a patron of St. Oliver Plunkett’s parish in Clonmel. 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. Margaret among 16 others was beatified by St. Pope John Paul II.

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Fursey, the Irish Saint who conquered East Anglia for Christ while pouring many blessings on France – 16th January

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Fursey was of noble Irish birth, born around 575. He embraced religious life at the monastery of St. Meldan on the island of Inchquinn on the Lough Corrib, Co. Galway in the West of Ireland. Fursey was an avid learner of spiritual writings and the practice of virtue from his youth.

Bede recounts in his Ecclesiastical History of the English nation, that St. Fursey went to East Anglia in 633 on a mission with at least four pilgrim companions, two brothers St Foillan and St Ultan, as well as two other priests. King Sigbert II of East Anglian, received these pilgrims very well and gave them a tract of land for a monastery at Burgh Castle (Cnobbersburg), near present day Yarmouth. The King had many years earlier found himself exiled into Gaul, in France by his step father King Redwald. This was providential, as in Gaul, Sigbert became a Christian under the guidance of St. Columbanus and his monks who where on their peregrinus pro Christo. Sigbert returned to East Anglia in 631 and ascended the throne a new man. Now Fursey and company founded and stayed at their newly founded monastery in East Anglia, for around twelve years. They followed the Celtic liturgical tradition, which was an unusual occurrence in England.

Later King Anna, succeeded King Sigbert II, and St. Fursey was afforded further support, in evangelising East Anglia. He established double communities for monks and nuns, which was particularly customary in southern and western Ireland. St. Fursey adorned his monastery with a precious bell, and bestowed another bell with monks at the monastery of Lismore in Ireland’s co. Waterford.

The two other pilgrim priest that travelled with Fursey to England are Dicul and Maeldubh. Now Dicul evangelised the South Saxons. He founded a monastery at Bosham, near Chichester, with a small group of monks. This band of brothers held onto to their Celtic liturgical traditions deep in the  Romanized territory. Maeldubh founded a monastery at Malmsbury in Wessex.

Bede says of Fursey:

‘’There came out of Ireland a holy man called Fursa (Fursey), renowned both for his words and actions, and remarkable for his singular virtues, being desirous to live like a stranger for our Lord, wherever an opportunity should offer… he saw the angels chanting in heaven, and a vision of hell in which he saw four fires – the fire of falsehood, the fire of covetousness, the fire of discord and the fire of iniquity.’’

Sigbert was killed as an oblation to the Lord, in a battle against Penda of Mercia, in which King Anna succeeded him. After about 12 years in East Anglia, Fursey and some monks departed to the Frankish kingdom of Neustria. St. Foillan was left in charge of the Norfolk monastery, while St. Ultan travelled with St. Fursey to Gaul. They met a French king, Clovis II ( 636-657) and he authorised Fursey to establish a monastery near Paris at Lagny-sur-Marne in the region of Neustria (648). Fursey was given protection by Echinoald, Mayor of the palace of Clovis II.

St. Fursey was on another pilgrimage, this time to Rome, and stopped at the church of Mont-des-Cygnes in Mezerolles, dedicated to the apostles Peter & Paul. In this church Fursey deposited the sacred relics of St. Patrick as well as St. Meldan. After his trip to Rome, he stayed awhile at Pérrone. He then wanted to go to East Anglia. On his way there, he stopped again at Mezerolles, staying a short time there, feeling ill, he soon died. His body reposed for a time in that same church of Mont-des-Cygnes. His body was later translated to Péronne, where we get the name Perrona Scottorum (Péronne of the Irish). For this was the place offered to him by King Clovis through his mayor, Echinoald. Fursey’s tomb at Perrona Scottorum became an important pilgrim shrine and the monastery became a centre for the Irish. Ultan the brother of Fursey became the first abbot of this centre. St. Fursey’s body was interred two times to be placed in a tomb more fitting to his legacy, and his body was found to be incorrupt.

