OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Saints of Armagh

  • Saint Machabeo of Armagh, March 31

    Canon O’Hanlon brings us details of a twelfth century abbot of Armagh commemorated on March 31 – Saint Machabeo. The notes to the Martyrology of Gorman provide him with this eulogy:

    Gilla mo-Chaidbeo, abbot of the monastery of Paul and Peter in Armagh. The tower of piety and firmness, wisdom and knowledge, labour and prudence of his time.

    Details of our saint are also to be found in the Irish Annals which give the year of his death:

    THE AGE OF CHRIST, 1174.

    Gilla Mochaibeo, Abbot of the monastery of SS. Peter and Paul at Armagh, a diligent and faithful servant of the Lord, died on the 31st day of March, in the seventieth year of his age.

    As Canon O’Hanlon remarks in his account below, this makes Machabeo one of the latest saints to be recorded in the martyrologies of our country:

    St. Machabeo, or Gilda Machai-beo, Abbot of  Armagh. [Twelfth Century] 

    Although the oak-tree’s trunk cease for a time to put forth branches and leaves, its roots do not fail to grow vigorously, while they extend in the earth. So when religious life appears diminished to the gaze of men, its hidden workings do not present less effective results, in the sight of God. St. Machabeo, or, as he is sometimes called, Gilda Machai-beo, means, “servant of the living Mochai;” and, Colgan, who has given an account of him, at the 31st day of March, supposes the name to have been imposed, in honour of St. Mochai, Abbot of Nendrum, who is related to have lived one hundred and fifty years, in Heaven, and in a state of repose. The present saint was born, in the year 1104, as we collect from the Irish Annals. He embraced the monastic profession, in the city of Armagh, and, in its former monastery, consecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul. He was probably a student, with the great St. Malachy O’Morgair, and under the tuition of that holy Abbot, Imar O’Aedhacan. It is also probable, that our saint succeeded this latter, by governing the monastery, after his death, in the year 1134 [recte, 1174?]. The office of Abbot he exercised—if this opinion be well grounded —during forty years, with the greatest sanctity. According to our ancient Martyrologies, he was the tower of Devotion and of Mildness in his time, the Ark of Wisdom and of Science, of Labour and of Prudence. He is also one of the latest saints, recorded in the Martyrologies of our country. He died, on the 31st of March, in 1174, having attained the seventieth year of his age. We find mentioned, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal, Machabeus,  i.e. Gilla Mochaidhbeo, Abbot of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Ardmacha. The Bollandists briefly notice him, at this date, but they print, incorrectly, MCXXXIV., as the year for his death.

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  • Saint Aedhan of Derrybrughas, March 29

    A saint from County Armagh is commemorated at March 29 on the Irish calendars – Aedhan of Derrybrughas. Although Canon O’Hanlon’s account below does not mention it, Pádraig Ó Riain suggests in his Dictionary of Irish Saints that today’s Saint Aedhan may be linked to a County Down saint Aedhan, ‘the layman’ commemorated on April 1:

    St. Aedan, or Aedhan, of Derrybrughas, County of Armagh. 

    The Bollandists, on the authority of the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O’Gorman, place the festival, Aidanus de doire Bruchaisse, at the 29th of March. Aedan Dairi Brucais is now known as Derrybrughas, alias, Killyman, in the County of Armagh; and, at his church, which seems to have existed from the seventh century, the present saint was venerated.  An entry occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 29th of March, Aedan Dairi Brucais. St. Edan, Bishop and Confessor, was venerated, at the 29th of March and, formerly, he had an Office of nine Lessons, as we learn, from an old Kalendar. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal that on this day was venerated, Aedhan, of Doire Bruchaisi, or Doire Bruchuse.

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  • Saint Mochua of Timahoe, December 24

    The Irish Calendars commemorate Saint Mochua of Timahoe on the eve of Christmas, although for some reason the Bollandists commemorated him on January 1. Below is a brief account of his life which quotes the Irish Martyrologies:

    TIMAHOE
    This place, which was originally styled Teach Mochua, derives its name from St. Mochua, who founded a monastery here in the seventh century.

    St. Mochua was venerated on the 24th of December, at which date the Martyrology of Donegal has the entry: “Mochua, son of Lonan, of Tigh Mochua in Laoghis, in Leinster. He was of the race of Eochaidh Finn-fuathairt, from whom Brighit is (descended). Fineacht, daughter of Loichin, son of Dioma Chiret, of Cill Chonaigh, was his mother.”

    The Feilire of Aengus thus refers to him:- ” 24 Dec. A waiting on Lucianus with my-Cua, a fair couple. Lonan’s son chances (to come) to us on the night before Christmas.” To which the gloss in the Leabhar Breac, adds:- ” ‘My-Cua,’ i. Mo-chua, son of Lonan, of Tech-Mochua in Leix of Leinster, and of Daire Mis (?) in Sliab Fuait; i.e. of Teach Mochua in Leix, i.e. Mochua, son of Lonan, son of Senach, son of Aengus, son of Lugna, son of Breg-dolb, son of Art-Chorb, son of Tiacha, i.e. son of Feidlimid Rechtmar.”

    This saint died – according to the Chronicon, Scottorum – in 654, “A.D. Mochua, son of Lonan, quevit,” but in 657, according to the Four Masters.

    Rev M Comerford” Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin” Vol. 3 (1886)

    There was also a northern link to Saint Mochua and the Armagh diocesan website has this account of the holy well dedicated to the saint:

    St Mochua’s Well, Derrynoose, Co Armagh

    St Mochua’s real name was Cronan Mac Lonain. His father was Lonan and his mother Fineachta, daughter of Loichin. He was born in 567. His pedigree can be traced to Eactach Finn Fuaith Airt. He was of Connacht origin, belonging to the tribe of Lugne, in Co. Sligo. In early life he was a soldier and perhaps a pagan. He gave up his military career to become a Christian cleric at the age of about 30. He established a monastery in Co. Laois where he spent another 30 years. When about 60 years old and wishing for great seclusion he set out for the north. He landed in the land of the Airgialla and finally settled in Derrynoose in Co. Armagh. There he built a church and spent the remainder of his life, dying aged 90 on Christmas Eve, 657. A Holy Well is located close by the ruins of that Church and has been associated with the Saint through the centuries to the present day.

    St Mochua’s well is located on the Fergot Road about half a mile south of Derrynoose Church. Today it is frequently visited by those with devotion to St Mochua, to bathe in the waters in hope of a cure. St Mochua is said to be powerful in the cure of eye complaints. Pilgrims arrive on three successive evenings after sunset, bathe in the waters and make devotion to the Saint. It is customary to leave some article at the well, generally the piece of cloth used in bathing.

    Tradition or folklore tell us that the well was formerly on the opposite or south side of the road to where it is currently located but that some “malefactors” filled it with filth, whereupon it burst out on the opposite side of the road. It is also said that there is no spring in the well but that it has never been known to go dry even in periods of prolonged drought as in the drought of 1976.

    (Abstracted from the Souvenir Brochure of the Official Opening of Páirc Naoimh Mochua, Derrynoose, 10 July, 1983.)

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