OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Irish Saints

  • Saint Lassara, March 29

    March 29 is the feast of a female saint, Lassara. Her name, reflecting the Old Irish word for flame, is also shared by a number of male saints, where it occurs in the variants Laserian and Mo-laisse. Much is made by neo-pagans of Saint Brigid as a supposed fire goddess, so it is perhaps worth pointing out that other Irish saints, both male and female, also have a link with fire in their names. There are a number of female saints who share the name Lassara, and Canon O’Hanlon attempts to give an account of the present one in his entry for this day in volume three of the Lives of the Irish Saints:
     
    St. Lasar, Lassar, or Lassera, Virgin. [Sixth Century.]
     
    A very brief allusion to St. Lassara occurs, in the Bollandists’ Collection, at the 29th of March. Entering more into particulars, Colgan notices her festival, at the same date and, he undertakes, also, to solve her genealogy. She is said to have been of royal origin; her father being Fearguss, son of Fethlemid, son to King Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages. She was niece to St. Fortchern, who became one of St. Patrick’s earliest converts, in Ireland. It is thought, that her earliest lessons of virtue and of culture were given, by her holy relative, while her name, Lassair, in Irish signifying “a flame,” was happily typical of that Divine ardour, which warmed all her affections. Her parents desired for their daughter a suitable marriage, but, being resolved on a life of celibacy and retirement, she wished to leave their home. So eager was she, that her youth should belong to a heavenly spouse, a name, in Irish, Algasach, and Latinized Desideriosa, was added to her former appellation. In St, Brigid’s Acts, there is mention made of a St. Lasrea, and Colgan seems to think, her commemoration fell on this day. Already have we alluded to her, in connexion with the renowned Abbess of Kildare. However, she seems to have been a person, altogether distinct from the present Lassara, who flourished a little after her time. Before and about the middle of the sixth century, St. Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, had a great school opened, in his monastery; and, the noble virgin was placed under his charge, to be instructed, in all science, religious and mundane. To St. Kieran, afterwards Abbot of Clonmacnoise, was especially committed the care of her education; for, St. Finnian had an inspiration, that she should become a very distinguished saint, and preside over a community of pious virgins. As an instance of the extreme circumspection and care, manifested for the young princess, while residing at Clonard; she lodged and boarded with a virtuous widow, who lived near the monastery. And, we are told, that neither did St. Kieran presume to gaze on her features, nor did his young pupil dare to look in his face, during the whole course of her instruction. She learned the Sacred Scriptures and the Psalms, through him. Another extraordinary occurrence is related, that an Angel brought St. Lassara from St. Finnian’s patronage, and placed her in the convent of his sister, St. Rioghnach, or Regnata. Here, she seems to have remained for some time, until feeling desirous of returning to her own part of the country, St. Finnian was consulted as to her guide. He replied to Regnacia, that the same heavenly messenger, who brought her away, should also conduct her homewards. Accordingly the Angel, raising her in the air, like ‘another Halbacuc, bore the virgin to her own country’. Here, greatly abounding in sanctity, this chaste spouse of Christ built a church, at a place, called Doire Mac Aidhmechain. At this place, she wrought many miracles, but the year of her demise is not found on record.
     
    The simple name, Lassar, is set down, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 29th of March. The published Martyrology of Tallagh mentions, however, that veneration was given to Ailgasach, at this date. As we have already seen, this is only another designation, applied to her. Marianus O’Gorman, and Cathal Maguire commemorate her, in like manner, at the 29th of March. A saint, thus described, as Lassar, Virgin, is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal, and as having been venerated, on this day, in accord with the authorities of an earlier date, on the subject of Irish saint history.

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  • 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.
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  • 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.

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