We have taken material taken from the eighteenth-century writer Mervyn Archdall’s classic text Monasticon Hibernicum which has been updated edition by the Catholic Bishop of Ossory, the Rt. Rev. P.F. Moran c/o the website: Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae.
The genealogy of St. Fachtna according to the ”Sanctilogium Genealogicum” is given thus… Fachtna, the son of Maonaigh, the son of Cairill, the son of Fiachna, descendents from Lughad, son of Ith,”. In the Irish documents, Fachtna receives the title of Mac Mongach, i.e., “the hairy child,” for at birth his head was covered with hair.
St. Fachtna or Lachtna (Fachnan in English), lived in the sixth century. He received lessons from St. Ita and he became a disciple of St. Finbarr at the school of Loch-Eirche. He became an abbot of the Molana monastery, outside Youghal. As bishop, Fachtna founded his monastery at Ross, believed to be established in the late 500s. In Latin documents Fachtna receives the epithet “Fachtna facundus” (St. Fachtna the eloquent). His school became famous attracting a large body of students and religious. St. Brendan, paid a visit to Ross and gave some lessons to the students. So so many people came to the monastery, it became known as Ross-ailithir (Ross of the pilgrims).
St. Fachtna, lost his sight due to an accident as he was advancing in years. The Life of St. Mochaemog narrates the advice of St. Ita, to St. Fachtna. She told him to go to the parents of Mochaemog, through whose merits his sight will be returned. He received his sight again thanks to St. Mochoemog, who was still in his mother’s womb, and then Fachtna prophesised on the future unborn saint to be.
St. Fachtna habitually retired for silent recollection and private prayer to a secluded place, not far from his monastery. One day, he forgot his scroll of prayers at this secluded place. The rains came throughout the night. Thanks to divine intervention, the angels made a small chapel over the scroll, so the prayers remained dry and intact. This ancient oratory has its remnant traced on the spot today.
After St. Fachnan twenty-seven successive bishops from his people ruled the See of Ross, as narrated in the Book of Lecan :
” Seven and twenty bishops nobly
Occupied Ross of the truly fertile lands
From Fachtna the melodious, the renowned,
To the well-ordered Episcopate of Dongalach.”
The death of St. Fachtna is considered around 590. His memory is celebrated on the 13th of August.
Traditions associated with Saint Attracta are many. We have accounts of her life taken from Canon O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints, Volume 8:
Saint Attracta, lived in the Fifth or Sixth Century. Talan is said to be her father and Her brother was St. Coeman. This family are from the Ulster region. Attracta had a strong spiritual side to her from an early age, living a pious and austere life. From childhood, she was most fervent in prayer, she was consistent with alms giving, and she treated her body harshly.
When Attracta reached the age of puberty, her father was desirous to find her a suitor for marriage. Being very attractive, she was sought in marriage by a handful of possible suitors. But she felt the vocation to pursue a religious life. To escape her parent’s importunities, Attracta left her paternal home. She took with her a maiden, called Mitain, and a male servant called Mochain. They headed towards Gregraighe, in the region of Lugnia, or Leney. They arrived in St. Patrick’s presence, and Attracta expressed her desire to consecrate herself entirely to God.
This reception is recounted by the author of St. Patrick’s Tripartite Life. This book narrates that Attracta, was consecrated by St. Patrick, with a miraculous tale. During the act of consecrating some virgins, the last being Attracta, a veil descended down from Heaven on St. Patrick’s breast. Patrick received this single veil with such devotion, and presented it to Attracta, whom he had just consecrated. However Attracta became reluctant, and resisted saying:
“Since this good and perfect gift has descended from the Father of Light, I do not consider it intended for me, a sinner yet, in my opinion, you who have received should… present this veil to my companion, who is more holy than I am.”
Impressed by Attracta’s humility, St. Patrick placed the veil upon her head, insisting that the consecrated virgin should wear it, until the Lord calls her home to spend eternity with Her heavenly Spouse. Attracta eventually yielded to Patrick’s insistence, and wore that veil, until the day she passed away.
St. Patrick soon founded a convent near the formerly named Lough Techet, presently called Lough Gara in the Co. Sligo region. St. Patrick appointed St. Attracta to govern the convent as Abbess. It is believed that he left at this convent, a chalice for the celebration of Mass by visiting priests. This location where the convent was founded was later given the designation of Kill Athracta (church of Attracta), or Killaraght.
A historian called Colgan says of Attracta, that she took the vow of perpetual chastity, and resolved, on cultivating the virtue of hospitality. Her centre of hospitality would therefore be located near a series of cross roads, in order to facilitate a greater potential numbers of pilgrims who might be passing by. Attracta established a type of hospital, for poor travellers or strangers.
