OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Sproc, Daughter of Colum, June 30

    We close the month of June with the commemoration of a woman saint, Sproc, daughter of Colum. Alas, as is so often the case, all we know of her is the recording of her name on the Irish calendars at this date:

    St. Sproc or Sporoc, Daughter of Colum.

    Veneration was given, at the 30th of June, to Sproc, or Sporoc, daughter of Colum or Coluim, as we find inserted in the Martyrologies of Tallagh  and of Donegal.

     

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  • Saint Conuan of Stackallan, June 29

    On June 29 we commemorate a County Meath saint, Conuan of Stackallan. Canon O’Hanlon brings us the details:

    St. Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain, or Tigh Connain, in Cremhthanna, now Stackallan, County of Meath.

    In the Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 29th of June, in honour of Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain. The land of Ui-Crimhthainn comprises the present baronies of Upper and Lower Slane, in the county of Meath. It is thought to be highly probable, that the Four Masters are wrong, when they write the name of this place Teach Collain, as it is locally pronounced by the natives; and, it is supposed, the true form of the name had been Teach-Conain, “Conan’s house.” This house of Collan or Connan—now known as Stackallen—was situated nearly midway between Navan and Slane, in the county of Meath. It is curious to remark, that in some of those districts colonized by the Danes and English, the Teach or Tigh of the Irish was rendered into Sta or Sti, as in the present instance. Stackallen is a small village, in the barony of Upper Slane, and county of Meath. After the Anglo- Norman Invasion, Stackallen became a parish church, and it formed a small parish, in the diocese of Meath. Under the head of Teach-Connain, Duald Mac Firbis enters Connan, bishop, from Tech Connain, in Crimthann, at June 29th. Again, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at the same date, he is registered as Cenuan, Bishop, of Tigh Conuain, in Cremhthanna.
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  • Saint Ernin of Cloonfinn, June 28

    On June 28 the Irish calendars record the name of Saint Ernin of Cloonfinn. Canon O’Hanlon recorded the details of no less than twenty five saints of this name, indeed there is another Saint Ernin of Cluain recorded earlier this month on June 4. The problem is that both Cluain and Cluain finn are too generic a place name in Ireland to make any definitive identification, but Canon O’Hanlon gamely tries his best:

    St. Ernin, of Cluain-finn.

    At the 28th of June, we find set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival in honour of Ernine, Cluain-find. There is a Clonfane, a townland in the parish of Kinawley, barony of Knockninny, and county of Fermanagh; and another town land similarly named, in the parish of Moymet, barony of Upper Navan, and county of Meath. There is a Clonfinane, in the parish of Loughkeen, barony of Lower Ormond, and county of Tipperary. There is a Clonfinlogh parish, in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the same county. There is a Clonfinlough, in the parish of Clonmacnoise, barony of Garrycastle, and King’s County. There is a Clonfinnan, in the parish of Dulane, barony of Upper Kells, and county of Meath. There is a Cloonfin in the parish of Granard, barony of Granard, and county of Longford. There is also a Cloonfineen in the parish of Kiltullagh, barony of Castlerea, and county of Roscommon. There is a Cloonfinlough, in a parish of the same name, barony and county of Roscommon. There is a Cloonfinnan, in the parish and barony of Mohill, county of Letrim. Again, there is a Cloonfinnaun in the parish of Kilconduff, barony of Gallen, and county of Mayo. These are the only townland names in Ireland, that may be suspected to be identical in etymology with the place here named, and which does not as yet appear to have been identified.  In the Martyrology of Donegal at the 28th of June, the feast of St. Ernin of Cloonfinn is found.
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