OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Conall of Kilskyre, March 28

    March 28 is the feastday of Saint Conall, linked to both County Meath and to the Aran islands where his memory is preserved with that of three other Irish saints – Fursa, Brendan of Birr and Berchan. Canon O’Hanlon has the details, although I am left wondering what lies behind the linking of these particular saints. In his footnotes, O’Hanlon admits that he cannot identify the saint Berchan and is unsure that Conall of Aran is our Saint Conall of Kilskyre. Brendan and Fursey are well-known saints who flourished much earlier than the ninth-century Conall, so I am left wondering how and why they came to be linked with him and the obscure Berchan on Aranmore. I suspect that there has been some confusion and will thus need to do some further research into the ‘four beautiful saints’.
    St. Conald, or Conall, Bishop of Kilskyre, County of Meath. [Ninth Century]
    The servant of Christ, Conall, or Conald, is said to have been son to Fiachna, Prince of East Meath, and of the blood royal of Ireland. The latter was son to Maelduin, son of Column, son to Aedh, son of Libren, son to Dallen, son of Endeus, son to Loegaire, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Colgan has entered some notices, in which an effort is made to investigate matters, serving to illustrate this saint’s biography. The Bollandists barely notice him, with doubts of his claim to a legitimate cultus. We are told, that Conall was at first Bishop of Kilskyre, or Kilskeer. This old church is now a ruin, measuring eighty-two feet, by twenty-seven feet, three inches. The body is completely desolated, for the windows, doorway, and east wall, have disappeared. The western end terminated, in a triple belfry. Within the chancel, there is a sepulchral cross, which originally marked the grave of an ecclesiastic. Kilskyre was plundered and burned, on more than one occasion; and, after the English Invasion, a parish church merely remained. It is now a parish, in the barony of Upper Kells, and county of Meath. Conall was the only bishop we meet with in that place. Thence, it would seem, he went to the Great Island of Aran. Here, he is said to have taken up his residence, at a place now known as Teampul an cheathruir aluinn, Anglicised, “the church of the four beauties,” or of “the four beautiful saints.” Only a few fragments of the walls now remain. It is related, that there St. Furseus spent several years, in solitude and prayer, before he set out on the mission of founding his establishment at Perrone. His memory has not departed from the minds of the Araners; for, the people of those islands greatly venerate this extraordinary saint. They still relate many cures effected, through intercession of the same holy man.
    St. Brendan of Birr was another of those popular heroes, as also St. Berchan, with the present St. Conall, according to the author already quoted. During the reign of Aidus Finliath, who obtained such advantages over the Danes, St. Conall died, A.D. 865, or 866, and on the 28th day of March. The “Chronicon Scotorum,” however, has his demise at A.D. 867. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 28th of March. Marianus O’Gorman and Maguire commemorate him, in like manner, and style him a bishop. On this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal, we find mentioned the name of Conall, Bishop, as having veneration paid him. St. Fursey, with Brendan of Birr, Berchan, and the present Conall, as we are told, were buried in the cemetery of the same church, and their bodies were deposited in the same tomb. It seems possible, that after our saint’s time—the number being completed—that old church got its distinguishing appellation, of belonging to “the four beautiful saints,” and this name it still bears. According to Colgan, the Translation, or some Festival, of this saint was kept, at Trim, on the 17th of February, when many holy persons are commemorated, on that day, and at the same place. He thinks, several of these were related to the present St. Conall; but, the matter is altogether doubtful, so far as he is concerned.
    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • Saint Suairlech of Fore, March 27

    March 27 is the commemoration of Saint Suairlech, an eighth-century successor to Saint Fechin at the monastery of Fore. Canon O’Hanlon tells us what is known of him from the Irish Annals and calendars:

