OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

ALL THE SAINTS OF IRELAND

  • Saint Tighernach of Boirche, May 13

     

    May 13 is the feast of an 11th-century saint associated with the County Down Kingdom of the Mournes, or Boirche, as it was originally called. Saint Tighernach was tutor to the famous chronicler monk Marianus Scottus and rejoiced in the title of ‘chief anamchara of Ireland.’ The following account of his life has been distilled from Canon O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints, Volume 5:

    This distinguished and holy teacher was universally esteemed and beloved by the clergy of Ireland. The scene of his labours was but a small island, set in the bosom of the Atlantic; but, the seed he had sowed was destined to produce a harvest of souls among his pupils. This pious doctor is supposed to have been master to Marianus Scotus, and he is called the chief anmchara of Ireland. St. Tighernach—or as styled also by his disciple Tigernach Borchech—probably belonged to the eleventh century. Marianus Scotus declares, that from his superior Tigernach, he learned the cause of Amnchad’s or Anmchad’s exile, on the occasion of his having committed a slight fault. That superior of the celebrated chronologist is supposed to be identical with the present holy man. We are told, he was one of the Abbots of Bangor; yet, I cannot find his name on the list of Archdall, of Rev. Dr. Reeves, or of Dr. O’Donovan, when treating about that place. The Annals of the Four Masters relate, that a certain Tighernach Boircheach, chief anmchara of Ireland, was an anchoret and a successor of Finnen, Abbot of Clonard. By the postfix to the name Tighearnach, we are to understand, that he was of Beanna-Boirche Mountains, near the source of the Upper Bann, in the county of Down… Colgan states, that this Tighearnach was abbot over Clonard, where a celebrated monastery had been founded, in the sixth century. He was an anchoret, likewise, and a successor of St. Finnen, in that place.

    We read from the Irish Annals, that in 1059, great diseases prevailed in Laighin, and which caused the death of a great number of persons there. This holy and learned servant of Christ died of the plague, in A.D. 1061. This is the date assigned by Tighernach, the Irish Annalist, for the great pestilence, which raged in Leinster, and which seems to have extended its ravages to other parts of Ireland. At the 13th of May, the Natalis of St. Tighernach, Anchoret and Confessor, in Ireland, is entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. On this day was venerated, as we find set down, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O’Gorman, and of Donegal, St. Tighernach, of Boirche.

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  • Saint Erc Nasca of Tullylish, May 12

    May 12 is the feast of a northern saint, Erc Nasca of Tullylish. As Canon O’Hanlon presents the saint below, he is a male individual from Tullylish in County Down. However, the name Erc is also used as a woman’s name. Pádraig Ó Riain’s Dictionary of Irish Saints suggests the possibility that Erc Nasca could be a female saint Cearc of Auglish, County Armagh, who is known only through genealogical sources.

    The Martyrology of Oengus records in its entry for today:

    12. Cyriacus who was crucified,
    who comes to us with three hundreds :
    Ailithir, a beloved name,
    with hallowed Erc Nascai.

    whilst the scholiast wrestles with the two distinct parts of the saint’s name:

    Erc, i.e. of Telach lis in Hui Echach of Ulster.

    nascai, i.e. a tie (nasc) used to be round his neck so long as he was in the water a-praying i.e. a tie that used to be under his neck while he was in the river a-washing.

    I am not sure that in this allusion to the penitential practice of praying in water the scholiast has actually made things any clearer for us. Nor does the fact that Nasc can also be used as a man’s name, we have for example on October 25 the feast of Saint Laisren, son of Nasca of Ard-mac-nasca, the present day village of Holywood in County Down.

    Canon O’Hanlon has this entry in Volume 5 of his Lives of the Irish Saints:

    Erc, or Ercus, Nasca, of Tullylish, County of Down.

    In the Feilire of St. Oengus, there is a commemoration of “sainted Erc Nascai,” at the 12th of May. We are informed, that Earc descended, from the race of Art Corb, son to Fiacha Suighdhe. There appears to be some difficulty, not alone in determining the period when that saint lived, and what had been the station he occupied, among our holy personages; but, even, the individuality of the subject is doubtful, as those entries of our calendars in reference to him are conflicting. Thus, the simple entry of Nasc occurs, at this date, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, and, in the Franciscan copy, it is nearly similar. Nevertheless, the Bollandists, quoting such authority, have Ercus Nasca de Talach-leis, on the same day. This place has been identified with Tullylish, in Lower Iveagh. This parish and that of Donaghcloney formed a territory, which was anciently called Clan-Connell. The parish of Tullylish was formerly part of the property of the Maginnis family, Lords of Iveagh; but, in consequence of the part taken by the head of that family in 1641, it was declared forfeit to the crown. In it, the remains of several ancient forts are to be traced; and, at Tullyhoa, there are extensive ruins, supposed by some, to have been those of an abbey. The River Bann passes, in a winding course, through Tullylish parish, the soil of which is fertile and highly improved, while the scenery is very beautiful. In the Franciscan copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 12th of May, we have the entry of Herc; while, immediately over it, and the proper name Nasc, we find the comment, i.e., in Tilaig Leis. This parish includes 11,707a. or 1p., and probably in the townland proper had been erected his ancient church. The Martyrology of Donegal mentions, that on this day, veneration was given to Herc Nasca, of Tulach-lis, in Ui Eachach Uladh. At the 12th of May, the Natalis of St. Erc, Confessor, in Ireland, is thus entered in the Kalendar of Drummond.

    Note: This entry for Saint Erc Nasca, first published in 2013 was updated in 2022.

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  • 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.

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