OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Gobban of Airdne Dairinse, May 30

    May 30 is the commemoration of Saint Gobban of Airdne Dairinse. Canon O’Hanlon’s account of this saint is mostly taken up with an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to identify the location where he flourished:

    St. Goban, or Gobban, of Airdne Dairinse.

    In the Martyrology of Tallagh, this name is set down as, Goban Airdni Dairinsi, at this date. The Bollandists, quoting from the same authority, have Gobanus de Ara-Dar-Inis, at the 30th of May. This saint is said to have had another festival, at the 26th of March, when a notice of St. Gobban may be seen. Colgan also infers, that he must have been very distinguished for his piety and mental endowments, since he had a double festival instituted in his honour. Whatever can be known regarding him seems more or less involved in obscurity. However, attempts have been made, to clear away the mist, which has so long covered this saint’s Acts. It is not known, whether he governed the Island of Molana, in the River Blackwater of Munster, and in the county of Waterford, or whether he ruled over an Island, in the present Wexford Harbour. Both places formerly went by the name of Darinis. Some writers say, this saint was abbot of Airdne, one of the Aran Isles, off the coast of Galway, and in several Martyrologies, we are told, he is styled Abbas Ardnensis. The common name of the three Islands was Ara, which in the nominative is Airne, or Arann in the genitive, according to the Irish. Wherefore, Father John Colgan thought Airne to have been a distinct name for one of these Islands. It is another mistake of his to write, that Ard-Olen was the same as that Island; for, Ard-Olen lies, as elsewhere he has properly stated, in another place. Neither is the most eastern the chiefest of the three Isles of Aran, as he took it to be, but rather it is the smallest. It is probable, that he was led into the mistake, by some incorrect map, in which these Islands were either misplaced, or their position was reversed. Before Colgan’s time, the Maps of Ireland were grossly inaccurate. In some of them this East Island of Aran is set down as the largest. In others, the greatest size is claimed for the Middle Island. There are many places, in Ireland, called Airdne by our ancient writers; and, in modern phraseology, that denomination has been rendered into Urney or Nurney. One of those places, called Nurney, gives name to a townland and parish, in the present Barony of West Offaly, county of Kildare; and here, there are some ruins of an old church in a cemetery. In the same county, there is another parish of Nurney, in the Barony of Carbury. There is a parish called Nurney, likewise, in the Baronies of Carlow, Forth, and Idrone West, county of Carlow. However, it is not certain, that St. Goban or Gobban had connexion with any of these places. We find entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal, that Gobban, abbot of Airdne, was venerated, on this day.

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  • Saint Eoghan the Sage, May 28

    Among the saints whose names are recorded in the earliest surviving Irish calendar at May 28  is a Saint Eoghan, whose name has the epithet ‘the wise’ attached. More details about the life of this holy man, obviously distinguished for his learning, are not available so we do not know to which of the Irish monasteries he was attached. Canon O’Hanlon brings us these few lines:

    St. Eoghan, the Sage.

    The Martyrology of Tallagh enters the name, Eoghan, Sapiens, at the 28th of May. The Bollandists also have Eugenius Sapiens, at this same date, and on the same authority. We are ignorant regarding his period and locality. Veneration was given on this day to Eoghan, the Sage, as we read, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal.

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  • Saint Commaigh of Snamha Luthair, May 27

    May 27 is the commemoration of a female saint, Commaigh of Snamha Luthair. It seems that she is a member of an aristocratic family which produced a number of saints. Earlier scholars argued that the locality where this holy woman flourished was in County Sligo, but Canon O’Hanlon prefers to locate Saint Commaigh in County Cavan:

    St. Commaigh, Comagia, or Comaigh, Virgin, of Snawlooher, or Slanore, County of Cavan. [Sixth or Seventh Century.]

    At this date, the Martyrology of Tallagh records the name of this holy virgin, under the designation Commaigh, daughter of Eachdach, of Snamha luthair. The Bollandists have also a like entry, at the 27th of May, for Comagia of Snam-Luthir. It appears, that this holy virgin was daughter of Eochaidh, her father, and Aigleann or Ailgend, her mother. She was fifth in descent, by the father’s side, from Laeghaire, monarch of Ireland, in the time of St. Patrick. Her father was son to Ailill, son of Guaire, son to Lughaidh, son of King Laeghaire. Her brothers were St. Fintan, St. Lughaidh, and St. Coluin. Besides these uterine brothers, her father had been married to Ligach Bredmainech, by whom he had St. Fursey, St. Nainnidh, and St. Muiredach. The monastery at Snam-luthir had been founded, by the brother of St. Comaigh, a holy man named Columbanus, or Golman. It was supposed, by Colgan, that Snam-Luthir had been identical with a monastery, founded at Garbre Gabhra, otherwise Carbre Mor, in the maritime part of northern Connaught, and by a certain Columbanus, a holy man, who was son to Echad. In like manner, the Rev. Mervyn Archdall and Rev. Dr. Lanigan say, that Snam luthir was a monastery, in the present barony of Carbury, and county of Sligo. Another name for this territory is said to have been Carbremhor or Carbre Droma-Cliabh. This opinion has been most generally received. However, that place has been identified, by other writers—and notably by Rev. Dr. Reeves —with Snawlooher, or Slanore, a townland in the parish of Kilmore, barony of Upper Loughtee, and county of Cavan. Not a vestige of the old monastery now remains. There, however, various remains of mortality have been discovered, and it would seem the ancient religious foundation stood, also, some where about the beginning of the seventh century. St. Coluin, the brother of our saint, appears also to have lived—at least for a time—in this place… An abbey’s site is shown in a field, which is called the Abbey-field, in the western part of Snawlooher or Slanore townland. This contains about 130 acres, and it is situated a little south from Lough Oughter, on the west side of Kilmore parish. It appears, furthermore, that Cairbre Gabhra is now represented, by the modern barony of Granard, in the northeastern part of Longford County; while, this territory must have proceeded still farther towards the north, so as to include a considerable portion of Upper Loughtee, in the county of Cavan, since Snamh-luthir, Snawlougher, or Slanore, was within it. Veneration was given on this day, to Comaigh, Virgin, of Snamh Luthair, as we find entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal.

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