This holy virgin was called to the joys of Heaven, after the performance of numerous miracles and the exercise of many virtues. On the 12th August, the feast of St. Attracta is celebrated as a double of the Minor Rite, in the Diocese of Achonry, by permission of his late Holiness Pius IX., granted on the 28th of July, 1864. Attracta is patroness of Killaraght parish, in Co. of Sligo.
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.
Picture taken by Fr. Paul (IVE) in early July 2025
Nb* Much of the information here is taken from the book ‘’’Declan’’ by Liam Suipéil, published in 2020; however text marked by […] is taken from CELT project: Life of St. Declan of Ardmore
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 on his apostolic mission.
We have a latin account of Declan’s life called ”Vita Declani” in which we can learn much about this distinguished Irish saint. Declan is the patron of the Waterford & Lismore diocese, in the ancient territory of the Déise people. His parents were of noble blood and his father’s line extended back to King Tuathal Teachtmhar in the 1st century: In that era, a dispute happened at the Royal Seat of Tara, where the Déise tribe were expelled from the Royal Province of Meath. One part of the Déise tribe were was exiled to the South West Wales, settling in Meniva. The other part of the Déise tribe moved south to Tipperary & Waterford, and it is from this tribe that remained in Ireland, that Declan comes from.
Declan was born around 373 A.D at Dromroe between Lismore and Cappoquin, to his father Erc Mac Trein and mother Déithin. [On the night of Declan’s birth a wondrous sign was revealed to all, that is to the people who were in the neighbourhood of the birthplace; this was a ball of fire which was seen blazing on summit of the house in which the child lay, until it reached up to heaven and down again, and it was surrounded by a multitude of angels. It assumed the shape of a ladder]. After the birth of St. Declan, a holy priest called Colman, baptised the child and explained to his parents that he was blessed by God. Declan was then fostered, trained and educated by his Uncle Dobhrán, for seven years. As Declan grew older, he was sent to a holy man named Dioma to further his studies. From this point onwards, Declan’s reputation grew and many followed him as disciples.
Around the year 395, he travelled to Rome via Gaul, now France, for further studies. At Rome, he met and became friends with Ailbe, the future bishop of Emly. Humble Ailbe is considered the Patrick of Munster. [At the same period there was a holy bishop, i.e. Ailbe, who had been in Rome for a number of years before this and was in the household of Pope Hilary by whom he had been made a bishop. When Declan with his disciples arrived in Rome Ailbe received him with great affection and gladness and he bore testimony before the Roman people to his Declan’s sanctity of life and nobility of blood. Declan therefore received marks of honour and sincere affection from the people and clergy of Rome when they came to understand how worthy he was, for he was comely, of good appearance, humble in act, sweet in speech, prudent in counsel, frank in conversation, virtuous in mien, generous in gifts, holy in life and resplendent in miracles]. 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. [On the road through Italy Bishop Declan and Patrick met. Patrick was not yet bishop, though he was to be a bishop subsequently by Pope Celestinus. They bade farewell to one another and they made a league and bond of mutual fraternity. They went on their way; Declan to Ireland and Patrick to Rome]. Today, St. Declan is considered “the Patrick of the Déise.
St. Declan went on to establish a monastery Ardmore (meaning great height), which grew into a large town. He became one of the pre-eminent figures in the early Irish Church.
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 roots in a religious and political meeting: Declan and Patrick met at Cashel, where Patrick had established a diocese. 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, Co. Tipperary, where Patrick was resident at the time. Patrick had been appointed a bishop by pope Celestinus and at that time of Declan’s arrival, Patrick was preaching and converting the King of Cashel Aongus Mac Natfrich to Christianity. At baptismal ceremony, St. Patrick accidently pierced the kings foot with his holy sceptre. It’s a famous story… Around the same time, a king named Ledban, who ruled the Déise people, proved himself antagonistic towards Christianity. There was a persecution brewing, and so an Angel of the Lord appeared to St. Declan to tell him that he must make a journey towards Cashel before matters escalated. Declan made his way over the Knockmealdown mountains, passing through Mount Melleray, Lismore, Ardfinnan, Cahir and met Patrick at at the hill of Inneonach or Mullach Inneonach.
Now Mullach Inneonach,was an important inaugural site for Déise kings at the time. It is just a field today with cattle, and can be found with a sign explaining the historic meeting between Patrick and Declan. The field is just off the R687 road spur from the N24 not far from Clonmel.
