OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Saints of Meath

  • Saint Conuan of Stackallan, June 29

    On June 29 we commemorate a County Meath saint, Conuan of Stackallan. Canon O’Hanlon brings us the details:

    St. Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain, or Tigh Connain, in Cremhthanna, now Stackallan, County of Meath.

    In the Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 29th of June, in honour of Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain. The land of Ui-Crimhthainn comprises the present baronies of Upper and Lower Slane, in the county of Meath. It is thought to be highly probable, that the Four Masters are wrong, when they write the name of this place Teach Collain, as it is locally pronounced by the natives; and, it is supposed, the true form of the name had been Teach-Conain, “Conan’s house.” This house of Collan or Connan—now known as Stackallen—was situated nearly midway between Navan and Slane, in the county of Meath. It is curious to remark, that in some of those districts colonized by the Danes and English, the Teach or Tigh of the Irish was rendered into Sta or Sti, as in the present instance. Stackallen is a small village, in the barony of Upper Slane, and county of Meath. After the Anglo- Norman Invasion, Stackallen became a parish church, and it formed a small parish, in the diocese of Meath. Under the head of Teach-Connain, Duald Mac Firbis enters Connan, bishop, from Tech Connain, in Crimthann, at June 29th. Again, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at the same date, he is registered as Cenuan, Bishop, of Tigh Conuain, in Cremhthanna.
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  • Saint Cethach of Cill Garadh, June 16

    On June 16 we commemorate Cethach of Cill Garadh, a convert of Saint Patrick who went on to become a bishop. Canon O’Hanlon has the details:

    ST. CETHIG, OR CETHACH, BISHOP OF CILL GARADH, OR ORAN, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON, AND OF DOMHNACH SAIRIGH, IN CIANACHTA, COUNTY OF MEATH.

    [FIFTH CENTURY.]

    THE fame of a great master naturally overshadows that of his less distinguished disciples. To this cause is mainly owing, perhaps, the few indications we now have of many worthy labourers in our early church. This Cethecus, however, is well known in the Irish Calendars, and he is said to have lived contemporaneously with our celebrated Irish Apostle, St. Patrick, by whom it seems probable he was baptized. He was born most likely, in the early part of the fifth century. Thus, in Tirechan’s list of St. Patrick’s disciples, we meet with Cethecus or Cethiacus. On the 16th of June, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, we find the simple entry, Cethig, Bishop of St. Patrick. In like manner, Marianus O’Gorman treats of him. According to received accounts, his father was a Meath man, from Domnach-Sarige, near Duleek. He is said to have been of the race called Say, who lived in the territory of Cianachta, in Magh-Breagh, of Meath. This, too, comprised Domhnach Sairighe, which must have been near Duleek, the old name for which was Damhliag-Chianain. His mother was of a Tirellil family. He was born, too, in that part of the country. This is now a barony, in the county of Sligo, and originally it signified the territory or land of Oilell.

    Cethach is classed as one of St. Patrick’s disciples. The Irish Apostle is said to have selected Cetchen, when he had come into the territory ot Hua-Noella, where, in a place called Domhacha, he erected a church called Sencheall Damhaighe, in which he left Cetchen, as also other disciples. Colgan thought that Ceihemis was the same as Cethecus. This conjecture, however, is clearly inadmissible. They are mentioned distinctly, in the Tripartite Life, and the former is not called a bishop. They are distinguished also in Tirechan’s list one by the name of Cetennus, and the other by that of Cethiacus. The latter is called Patrick’s bishop, that is, suffragan of St. Patrick. He is said to have been employed as bishop, and in various places far distant from each other. Thus, he officiated at Domnach Sarige, in his father’s country, as also at a place called Ath-da-Laarg, in his maternal and natal country. On Easter Sunday, Cethecus was at Domnach-Sarige, and at other times, especially on Dominica in Albis, he officiated in Tirellil. In this statement, there is nothing improbable. Cethecus could not have been a bishop probably before a.d. 440. But, it is very natural to suppose, that St. Patrick wanted the assistance of some bishops, unattached to any fixed Sees, that they might ordain priests and attend to other episcopal duties, when he could not conveniently act in their distant places. It has been stated, that St. Patrick visited Hy-Many, a district, partly in Roscommon, but chiefly in Galway.

    While St. Patrick was in Connaught, he founded a church, at a place afterwards called Kill-Garadh, otherwise Huaran-Garadh, now Gran, owing to the circumstance of his having produced from the earth a cold and bubbling spring well. Here it was destined, that one of a band of brothers from France, and who were disciples of St. Patrick, should remain. While hearing about the progress made by their countrymen in Ireland, and considering the unhappy state of disturbance prevailing in many parts of Gaul, in those times, it is not to be wondered at, if some persons from that country might have come over to our island, as to a place of greater peace and security. In the Litany of Aengus, invocations of Gaelic saints, whose remains were in various parts of Ireland, are to be found. It is more probable, however, that the greatest part of these pilgrims did not come over to Ireland, until several years later than this period. Over the church of Cill Garadh, a St. Cethogus or Cethecus is said to have presided, in the fifth century; but, for this statement, we do not seem to have very satisfactory evidence. One of the Irish round towers yet remains at Oran, a parish in the barony of Ballymoe, and county of Roscommon. It is only asserted, that Cethecus was buried in Kill-garadh, or Oran. But, it does not thence follow, that he was bishop of Oran, as Archdall says.

