OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Molocca, Son of Colman Finn, March 22

    On March 22 the Irish calendars commemorate Saint Molocca, son of Colman Finn, of Lilcach. Having both a patronymic and a place name recorded with the saint does not do a great deal to help identify him, as Canon O’Hanlon’s brief entry below shows. He quotes, however, the opinion of Father Anthony Cogan that the place name may refer to a monastic site in County Meath. Cogan cited the records from the Annals of the Four Masters recording the deaths of prominent holy men associated with this site but our saint does not feature among them. We can start with Canon O’Hanlon’s account and then move to Father Cogan:

    St. Molocca, or Molocus, son of Colman Finn, of Lilcach

    Such is the description we find, regarding this almost unknown holy personage. He is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 22nd of March, under the designation, Molocca mac Colmain find i Lilchaich. A notice of his feast occurs in the Bollandists’ collection. Again, the name Molocca, son of Colman Finn, occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having been venerated on this day. The exact locality of Lilcach, or Liolcach, has not been determined. It was near the Boyne, as we are informed; and, in all probability, not far removed from Slane, in the county of Meath.

    LIOLCACH

    The exact location of this monastery, called Liolcach, or
    Lilcach, has not as yet been identified. It was situated near
    the Boyne, and in all probability not far from Slane. The
    following notices of this place occur in the Four Masters:

    512. Died, St. Erck, Bishop of Slane and Liolcach. 
    723. St. Gall of Lilcach died. 
    743. Cuan, Anchorite of Lilcach, died. 
     In the Martryology of Tallaght the festival of St. Cillene
    of Lilchaich is marked as having been commemorated on
    the 12th of March. 
    Rev. A. Cogan, Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern, Volume 1, (Dublin, 1862), 229.

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  • Saint Momhanna, March 21

    Another of our obscure female saints is commemorated on March 21. Canon O’Hanlon can bring us only the barest details from the calendars:

    St. Momhanna, Virgin.

    The name of St. Momhanna, a Virgin, occurs in the Martyrologies of Marianus O’Gorman and of Donegal, as having a festival, on this day; while the Bollandists notice her, as Momanna Virgo.

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  • Saint Aedhan of Cluain-Maelain, March 20

    Another of our many obscure holy men is recorded in the Irish calendars at March 20. Canon O’Hanlon reckons that the locality Cluain-Maelain associated with the Saint Aedhan noted on this day is probably Clonmellon, County Westmeath:

    St. Aedhan, of Cluain-maelain, probably, Clonmellon, County of Westmeath.

    The Martyrology of Tallagh records this holy man, at the 20th of March. The place may be identical with that locality, formerly denominated Cluain-Milain, i.e., Milan’s Lawn or Meadow, now Clonmellon, a small town in the barony of Delvin, and county of Westmeath. Marianus O’Gorman records Aedanus, of Cluain-moelain, at this date. We find the name, Aedhán, of Cluain-maeláin, also set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having a festival, at this date. The Bollandists enter his feast, likewise, on the 20th of March.

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