    St. Suairlech, Bishop of Fore, County of Westmeath

    A few brief notices of this sainted bishop are set down, by Colgan, at the 27th of March; while the Bollandists’ more briefly record him, as Suarlechus, Episc. Fobariensis. Our Irish accounts style him, Suarlech, or otherwise, Suarlius, or Suairleth. He became a monk, in the Abbey of Fore, county of Westmeath. By some, he is said to have been a disciple of St. Fechin, the founder, who died, A.D. 664. This statement, however, seems hardly reconcilable with chronological dates. After living many years, in humble subjection and in practising a penitential life, he succeeded Dubdaboren, in the government of that monastery. The death of this abbot is thus entered, at the year 735: “Dubhdabhoireann, Abbot of Fobhar [Fore], died.” — Dr. O’Donovan’s” Annals of the Four Masters,” vol.i., pp. 336, 337. To the office of Abbot Suairlech was advanced, about the year 735. Afterwards, he was assumed to the exercise of episcopal functions; he being, as is supposed, the first Bishop of Fore; for, we do not read, that any of his predecessors, in the monastery, had previously enjoyed such a title. During the reign of Domnald Murchadh, King of Ireland, our saint was called to the enjoyment of eternal felicity, on the 27th of March. He died, on that day, in the year 745; and, during this very same year, Fore was burned.  The Annals of Ulster place his death, at A.D. 749, but the entry in the Annals of the Four Masters reads: ” The age of Christ, 745. The seventh year of Domhnall. St. Suairleach, Bishop of Fobhar [Fore], died on the 21st of March.” —Dr. O’Donovan’s “Annals of the Four Masters,” vol. i., pp. 348, 349. He must have attained a very advanced age, were we to credit the statement, of his having been in early life, a disciple, under St. Fechin. His name is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 27th of March, as Suairleach, Bishop. Marianus O’Gorman and Cathal Maguire, likewise, record him, as Bishop of Fore, at this day. Under the head of Fobhar, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Suairlech, bishop of Fobhar, rested, A.D. 745, March 27th. The Martyrology of Donegal has entered, likewise, on this day, Suairlech, Bishop of Fobhar.

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

  • Saint Sinchell of Killeigh, March 26

    March 26 is the feast of an early monastic founder, Saint Sinchell (Sincheall, Sinell, Senchell) associated with Killeigh, County Offaly. Tradition records that there were two saints of this name, the younger Sinchell being nephew to the elder. The Martyrologies preserve two separate feast days for Sinchell of Killeigh, that of the elder on March 26 and that of the younger on June 25. Below is an account of the saint’s life and locality from the Rev. M. Comerford’s Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin:

