OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Irish Saints

  • Saint Corc of Druim-Lomain, February 4

    February 4 is the commemoration of yet another of our many obscure Irish saints, Saint Corc of Druim-Lomain. His name and feast day are first recorded on the earliest of the Irish calendars, the Martyrology of Tallaght, but it is impossible to say when and where he flourished:

    St. Corc, of Druim-Lomain.

    It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal, that the festival of Corc, of Druim Lomáin, had been celebrated on this day. This name occurs, with that of Cota of Druinn—probably an error for Druim—at this same date, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. The place is not readily identifiable.Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • 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.

  • Saint Aithmet of Clogher, February 2

    February 2 is the feast of Saint Aithmet, remembered as a Bishop of the See of Clogher. In his account below, Canon O’Hanlon is not convinced by the attempts of the seventeenth-century hagiologist, Father John Colgan, to identify our saint with a reputed biographer of Saint Patrick, but it seems that apart from the entries on the Irish calendars, Colgan is the only source of information:

    St. Aithmet, Bishop of Clogher, County of Tyrone.

    [Probably in the Sixth, Seventh or Eighth Century. ]

    With such prestige as the Christian pastors left to our early sees, the Irishman’s heart must be inspired, his mind must be expanded, and his soul must be improved. It  is mentioned, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O’Gorman, and of Donegal, that Aithmet, a Bishop of Clochar, had a festival, at this date. He flourished at rather an early period. The present saint is named Ermedus or Hermetius, by Colgan, and his festival is assigned to the 2nd of February. Reference is made to the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, and to Ussher, for some particulars regarding him. Ermedus, Bishop of Clogher, is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick but, at what particular period he flourished does not seem to be known. Even the date for his festival becomes a subject of controversy nor, is it necessary, always to class individuals, similarly named in the Acts of our Saints, with the same category. The present parish of Clogher, in a barony, likewise so called, is of very considerable extent. Colgan places this saint, as a successor to Liberius, Bishop, over this see. We are left to infer from such a position, that the present saint flourished, probably long after A.D. 550, but previous to A.D. 731. In pre-Christian times, this place had obtained celebrity. The very curious old moats, forts and an ancient graveyard, near the town of Clogher, are shown on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps, for the County of Tyrone. These well deserve a more careful antiquarian enquiry, and investigation, than they have yet obtained.
    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.