OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Saints of Clare

  • Saint Criotan of Macreddin, May 11

    May 11 sees the commemoration of another of the British saints who came to Ireland as a student, Criotan of Macreddin. Canon O’Hanlon tells us that he eventually opted to remain in Ireland and was remembered as one of the saints of Leinster. In his 2011 Dictionary of Irish Saints, Pádraig Ó Riain says that there are two mentions of this saint on the calendars, first associating him with Achad Finnigh and apparently with a priest called Cormac but then the pair are relocated to Aran, where no further trace of their cultus survives.

    ST. CRIOTAN, OR CRIDANUS, CREDAN OR CREDANUS, OF AGHAVANNAGH, OR MACREDDIN, COUNTY OF WICKLOW.

    [SIXTH OR SEVENTH CENTURY.]

    The Feilire of St. Aengus enters My-Critoc, designated “a fair servant,” at the 11th of May. The name of Critan Mic Iladon is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 11th of May. The Bollandists, quoting this notice, call him Critanus, the son of Illudion and they state, that he bore also the name Mochritocus, which may be Anglicized “My Chritoc.” Thus, from the early calendars, we learn, that his father was called Iladon or lolladon; and, he was born—as appears most probable—some time in the sixth century. This we can discover, by reference to the period, when some of his contemporaries flourished. He is variedly called Criotan, Credan, Credanus, or Cridanus. He seems to have been the disciple of that holy Briton, St. Petrock, or St. Petrocus, who fled into Ireland, after having embraced the monastic state, in his own country. He passed over to this Island, and afterwards he applied to learning, and to the study of the Sacred Scriptures. For twenty years, he read assiduously in our Island; but, we know not in what school or monastery he lived. It seems probable, however, that it was somewhere in the eastern part of Leinster. He afterwards returned to Britain, while Credan, Medan, and Dagan left, perhaps, the Leinster province, where they had been his pupils, to receive further instruction from him. In Cornwall, St. Credan, with those other Irish youths, attended the lectures of Petrocus. We can scarcely doubt, that they became novices, in the religious state, under him. How long our saint remained, with so distinguished a master, does not appear; but, he returned to Ireland, and he probably selected a place for his religious retirement, not far from the district, where he was born. St. Credanus was venerated in Leinster, at a place called Acadh Einnech, on the 11th of May, according to Colgan, who, however, does not particularly identify it. We think, there is a mistake, in the correct spelling of that local denomination. The proper name of this place appears to have been Aghamanagh, “the field of the monks.” It is now known as Aghavannagh, in the parishes of Moyne and Ballinacor, and barony of Ballinacor South, in the county of Wicklow. It lies circled round with sheltering hills, in a highly romantic part of that mountainous region. There is a cemetery, at the spot, and still greatly resorted to for interments. No trace of a church now remains; but, the burial-ground is covered with large trees, beneath which, the graves and tombs are sheltered. Yet, tradition has it, that a church was formerly there, and the people have a great veneration for that place of interment. Not far removed from Aughavannagh, are the townlands of Macreddin East and West, in the parish of Ballykine, barony of Ballinacor South, and county of Wicklow. Not many centuries ago, this was written Moykredine —evidently in English—”the plain of Credin.” At the present time, there is a Catholic church there, which was authorized to be placed under the patronage of St. Laurence O’Toole. It would seem, however, that Credin was formerly the local saint, and that he gave denomination to those townlands.

    The Martyrology of Donegal, on this day, records the name of Criotan, son of Iolladon; but, the date for his death cannot be met with, in our annals. In the Irish Calendar—now kept in the Royal Irish Academy—at the 11th of May, we find mention of Criotan Mac Iolladon. A patriotic and distinguished prelate of our country has remarked, that if there be beatified remains in foreign lands, we may find, too, the bones of martyred and sainted forefathers, whitening the soil around us. In many of our almost forgotten and neglected cemeteries—as in the present case—it seems more than likely, the relics of holy founders repose, with those of the faithful, for long past generations, while awaiting the final resurrection and sentence of the just.