    It would appear, there was a place bearing this name, in the territory of Hy-Many, which embraced a great part of the southern and eastern part of the county of Galway. There was also a Cill Garadh in Scotland. Oran was nothing more than a parish church, and should not have been placed among the Irish monasteries. The date for this holy bishop’s death is not known. Bishop Cethechus is said to have been buried in the parish church of Kill-garadh, or Oran, and there his relics were afterwards preserved. To it, many pilgrimages continued to be made, down to the close of the last century. The name of this holy man appears, also, in the Martyrology of Donegal at the same date, as Cethach, Patrick’s Bishop, of Cill Garadh, in the territory of Ui Maine, and of Domhnach Sairighe in Cianachta, at Daimhliac Cianan. He was, it is said, of the Cianachta. The Life of Patrick is quoted, as authority for the foregoing statements. Under the head of Domhnach Sairighe, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cethach, bishop, at June 16th; and, at the same date, under the head of Daimhlaig, Duald Mac Firbis again enters, Cethech, bishop, from Domnach-Sairighe, at Daimhlaig Cianain. More than the foregoing we cannot discover, in reference to this primitive bishop.

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  • Saint Ciaran of Bealach-Duin, June 14

    We commemorate Saint Ciaran of Bealach-Duin, on June 14. As Canon O’Hanlon’s account below records, this saint is associated with a holy well and with some miraculous bells which continued to ring out from the ruins of his church each Christmas Eve:

    St. Ciaran, of Bealach-duin, now Castle-Kieran, County of Meath.
    [Eighth Century.]

    In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 14th of June, the simple entry, Ciaran, of Bealaigh Duin, occurs. According to the Calendar of the O’Clerys, this Ciaran descended from the race of Irial, son to Conall Cearnach, who is of the race of Rudhraighe, and who belonged to the progeny of Ir, son to Milidh. He was born probably before or about the beginning of the eighth century. He is thought to have been one of the authors, who wrote the Life of St. Patrick. He is designated the Devout, and he is distinguished as abbot of Belach-duin. This etymon means in English, “the road” pass of the fort. This was the ancient name of Disert-Chiarain or Castlekieran, near Kells, in the county of Meath. In Irish, it is now corruptly called Ister-Chiarain. An old church, yet not founded by the present saint, but called after him, is there situated on the Abhainn-Sele, or Blackwater River. According to a popular rumour, the present saint was a stone-cutter. Many legends are current regarding him, in the neighbourhood where he lived, but hardly any of them are of a reliable character. The old church yet remains. It is quadrangular, measuring forty-five feet six inches, by twenty feet. Most of the stones have been carried away, and the whole presents a melancholy picture of desolation. The interesting remains of five Termon crosses were here, and between four of these the church is situated. They were placed north, south and west of the ruin. The base of one was erected in a ford of the River Blackwater; but, the shaft, arms and top were removed, many years ago. The ancient crosses at this church sufficiently indicate its antiquity. Around one of these, on the north side, and placed in the Blackwater, cattle used to be driven by the country people, who believed that practice should preserve them from distemper. About a furlong’s length, towards the west of the old church and cemetery, one of the most beautiful of the Irish holy wells may be seen, and shaded by a hoary ash tree, of surpassingsize and beauty. It springs from a limerock of considerable extent, and it falls into a small natural basin, at the foot of the tree. This is called St. Kieran’s Well. There is a well, dedicated to St. Kieran or Ciaran, also at the Downs, about 3 miles east of Mullingar, in the county of Westmeath. In a little mound above it, there is a sculptured stone, partially embedded in the earth, and with a rude effigy carved upon it. According to a local tradition, a church or monastery formerly was there, but not a vestige of it now remains. The well is walled into a square upright opening, and it is held in great reverence by the people; but, whether it was connected with the present St. Kieran, or another bearing the same name, is uncertain, as the patron’s feast is not known.

    The death of our St. Ciaran, distinguished as the Pious, on the 14th of June, A.D. 770, or A.D. 778, is announced in the Annals of the Four Masters. The Martyrology of Donegal,at this same date, designates the saint as Ciaran of Bealach-duin. The Bollandists note St. Kieranus, Abbot of Belachduin, at 14th day of June, in their collection. A beautiful legend is current, that formerly the old bells of the church of St. Kieran used to be heard sounding at midnight, on every Christmas Eve. Those live, who assert, they have frequently heard them chime most distinctly. During the last century, the former parish priest of the place used to celebrate midnight Mass within the old ruined church; but, this practice has long been discontinued. While flocking to this Mass, “the miraculous bells” began to chime, and they only ceased at its commencement, according to popular tradition.

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