OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Female Saints

  • Saint Brigid, Daughter of Doma, February 7

    February 7 is the commemoration of another saint Brigid, this one known as the Daughter of Doma. Although her feast is well-attested on all the Irish calendars, nothing more is known of her life, as Canon O’Hanlon explains:

    St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma or Droma.

    The name of St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, Dioma, Domma, Droma or Drona, as variously written by different authorities, is set down in our Irish Calendars, at this day. Various distinct saints, called Brigid, are noticed in our calendars. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly’s version of the Martyrology of Tallagh, the present saint is called Brigit ingean Droma, on the 7th of February. At the same day, she is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Marianus O’Gorman and of Charles Maguire. It is stated, likewise, that Aengus the Culdee and Geoffrey Keating mention this saint. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal, concerning Brighit, a daughter of Domma, as being venerated on this day. Her history is furthermore exceedingly obscure.

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  • Saint Cera of Raith Moentich, February 5

    February 5 is the feast of an obscure female saint, Cera of Raith Moentich. Her namesake, Cera of Kilkeary,  is perhaps better-known today, although I can’t help noticing that their feast days are exactly one month apart, as the Tipperary saint is commemorated on January 5. Canon O’Hanlon can only bring us the details from the Martyrology of Tallaght and some speculation on the locality the calendar entry may refer to:

    St. Cera, Virgin, of Raith Moentich.

    What the future may reveal is only vaguely presented to the mind of many a holy virgin; her leading idea is to save her own soul, and the souls of many others. She, feels, too, that under the directing hand of God, this holy inspiration must assume in due time, a definite and practical shape. The Martyrology of Tallagh registers a feast for Caera of Raith Moentich, at the 5th of February. The place here named, and with which she appears to have had relations, has not been identified. There is a district, formerly known as Moentach, and which is situated to the south of Lifford, on the borders of Tyrone and Donegal counties. Cera, virgin—simply thus written—is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having a festival, at this date. Nothing more seems to be known regarding her.

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  • Saint Caoilfionn, February 3

    February 3 is the feast day of Saint Caoilfionn, yet another of our obscure Irish female saints. In his account below, Canon O’Hanlon relies on the seventeenth-century Martyrology of Donegal for clues as to her identity and concludes with some pious conjectures of his own:

    St. Caoilfionn, Virgin.

    Some doubts, regarding this holy woman’s race and parentage, seem to exist. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having had a festival on this day, Caoilfionn, Virgin, of Caellainn. This Caellainn, we are told, belonged possibly to the race of Modh-ruith, son to Fergus, son of Ros, son to Rudhraighe. Or, she might possibly be Caoilfionn, daughter of Cael, son to Fionnchadh, who belonged to the race of Ciar, son to Fergus, son to Ros, son of Rudhraighe. This pious lady quickly won the esteem and affection of her sister nuns, by her exactness to every duty, as also, by her sweet temper, gentle, confiding disposition and unaffected piety.Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.