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • Saint Luchtighern of Ennistymon, April 28

     

    On April 28 we commemorate a number of interesting Irish saints including one from County Clare- Luchtighern, an early abbot of Ennistymon. Canon O’Hanlon brings us the details from the sources, in this case we do not have a surviving Vita of the saint himself, but find him featured in the hagiography of other saints, including that of Saint Ita:
    St. Luchtighern, Abbot of Ennistymon, or Inistymon, County of Clare. [Sixth Century]
    Little is known regarding this holy man, except what we learn of him incidentally, in the lives of other Irish saints. In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 28th of April, he is called the son of Cutrita. However, he is called St. Luchtigernus filius Huatriti, by the Bollandists, at this same date; while they add, he is similarly named by St. Aengus, and by Marianus O’Gorman. Brigh, daughter of Forannan, son to Conall, son to Tochtar, son to Amhalgaidh, sister of Maelaithghin, was his mother, according to the O’Clerys. There was a Saint Luctigern who was the disciple of St. Ruadhan of Lothra, and this most probably was the person. Under him, St. Luchtigern progressed in studies, and in those virtues requisite for his promotion to the ecclesiastical state. Colgan alludes to him, as being mentioned in the Acts of St. Maccrecius. In the western part of Clare County, and rising near Lake Diilogh, there is a stream, which forms a boundary between the baronies of Ibrickane and Islands, for about two miles; then it runs across the barony of Inchiquin, and afterwards, in a north-westwardly course, it forms a boundary between the latter barony and Corcomroe. It has several tributary streams, and on its northern bank is seated the present town of Ennistymon, or Innistymon, over a singularly romantic reach of the river so called, where ledges of rocks obstruct the course, and over a succession of these, the waterfalls career through a valley, unrivalled for picturesque and scenic beauty. Here the present holy man chose a place for religious retirement and contemplation
    St. Luchtigherna is the reputed founder of Inistymon Abbey, in the parish of Kilmanaheen, barony of Corcomroe, and county of Clare. It is Latinized, Inistyniensis, or Inistomensis, and it is almost due-east of the signal tower, rising over the sea-shore, at Lahinch, on Liscannor Bay. Over this house, he exercised the duties of Abbot; and, he was held in the highest repute, owing to his great sanctity. He once made a visit to St. Ita, and to her establishment, at Hy-Conaill Gaura, in the county of Limerick; and, we are told, that on this occasion, he was accompanied thither by St. Lasrean, Abbot of Druimliag. Not knowing this latter person, the nuns suffered him to pass through their gate, without any marked token of respect. For such omission, they were mildly reproved by their holy Abbess, who told them his name, and the great reputation he bore for sanctity. Those Abbots were accompanied by a young man, who had previously advised them not to visit the old woman—meaning Ita. When the visitors approached St. Ita, to receive her blessing, having a miraculous knowledge of what had occurred, she said to the young man, “Why have you come to the old woman, since you have told those holy Abbots, it would profit them little to visit me ?” The young man felt deep regret, on account of his thoughtless expression; and, the visitors, having remained for three days with St. Ita, returned to their respective places of residence, having previously received her blessing. As St. Luchtigern was contemporaneous with St. Ita, who died A.D. 570, we might perhaps assume, that he departed before the close of the sixth century. The 28th of April is the festival day of St. Luchtigherna, and probably that of his death. It is entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal, that veneration was given, on this day, to Luightighern mac Ua Trato. It is he that dwelt at Tuaim-fionn-lociia, in Tratraighe, according to the O’Clerys. This ancient place is now known as Tomfinloe, or Tomfinlough, a parish in the barony of Upper Bunratty, and county of Clare. The denomination Tuaim Finlocha, signifies “the mound or tumulus of the bright lake.” Besides this lake are seen the ruins of an old church. Previous to the middle of the tenth century, the death of a Scannlan, Abbot of Tuaim-Finlocha, is recorded. Among the various readings to the Feilire of St. Aengus, in the “Leabhar Breac ” copy, at this date, we find the name of Lugtigern introduced, as already noticed. In the Martyrology of Tallagh, the name is merely recorded, at the 28th of April, as Lucthigern mac Cutrita. A Life of Maccreiche states, that it was there—at Tuaim-fionn-locha Luightigern was either buried or venerated.

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • Saint Seanan of Inis Cathaigh, March 8

    (more…)