Author: Michele Ainley

  • 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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  • Saint Aedh, June 27

    Canon O’Hanlon brings the details of an obscure saint, Aedh, commemorated on the Irish calendars on June 27:

    St. Aedha or Aedh.

    The Martyrology of Tallagh registers the name of Aedha, at the 27th of June. In the copy of an Irish Calendar, now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy’s Library, he is called St Aodh, the Fair, or White, son to Lugack. He is alluded to by Father John Colgan, as St. Aidus, Confessor, placed at the 27th of June, in the list of Irish Festivals. In the Martyrology of Donegal at this date, we have the entry of Aedh.
    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.
  • Saint Colman of Lambay Island, June 26

    On June 26 we commemorate another of the many Irish Saints Colman, this one with the interesting epithet ‘of the refectory’. He appears to be associated with an island off the County Dublin coast, I must admit that I had never heard of Lambay Island before and so was interested in this illustrated article on its history here. The author repeats the information given by Canon O’Hanlon below, that Saint Colman was the deacon left in charge of the island monastery by Saint Columcille:

    St. Colman, Son to Roi of the Refectory, and over Lambay Island Church, County Dublin.

    The name of Colman Partraighi appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 26th of June. This appears to be the St. Colman, son of Roi, belonging to Reachrainn, according to Marianus O’Gorman, who enters him in the Calendar at this date. He is said to have been that deacon, placed by St Columkille, over the church founded by him in Reachrann, now Lambay Island, off the County Dublin coast. He flourished, about the middle of the sixth century. At the same date, in the Martyrology of Donegal, his name occurs as Colman Proinntighe, or of the refectory. In a Manuscript Calendar of Professor Eugene O’Curry, at this same date, he is entered simply, St. Colman.

    Photo Credit: Malahide Historical Society

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.