August 23 is the commemoration of a group of bishops on the earliest of the surviving Irish calendars, the Martyrology of Tallaght. It is one of a number of entries which group individuals in this way, in his account below Canon O’Hanlon believes it reflects the use of sacred numbers in a Christian context. We do not know much about these particular bishops, Canon O’Hanlon wonders if they are also mentioned in the Litany of Aengus which can be read on the blog here.

The Seven Bishops of Aelmhagh, i.e. at Donihnachmor, probably in the County of Leitrim.

The mystic number seven marked some of the most important events and regulations among the Jews. Thus, the seventh day was the Sabbath; the seventh year was the sabbath of the land, in which the people were commanded not to sow the land, nor to prune the vineyards. And again, when seven weeks of years—(i.e. forty-nine years)—were past, the people were ordered to hold the jubilee on the fiftieth year, when “remission was to be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of the land.” But, it is needless to multiply examples from the Old Testament, where the word occurs nearly one hundred times, as a sacred and peculiar mode of enumeration. So are we struck with the use of the word seven, in our old Litanies and Calendars. It is entered in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, that veneration was given at the 23rd of August, to Sect— Septem—nesp. Domnaighmoir, Elmaighi. Somewhat differently is this entered in the Book of Leinster copy of the Martyrology, at the same date. This place, or its equivalent, Aelmhagh, signifying “Plain of the Lime,” was in Calraighe; but, we are not told, in which of the many districts thus called in Ireland it had been situated. There were several tribes called Calraidhe or Calry, and so noticed as being descended from Lewy Cal. The names of the places so called serve to perpetuate the memory of those clans. Thus, one of them settled in the ancient Tenia, and the denomination is locally preserved in Slievegolry, near Ardagh, in the County of Longford. Moreover, Calry, in the County of Sligo, and it is thought Calary in Wicklow, still preserve the names of those tribes. Although in the notice of Aelmhagh, at A.M. 3790, Dr. O’Donovan does not attempt to identify Aelmhagh, in Calraighe; yet, when he meets an account of the Calraighe of Aelmhagh, at A.D. 781, he says, this Sept was probably one, otherwise called Calraighe-an-Chala, and seated in the barony of Clonlonan, in the County of Westmeath.

Under the heading of Domhnach-mor-Aolmaighe, Duald Mac Firbis records the seven bishops of Domhnach-mor-Aolmaighe, at August, 23rd. In that old Irish Litany, ascribed to St. Aengus, there is an invocation of the seven bishops of Domnach Calliraigi—most probably referring to those of Aelmaighe, although the latter denomination has not been introduced. The history of those bishops we are unable to unfold; nor is it possible for us to state when they lived, or if all had been contemporaries. It seems most probable, however, that they were commemorated, as having passed out of this world, in successive periods, and as having been buried subsequently in the place which has been mentioned. We are assured by Duald Mac Firbis, and by his learned Irish topographical commentator, that Domhnach-mor-Aelmhagh or Aolmaighe is in Breifne-O’Ruiarc; and consequently, that it is now known as Donaghmore, in the barony of Dromahire, and County of Leitrim. We find recorded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date, The Seven Bishops, of Aelmhagh, i.e., at Domhnach-mor.

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We close the month of July with the collective feast of the Sons of Nadfraech. Inevitably, the  calendars do not agree with each other in their listing of the individuals who make up the grouping and it seems that some of the saints whose feasts happen to fall on this day may have been erroneously included as sons of Nadfraech. Canon O’Hanlon is cautious about the group but is able to bring accounts of all of them individually. We have already met one of them, Saint Colmán of Derrymore, on the blog and accounts of the others will follow:

FESTIVAL FOR THE SONS OF NADFRAECH, VIZ., COLMAN, FOLLAMAN, PAPAN, IERNOC AND NATALIS.

[FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES.]

MUCH uncertainty prevails, as we shall see, regarding the parentage and places, the sons—if they were not rather the grandsons—of Nadfraech, should have in our histories and calendars. We do not read of his conversion to Christianity, nor any very particular allusion to him, in the Acts of St. Patrick, although his son Aengus, King of Munster, became a distinguished convert, when the Gospel was preached in that part of Ireland.  However, it is likely, in this case, the father’s name has been set down for that of his son Aengus. According to the Martyrology of Donegal, the sons of Nadfaech had veneration paid them at this date. Their names are entered in detail, with marked distinction, and in the following order, according to the foregoing Calendar, viz. : Colman, Bishop; Fallamain, Bishop ; Iarnog, the sickly; and Natal of Cill-na-manach. It is not otherwise recorded, nor does it seem probable, except in a remote degree, that Natfraich had many children, who were saints. However, it is generally assumed, that Aengus was the father of a numerous and holy offspring. There are four of his sons numbered among our saints, and they are called Colman, Foilan, Lugad and Natalis. Nor does this account wholly agree with that of other authorities. At the 31st of July, Marianus O’Gorman seems to say, that the feast of Angus’ five sons, viz. : Colman, the son of Darenia, Follamonius, or Follomen, Papan, Iernoc and Natal is, had been celebrated on that day. These he calls the sons of Natfraich. But, by another designation, we are to understand, that they were only his grandsons, Aengus being their father.  In succeeding articles, we shall treat individually regarding each one of those saints, and as we find references to them in our records.

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