OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Baodán of Mostrim, January 24

    Although his name comes first in the entries for native saints in the Martyrology of Tallaght at January 24, Saint Baodán (Batan, Buatan), is an obscure figure. Canon O’Hanlon’s account below seeks, unconvincingly it seems to me, to establish some Patrician credentials for him. Professor Ó Riain records in his Dictionary of Irish Saints that the name of the saint’s locality, corrupted in the later calendars, was to be found in County Longford:

    St. Batan or Buatan of Methuis Truim or Eathais-Cruimm. 

    We read, in the Martyrology of Tallaght,  that veneration was paid to Batan Methais Truim on the 24th of January. But there may have been some mistake in the foregoing entry: it differs materially from that of Buatan, of Eathais-Cruimm, as recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal, on this day. There are many legends referring to St. Patrick in Jocelyn’s life of him, and which seem to be strung together with little regard even to chronological order. It is probable, the followiiig has been intended to refer to the apostolic man’s first visit to the western province :—St. Patrick, being about to pass the Shannon, a deep and rapid river, that runs between Meath and Connaught, could not get a boat to ferry him over. He prayed, therefore, to God for help. The earth, it is stated, arose so high in the river, that it afforded a dry passage to the saint and to all his company. This may be accounted for, however, by his selecting a place for passage that was fordable. The saint thought- it expedient for the advancement of religion to build a church on the banks of the Shannon, and where his charioteer was buried. It afterwards belonged to Armagh, says Jocelyn. But the Tripartite Life relates more fully, that this see claimed jurisdiction over the church, called Lill-Buadhmaoil, after one of St. Patrick’s servants, named Buadmael, who died and was buried in that place, also near the River Shannon. He is enumerated among the disciples of St. Benignus. Nor could Colgan find anything more about him, only that in reference to a supposed saint, bearing this name, he throws out a loose conjecture.

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  • Saint Lucán of Tamhnach, January 23

    On January 23 the Irish calendars commemorate Saint Lucán of Tamhnach. The problem appears to be in identifying whether the locality associated with the holy man lies in the lakeland county of Fermanagh, or in County Dublin. Canon O’Hanlon’s account though starts off by saying that the place name Tamhnach is not a common one in Leinster and is illustrated by Wakeman’s sketch of the Fermanagh site:

    St. Lucain or Lucan of Tamhnach, or Tawny. 

    In reference to the etymological meaning of this saint’s place, we are told, that Tamhnach (Tawnagh) signifies a green field, which produces fresh, sweet grass. This word enters very generally into names in Ulster and Connaught, especially in the mountainous districts; it is found occasionally, though seldom, in Leinster, and still more seldom in Munster. In modern names it usually appears as Tawnagh, Tawny, and Tonagh, which are themselves the names of several places. In the north of Ulster the aspirated m is often restored, and the word then becomes Tamnagh and Tamny. In composition it takes all the prreceding forms, as well as Tawna and Tamna. We find, according to the Martyrology of Donegal, that Lucán of Tamhnach, was venerated on this day. And in the Martyrology of Tallagh, we meet a nearly similar entry, on the 23rd of January. The Irish form of his place, is Anglicized, Tawny. There is a Tamhach-an-reata, now Tawny—said to be in the parish of Derryvullan, barony of Tirkennedy and county of Fermanagh. Not far removed from this, on the townland of Derryvullan, in a parish bearing this same name, is represented a “holy well,” beside the modern Protestant church, and close to Tamlacht Bay, on the River Erne. In Tamlacht, belonging to this parish, there is an ancient church, and “St Patrick’s well,” which flows beside a gigantic tree. There is likewise a parish, called Taney or Tawney, in the half-barony of Rathdown, and county of Dublin. Here the old church-site and cemetery may be seen delightfully situated on a green knoll, near the railway station at Dundrum. Prior to 1152, it is said, this was a rural see. St. Laurence O’Toole, in 1178, confirmed  its possessions to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, under the title of  “Churchtown with the Grange of Clonskene.” It does not seem an easy  matter to determine the site of this saint’s church nor his period.

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  • Saint Amhalghaidh, January 22

    Another of the many obscure Irish saints, known only from the recording of his name in the calendars, is commemorated on January 22. Canon O’Hanlon brings us the name of Saint Amhalghaidh, regretting that there are no further details to be had:

    St. Umhalghaid or Amhalghaidh.

    We have nothing more distinctive than the mere entry of this saint’s name in our calendars.  In the Martyrology of Tallagh, he has been denominated Umhalghaid. Amhalghaidh is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal as having a festival at this date. In the table postfixed to this Martyrology, his name has been Latinised Amalgythus.

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2016. All rights reserved.