OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Mughain of Cluain-Boirenn, December 15

     

    On December 9 we commemorated two of the daughters of Oilill, Feidhealm and Mughain. I mentioned then that Mughain has a second commemoration on December 15, at least in the locality of Cluain-Boirenn, which Pádraig Ó Riain identifies as possibly being modern Cloonburren, County Roscommon. It is only one of a number of localities associated with this holy lady, Ó Riain’s Dictionary of Irish Saints lists various others, including Kilmoon in County Clare where traditional devotion continued at the holy well up until the early nineteenth century, even though a feast day was no longer remembered for the saint. The Martyrology of Donegal records:

    15. F. DECIMO OCTAVO KAL. JANUARII. 15. 

    MUGHAIN, Virgin, of Cluain-Boirenn.

    whilst the earlier Martyrology of Gorman notes:

    15. F. 

    Mogain [1] against every great battle. 

    [1] a virgin, from Cluain Bairenn.

    Reading Professor Ó Riain’s research leaves the impression that this holy woman was once an important saintly figure, even if today her reputation is much more obscure.

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  • Saint Cormac, December 14

     On December 14 the later Irish calendars commemorate a Saint Cormac, described as a Bishop. The Martyrology of Gorman records his memory in poetic style: ‘Cormac be on our behalf for indulgence’ with a note adding that he is a bishop. The Martyrology of Donegal records: ‘CORBMAC, Bishop, of the race of Eoghan, son of Niall.’ Pádraig Ó Riain comments in his Dictionary of Irish Saints that this episcopal holy man belonged to a branch of the Ceinéal Eoghain located on the eastern side of the Inishowen barony of County Donegal. Apart from the commemoration of Bishop Cormac in the calendars on this date, however, nothing else is known of him.

     

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  • Saint Colum of Terryglass, December 13

    December 13 is the feast of a saint known for his ascetic life – Saint Colum of Terryglass, County Tipperary. Saint Colum (also known as Columba or Colman) was a disciple of Saint Finnian of Clonard, whose feast we celebrated yesterday, and features among that elite group known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He was chosen by the ‘Tutor of the Saints of Ireland’ as the man to give his master the Holy Communion on his deathbed, as the Irish Life of Saint Finnian explains:

    2646. Once he sent his pupil, even bishop Senach, to find out what the folk of his school were doing. Different, in sooth, was that at which each of them was found, yet all were good. Colomb, son of Crimthann, was found with his hands stretched forth, and his mind contemplative in God, and birds resting on his hands and on his head. When that was told to Findian he said : ‘ The hands of that man,’ saith he, ‘shall give me communion and sacrifice at the ending days.’

    And this prophecy was fulfilled in a miraculous fashion:

    2769. Now, when it came to the ending days of this holy Findian, his guardian angel sent him to Inis Mac n-Eirc on Luimnech, and brought Colomb, son of Crimhthan [with his gillie], with his book-satchel, on two clouds to Clonard. And Findian received communion and sacrifice from his hand, and sent his spirit to heaven at the end of a hundred and forty years.

    Whitley Stokes ed.and trans. Lives of Saints from the Book of Lismore, (Oxford, 1890).

    The Irish Calendars agree in recording Saint Colum’s feast on December 13. The entry for today in the early Martyrology of Oengus reads:

    13. For the dear multitudinous day,
    may they come with many thousands,
    Baethan the pious of Cluain,
    Colomb the abstinent of Tir (dá glais).

    while the later Martyrology of Donegal gives some information on the translation of the saint’s relics:

    COLUM, of Tir-dá-glas, son of Ninnidh, of the race of Cathaoir Mór, king of Erin, who is of the race of Labhraidh Lorc, son of Ugaine Mór, etc. ; and Mincloth, sister of Caemell, daughter of Ceannfionnan, son of Ceis, son of Lughar, was his mother.

    Him Aenghus calls Colum Mac Crimhthainn, and other authors call him Mac Ui Cremhthannain. It was he that gave the sacrifice to Finnen, of Cluain-Eraird ; and he was a disciple of Finnen.

    Macaoimhe, of Tir-dá-ghlas, and Odhran brought his relics to Inis Cealtra, as Ciaran of Saighir had foretold in his own Life, chap. 6, and as Mochaemhog had foretold when he was baptizing Odhran.

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