OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Female Saints

  • Saint Tocomracht of Conmaicne, June 11

    At June 11, Canon O’Hanlon has a notice of a female saint, Tocomracht, immediately followed by that of a saint Tochumra. He suspects that they may be one and the same person, which does indeed appear to be the case. Although Canon O’Hanlon was unable to associate this holy lady with a locality, in his 2011 Dictionary of \Irish Saints Pádraig Ó Riain was able to place her in Kiltoghert (Ceall Tochomhracht), County Leitrim. He confirms her status as an intercessor for women in labour, mediated via her bejewelled bell, noted in a seventeenth-century list. He also notes that as her name and association with the people of the Conmhaicne suggest, she also had a cultus in Connacht. Below are Canon O’Hanlon’s individual entries for the saint, taken from Volume VI of his Lives of the Irish Saints:

    Tocomracht, Virgin.

    The Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Donegal, mention that Tocomracht, Virgin, of Conmaicne, had veneration paid her, at the 11th of June. The latter Calendar only gives the territory, with which she had been connected; but, as this territorial designation is applied in composition with different localities, it is not so easy to determine where the present saint lived. At this date, also, in the Rev. Alban Butler’s work, and in the Circle of the Seasons, St. Tochumra, Virgin, is found entered.

    St. Tochumra. Virgin.

    There is apparently another St. Tochumra, Virgin, whose feast occurs at 11th of June, in Butler’s Lives of the Saints, where we are told, she belonged to the diocese of Kilmore, and that she was much honoured in Ireland, being invoked by women in labour. Colgan could discover no Acts of her. Likewise, in the Circle of the Seasons, we have the name of this St. Tochumra entered. It is likely, she is not a different person from the preceding Tocomracht.

    Note: The introduction to this post was updated in 2025.

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

  • Saint Commaigh of Snamha Luthair, May 27

    May 27 is the commemoration of a female saint, Commaigh of Snamha Luthair. It seems that she is a member of an aristocratic family which produced a number of saints. Earlier scholars argued that the locality where this holy woman flourished was in County Sligo, but Canon O’Hanlon prefers to locate Saint Commaigh in County Cavan:

    St. Commaigh, Comagia, or Comaigh, Virgin, of Snawlooher, or Slanore, County of Cavan. [Sixth or Seventh Century.]

    At this date, the Martyrology of Tallagh records the name of this holy virgin, under the designation Commaigh, daughter of Eachdach, of Snamha luthair. The Bollandists have also a like entry, at the 27th of May, for Comagia of Snam-Luthir. It appears, that this holy virgin was daughter of Eochaidh, her father, and Aigleann or Ailgend, her mother. She was fifth in descent, by the father’s side, from Laeghaire, monarch of Ireland, in the time of St. Patrick. Her father was son to Ailill, son of Guaire, son to Lughaidh, son of King Laeghaire. Her brothers were St. Fintan, St. Lughaidh, and St. Coluin. Besides these uterine brothers, her father had been married to Ligach Bredmainech, by whom he had St. Fursey, St. Nainnidh, and St. Muiredach. The monastery at Snam-luthir had been founded, by the brother of St. Comaigh, a holy man named Columbanus, or Golman. It was supposed, by Colgan, that Snam-Luthir had been identical with a monastery, founded at Garbre Gabhra, otherwise Carbre Mor, in the maritime part of northern Connaught, and by a certain Columbanus, a holy man, who was son to Echad. In like manner, the Rev. Mervyn Archdall and Rev. Dr. Lanigan say, that Snam luthir was a monastery, in the present barony of Carbury, and county of Sligo. Another name for this territory is said to have been Carbremhor or Carbre Droma-Cliabh. This opinion has been most generally received. However, that place has been identified, by other writers—and notably by Rev. Dr. Reeves —with Snawlooher, or Slanore, a townland in the parish of Kilmore, barony of Upper Loughtee, and county of Cavan. Not a vestige of the old monastery now remains. There, however, various remains of mortality have been discovered, and it would seem the ancient religious foundation stood, also, some where about the beginning of the seventh century. St. Coluin, the brother of our saint, appears also to have lived—at least for a time—in this place… An abbey’s site is shown in a field, which is called the Abbey-field, in the western part of Snawlooher or Slanore townland. This contains about 130 acres, and it is situated a little south from Lough Oughter, on the west side of Kilmore parish. It appears, furthermore, that Cairbre Gabhra is now represented, by the modern barony of Granard, in the northeastern part of Longford County; while, this territory must have proceeded still farther towards the north, so as to include a considerable portion of Upper Loughtee, in the county of Cavan, since Snamh-luthir, Snawlougher, or Slanore, was within it. Veneration was given on this day, to Comaigh, Virgin, of Snamh Luthair, as we find entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal.

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

  • Saint Mocholla, Daughter of Diomma, May 25

    May 25 sees the commemoration of a female saint, Mocholla, daughter of Diomma. As with so many Irish saints, we have no other details apart from the recording of her name and feast day date, as Canon O’Hanlon explains:

    St. Mocholla, Daughter of Diomma.

    The Martyrology of Tallagh thus records this name, at the 25th of May, as Mocholla inghen Diomo. However, quoting the same authority, the Bollandists, at this date, enter Mocholla, filia Damae. According to the Martyrology of Donegal, Mocholla, daughter of Diomma, was venerated on this day.

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