[The angel of God came to Declan and said to him “Go quickly to Patrick and prevent him cursing your kindred and country, for to-night, in the plain which is called Inneoin, he is fasting against your king Ledban, and if he curses your people they shall be accursed for ever.” Thereupon Declan set out in haste by direction of the angel to Inneoin, in the northern place of the Decies. When Patrick and his disciples heard that Declan was there they welcomed him warmly and received him with great honour. But Declan made obeisance to Patrick and besought him earnestly that he should not execrate his people and that he should not curse them nor the land in which they dwelt, and he promised to allow Patrick do as he pleased. And Patrick replied:—“On account of your prayer not only shall I not curse them but I shall give them a blessing.” Declan thus went to King Ledban and promised rewards to him if he would go to Patrick to receive baptism at his hands and assent to the faith. But Ledban, was obstinate in his infidelity and in his devilry. Declan turned to the assembly and addressed them:—“Separate yourselves from this accursed man lest you become yourselves accursed on his account, for I have myself baptised and blessed you. Declan added that St. Patrick, whom God has sent, will bless you, for he has been chosen Archbishop and chief Patron of all Erin. At this speech they all arose and followed Declan who brought them into the presence of Patrick and said to the latter:—“See how the whole people of the Deisi have come with me as their Lord to thee and they have left the accursed prince whose subjects they have been, and behold they are ready to reverence you and to obey you for it is from me they have received baptism.” At this Patrick rose up with his followers and he blessed the people of the Deisi and not them alone, but their woods and water and land. Whereupon the chiefs and nobles of the Deisi said:—“Who will be King or Lord over us now?” Declan then appointed was Feargal MacCormac a certain young man of the nation of the Deisi who was a kinsman of Declan himself. Declan set him in the midst of the assembly in the king’s place and he was pleasing to all. Whereupon Patrick and Declan blessed him and each of them apart proclaimed him chieftain. Patrick moreover promised the young man that he should be brave and strong in battle, that the land should be fruitful during his reign].
The new king Fergal was grateful for the blessing of Patrick and of Declan, and offered Patrick a well with some land just outside Clonmel town. The prophecy is that the lands will never fall from the Churches hand, and this prophecy is still being fulfilled today on the site of St. Patrick’s Well.
At Declan’s monastery, there was an imminent naval attack threatening Ardmore. This attack was averted when Declan asked St. Ultan to intervene. Ultan 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 “[May] the left hand of Ultan be against you’’.
[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…]
NB* this last paragraph is taken from Canon Donal O’Connor’s book -‘The Pilgrim’s Round of Ardmore’ Co. Waterford 2000.
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, Germany.
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.
St. Colum Cille is one of the three Patron Saints of Ireland. He was born at Garten, Tyrconnell 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 Criomhthainn (meaning ‘fox’,) 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, (then part of the Dalriada kingdom). 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.
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.
Jarleth was the son Loga, son of Dana, of the Conmaicne clan. Jarlath’s mother was Mongfinn daughter of Ciardubán of the Cenél Chinnenn clann. These parents Recognized Jarlath’s spiritual potential, sending him to be educated under St. Enda of Arran about 495 A.D. Jarlath grew in holiness and understanding and later went to study under Benignus, a disciple of St. Patrick, in Kilbannon. Benignus was also baptized by St. Patrick, and grew up to became coadjutor in the See of Armagh.
Jarlath Moved out from Kilbannon and founded a monastery at Cluain Fois (Cloonfush), (meadow of the respite), near Tuam. This monastery attracted scholars from all parts of Ireland. Two notable pupils were, St. Brendan of Ardfert, and St. Colman of Cloyne. The “Felire” of Aengus says that Jarath was a man of ascetics, noted for his fasting, watching, and mortification. Three hundred times by day and three hundred times by night did this saint bend the knee in prayer. St. Patrick prayerful influence continued through St. Jarlath, who was also endowed with the gift of prophecy.
An aging Jarlath received a spiritual prompting, not to remain in Cloonfush. It was recommended that Jarlath “sit in his wagon” and the location where the wagon wheels break will “mark the spot of his resurrection…”. And so, in the 6th century Jarlath travelled a short distance and arrived at a place, where the wheel fell off the wagon. He interpreted this to be a divine sign, and he established a monastery there on that spot. This place became known as ‘’Tuaim dá Gualann’’ which means tomb of the two shoulders. There Jarlath died, ‘full of days,’ on 26 December.
Since around Jarlath’s time, the broken wheel has been the emblem of St. Jarlath in Tuam. His feast is kept on 6th June, being the date of the translation of his relics to a church built in his honour. Its now a ruin that adjoins the cathedral of Tuam. His remains were, encased in a silver shrine inside the 13th century built church called Teampall an scrín, (temple of the shrine).
We shall conclude with a short prayer associated with our Tuam Saint. ‘’St. Jarlath of Cloonfush and Tuam, we pray to you for inspiration and enthusiasm, for a sense of adventure and mission, to spread the Gospel and live the faith. When the spokes close to the hub needs repairs, when the chariot wheel falls off, keep us on track, on the right road, as we continue our pilgrim journey, through your intercession and prayer’’. NB* – Prayer taken from a short video created in 2022, on St. Jarlath given by bishop Fintan Monaghan of Killaloe diocese.
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