St. Fursey died around 650 A.D. and is remembered on the 16th January

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St. Ita the rediscovered Irish Princess – 15th January

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St. Ita is one of the Déise people, of the Waterford based Irish citizens. Her original name was Deirdre, and she was of noble stock, growing up along the river Suir in Waterford. Many aspects of her life parallel closely with St. Philomena from Greece. For example, her father desired an arranged marriage for her with a young nobleman. Like Philomena, Deirdre from an early age desired to have Christ as her spouse and serve him alone. Like Philomena, Deirdre’s beauty won the hearts of many men including kings seeking her hand in marriage, and like Philomena, she always remained faithful to Christ.

Deirdre’s Story differs though in that she is inspired by a dream where angles gift her with three stones, that symbolise each Divine Person within the Holy Trinity. From such a dream, she understood that she was to receive many talents and gifts from the Holy Trinity. Deirdre was thus considered naturally gifted; helping in the affairs of her clan, and breeding horses. She also picked up on herbal medicine from her community, and applied it to the sick.

Deirdre took the name of Ita which in Irish is pronounced Íde (Eydeh). Many towns in Ireland can trace their names back to Íde. For example, Ita established a foundation at Chluana Credal, now called called Killeedy in Limerick. Now Cill in Irish means church, and Killeedy means church of Íde. another example is where Ita made another foundation nearby at Kilmeedy. The name means Church of my Íde, which is a term of endearment. There is also Kilmeadan which is taken from the Irish form Cill Mhíodáin which means church of my little Íde. Kilmeadan is a townland along the river Suir in co. Waterford near where Ita was raised. In North Dublin there is a town called Malahide, called from it’s original Irish name form Mullach Íde, which means Hilltop of Íde. Now Ita had a sister too called Ína and we can trace the place name Killiney in South Dublin to Ína.

Christian Influence

We find memory of Ita in poetry; for example, Alcuin attributed to Íde the title of “the foster mother of the saints of Ireland”. Oengus attributed to her as ‘’the white sun of the women of Munster’’ in a poem written in Irish: ‘’in grían bán ban Muman, Íte Chluana Credal’’

Ita gave formation to a community of nuns, and established a school for boys, teaching them on “faith in God with purity of heart; simplicity of life with religion; generosity with love”. She learnt to build a ship, and later rebuked St. Brendan for not seeking her advice on building sea worthy vessels, after he returned from his Atlantic crossing to America.

Ita was a big player in converting the Druids (Draoi – pronounced Dree) to the Catholic faith. She received a sword from heaven, and she would wield it at members of the Draoi. They were strong in numbers particularly in Malahide and nearby Swords. Ita wielded this divine sword, and without touching anyone, her opponents would fall to the ground dying. This became her opportunity to preach the Good News of salvation, and the fallen draoi would forever accept the offer, and thereby quickly regain health.

St. Ita died around the year 570. We celebrate her memory on the 15th January, and this day is regarded as the last day of Christmas particularly in Limerick where she is established her monasteries.

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The Early Irish Church foundations

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St. Patrick received his mandate from the Pope Celestine to evangelise Ireland. But after St. Patrick died, the ecclesial set up in Ireland took a more monastic direction, as the diocesan model established by Patrick faded into the background. There was rapid growth of monastic centres that became beacons of light for the Irish faithful. The consecrated bishops played only a subsidiary role to the more powerful abbots at the major monastic centres around the country. The diocesan system was slow to be re-established, particularly as Ireland was never conquered by the Roman empire, which suited the diocesan format being based somewhat on the roman rule template.

The seeds of reformation

There was a big change in the middle ages. For example, the King of Munster and Leinster, Muirchertach Mor O’Briain was present at the Synod of Rath Breasail in 1111 which formally re-inaugurated the diocese system into Ireland, as the church finally moved away from a monastic hierarchy. With King Muirchertach’s presence, the diocese of Killaloe within his territory got an advantageous representation. Then King Muirchertach died in 1119 and the O’Brien dynasty declined. With the synod of Kells in 1152, the size of the diocese of Killaloe was much reduced – Taken from Clare Library.

Nb*: These Synods both laid the foundations and largely formalised the current diocesan model present in Ireland today.

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