OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Female Saints

  • Saint Luith of Druim-Dairbhreach, April 30

     

    We close the month of April with the commemoration of an Irish holy woman, Luith of Druim-dairbhreach, one of the many Irish saints about whom we have no other details, as Canon O’Hanlon explains:

    St. Luith, Virgin, of Druim-dairbhreach.

    An entry appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 30th of April, which describes a holy female as Luta, virgin, of Dromadairbreach. This place means in English “Oakhill;” but, it has not been identified. However, it is mentioned, in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 1062, and, in such a manner as to indicate, that it must have been situated within the territory of Leinster, as then recognised. The Bollandists quote the Tallagh Martyrology, at this date, for the festival of the virgin Luta of Droma-airbreach. The name of Luith, virgin, of Druim-dairbhreach, also occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having had veneration paid her, on this day.

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  • Saint Lassair of Donaghmoyne, April 18

     

    April 18 is the feast day of one of the many Irish female saints about whom we know little, Lassair of Donaghmoyne. In his Lives of the Irish Saints, Canon O’Hanlon recorded 14 female saints with the name of Lassar, most of whom, like the daughter of Eoghan commemorated today, remain shadowy figures. I did notice, however, that our holy woman is commemorated on the same day as the much more famous male saint Laserian/Molaise of Leighlin and checked Professor Ó Riain’s new Dictionary of Irish Saints for a second opinion. Sure enough he confirms that ‘both saints are likely to have originally represented the same cult’. He also quotes a note appended to the Martyrology of Donegal which effectively overturns Canon O’Hanlon’s identification of the holy woman’s church with that of Moyne in County Mayo. For the note records that the church of Donaghmoyne had two patrons, Ciar and Lasair, and Ó Riain argues that the church was actually
situated in the barony of Farney, County Monaghan. It is particularly interesting to note that just as our obscure female Lassair shares her commemoration with the famous male Laserian, her co-patroness Ciar may also be
commemorated on September 9, the feast of Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise. Below is Canon O’Hanlon’s brief account of Saint Lassair:

    St. Lassar, Virgin, daughter of Eoghan, of Maigin, possibly Moyne, in the County of Mayo

    This holy female appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 18th of April, as Lasar, daughter of Eccain of Maighin. From the same authority, the Bollandists enter Lassara filia Egani de Maigin. This locality, perhaps, was identical with the present Moyne, in the barony of Tirawley, and county of Mayo. A conventual establishment for religious women may have existed there, previous to the foundation of a Franciscan Monastery, early in the fifteenth century….The Martyrology of Donegal, registers the name of Lassar, virgin, and daughter to Eoghan, of Maighin, as having veneration paid her, at this date.

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  • Saint Coine of Kilkine, April 4

    April 4 is the commemoration of yet another of our obscure female saints, Coine of Kilkine, County Wicklow. The saint is referred to as Coine in the earliest of the Irish martyrologies and as Caoimhe in the latest. Caoimhe (pronounced ‘Keeva’) is the feminine version of the male name Caoimhin or Kevin, and thus tradition seeks to associate this holy woman with the great saint of Glendalough, also in County Wicklow. Saint Kevin’s hagiography seeks to provide him with various family members, all of whose names embody the same element as his own, caomh ‘fair’ – thus his father is called Caomhlugh, his mother Caoimheall, his brother Caomhán, so it is no surprise to find that today’s saint is said to be his sister. Canon O’Hanlon, having a dearth of information on this saint, concludes with some remarks on the veiling of women:

    St. Caemh, or Coine, Virgin, of Cill-Caoimhe, or Coine, probably Kilkine, County of Wicklow.

    The great ones of earth pass away from life obtaining human applause, often undeservedly bestowed;but, the good should be held, in each Christians grateful and affectionate remembrance, as the present holy woman deserved to be known in her day. On the 4th of April, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, we find her name and place inserted, as Coini i-Cillé Coine. The Bollandists have it, Coina de Kill-Coine. There is a Kilkine old church, in the parish of Ballykine, in the County of Wicklow. The present saint may have been the sister of St. Kevin, founder of Glendalough, and, it seems not improbable, that she lived in the place previously mentioned; or, at least, we do not find any nearer corresponding denomination, on the Irish Ordnance Maps.

    The old graveyard of the place is still much used, but only a few fragments of the old church walls are to be seen there; and the situation—a peculiarly retired one—lies within a well-wooded demesne, known as Whaley Abbey, near Avondale House and Demesne, as also, near the celebrated Meeting of the Waters.



    The festival, in honour of Caemh, Virgin, of Cill Caoimhe, was celebrated on this day, as we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal. The first successor of St. Peter, in his chair at Rome, had decreed, that all women should enter the churches, with their heads veiled, as a mark of respect for the holiness of God’s House. In after time, this veiling of pious females was peculiarly a distinctive usage of religious Virgins.

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