    The parish of Killeigh is situated partly in the barony of Upper Philipstown, but chiefly in that of Geashill. It consists of the union of the former parishes or ecclesiastical districts of Killeigh, Ballykeane and Geashill. This district is noted in both the secular and still more in the ecclesiastical annals of Ireland. The name of Killeigh is common with another ecclesiastical establishment which, according to Colgan, was situated in East Breifny. The Killeigh with which we are at present concerned is situated in Ofalia, and is always distinguished from the other by the addition droma foda. Achadh-droma-foda signifies the field of the long ridge, and Cill was prefixed after St. Sinchell had erected his church there. The name, as Dr. O’Donovan adds (Note to Four Masters) is very descriptive of the locality, for a remarkable, long, low druim or ridge extends south-west-wards, immediately over the village of Killeigh. The entire of the ancient Ofalia, from Slieve Bloom to the Hill of Allen, and from the Sugar-loaf hill to the Great Heath is a plain nearly as level as the surface of a tranquil sea, and the droma-foda, though not high, becomes a remarkable feature in so level a district.
    St. Sinell, or Senchell, one of the most distinguished ecclesiastics of his time, founded a Monastery of Killeigh at the beginning of the sixth century. This monastery became afterwards known as the Priory of the Holy Cross of Canons Regular of St. Augustine. St. Senchell, who is stated to have been St. Patrick’s first convert, was the son of Kennfinnain, and grandson of Inchad, or Finchada, of the royal blood of Leinster (Colgan, Trias. Thaum.) The father of the saint was ninth in descent from Cathair Mor, monarch of Ireland. In both the Martyrology of Tallaght and the Feiliré, St. Aengus notes the 5th of April as the Feast of the first Baptism conferred by St. Patrick in Ireland: —“Baptisma Patricii venit ad Hiberniam.” (Mart. Tall.) “Excellent Patrick’s baptism was kindled in Ireland.” (Feiliré.) On this latter the gloss in the Leabhar Breac adds, “i. Sinell, son of Finchad of the Ui-Garrchon, he is the first person Patrick baptised in Ireland.” It is related that St. Ailbe, of Emly, presented him a cell, in which he had himself lived for some time, at Cluain Damh (now Clane, County Kildare). We find St. Senchell afterwards at Killeigh, where he founded a monastery, which in course of time became very celebrated. In order to distinguish him from another St. Senchell, a relative of his, who lived with him at Killeigh (and who is styled Bishop in the litany of St. Aengus), he is usually called senior. Having lived to a good old age, he died on the 26th of March, AD 549, in his monastery at Killeigh, and was interred there. Petrie states that St Kieran and the two Senchells died of the Plague which raged in 549. In the litany of St. Aengus Ceile De, written in AD. 799, we have evidence of the celebrity and holiness to which this religious establishment had attained. “Thrice fifty holy bishops with twelve pilgrims, under Senchell the elder, a priest; Senchell the younger, a bishop; and the twelve bishops who settled in Cill Achaidh Dromfota in Hy Failghi. These are the names of the bishops of Cill Achaidh: —Three Budocis, three Canocis, Morgini, six Vedgonis, six Beaunis, six Bibis, nine Glonalis, nine Ercocinis, nine Grucimnis, twelve Uennocis, twelve Contumanis, twelve Onocis, Senchilli, Britanus from Britain, Cerrui, from Armenia. All these I invoke unto my aid through Jesus Christ.” And again: —“ The twelve Conchennaighi, with the two Senchells in Cill Achaidh, I invoke unto my aid through Jesus Christ.” (IE. Record, May, 1867.) The learned editor of this litany (which he copied from a MS. in the archives of St. Isidore’s at Rome), in a note on the eight monastic rules of the early Irish Saints extant, writes as follows “We may add that we have ourselves discovered another, some-what different from these, in the St. Isidore MS. from which this litany is published, and we regret that want of space alone prevents us from laying it before our readers. It is entitled— The Pious Rules and Practices of the School of Senchil. This was Senchil, surnamed the Elder. The Rules and Practices are 38 in number. When we say that an ardent desire of hearing, and offering up the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and frequent confession were amongst the rules and practices of a school which was celebrated in the first half of the sixth century, we have said enough to prove under what system of education Ireland became ‘another name for piety, and learning in most of the languages of Europe.”
    ANNALS OF KILLEIGH
    AD. 548. St. Senchell the Elder, son of Ceanannan, Abbot of Cill-Achaidh-Droma-foda, died on the 26th day of March. Thirty and three hundred years was the length of his life. (Four Masters.) Colgan (AL SS., p. 747), thinks this number should be one hundred and thirty. In the Mart. Tal. we find at 26th March, “Sinchelli, Abb. Chilli Achaidh; and at 25th June, “Sinchell Cilli Achaidh.” The former refers to St. Senchell, Senior, the latter to St. Senchell, Junior.
    The Feiliré makes the 26th of March the “Feast of the two perennial Sinchells of vast Cill Achid;” to which entry the gloss in the Leabhar Breac adds
    “Three hundred years—fine satisfaction!
    That was (the elder) Sinchell’s lifetime
    And thrice ten years brightly
    Without sin, without sloth.”
    26 March. Sincheall, Abbot of Cill-achaidh-dromfota, i.e., the old Sincheall. It was of him this character was given after his death: –
    “The men of heaven, the men of earth,
    A surrounding host,
    Thought that the day of judgment
    Was the Death of Seancheall.
    There came not, there will not come from Adam,
    One more austere, more strict in piety;
    There came not, there will not come, all say it,
    Another Saint more welcome to the men of heaven.”
    —(Mart. Don)

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