OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Irish Saints

  • Saint Maonach of Dunleer, October 17

    At October 17 the Martyrology of Donegal records:

    17. C. SEXTO DECIMO KAL. NOVEMBRIS. 17.

    MAENACH, son of Cláirin, Abbot of Lann Léire, A.D. 720.

    A footnote adds that the year 720 is the date given for the repose of this saint in the Annals of Ulster. The place name associated with the saint, Lann Léire, is modern Dunleer, County Louth and a local researcher has made an interesting historical archive on the district available here. In the nineteenth-century Bishop Reeves sought to derive the name from the old Irish words lann, church and léire, austerity, but modern scholarship inclines to the view that it simply means ‘the church in the district of Léire’ rather than ‘the church of austerity.’ The name was in common use up until the twelfth century but after the coming of the Normans the lann element was replaced by dún, fort. The monastery of which Saint Maonach was abbot was originally founded by the saintly brothers Furadhran and Baithin. Our saint is the first abbot to be mentioned in the Annals after the founders. Thus Lann Léire must have been a foundation of some importance and various commentators have noted that no other County Louth monastery is referenced so frequently in the Irish Annals. Not only are its abbots recorded but so too are other events such as as attacks by the Vikings as well as by native marauders, culminating in the burning of the monastery in 1148.  One can only hope that Saint Maonach exercised his abbacy in less interesting times.
    Pádraig Ó Riain in his Dictionary of Irish Saints records a number of later literary sources which take our saint out of his Ulster monastery and seek to place him in Munster. A poem, for example, listing those on whom Saint Seanán of Scattery could call on in a time of need include ‘great Maonach, son of  Láirín’. It may be, however, that in some of these sources our saint has become confused with others of a similar name. Interestingly though, the name of Maonach, in its Latin guise of Monachus is to be found at October 17 in a fifteenth-century martyrology written in Cologne. It rather suggests that our saint, although today an obscure figure, was at one time much more well known.

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  • Saint Findsech of Sliabh Guaire, October 13

    On October 13 the Irish calendars commemorate a female saint, Findsech, who flourished in Sliabh Guaire. I have not been able to find out any more about her, although the author of a paper on the cult of the nine maidens of Scotland notes that October 13 is also the feastday of one of these maidens with the not wholly dissimilar name of Fincana. I am not an expert in the etymology of Irish names, but it seems to me that the only element these two have in common is that which indicates fairness – Finn – something which the Martyrology of Oengus alludes to in its entry for our saint:

    A virgin Saint, named Findsech, was venerated on the 13th October; the Feliré Aenguis at that date has “Fair Findsech’s feast,” the commentator on which, in the Leabhar Breac adds, “i.e. a virgin, and Ernaide (Nurney) is the name of her town in Sliab Guairi in Gailenga. Or in Dal Araide, is Findsech’s church. Or in Mag Rechet in Leix.” (Morett.)

    Rev. M.Comerford “Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin” (1883)

    The Martyrology of Donegal records:

    13. F. TERTIO IDUS OCTOBRIS. 13.

    FINDSECH, Virgin, of Sliabh Guaire, in Gailenga.

    while Marianus O’Gorman notes ‘dear Findsech’ on this date.

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  • Saint Mobhi of Glasnevin, October 12

    12 October sees the feastday of another one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, Saint Mobhi of Glasnevin, famed as the founder of a monastic school and as a teacher of some famous saints, among them Saints Colum Cille and Saint Cannice, whose feast falls the day before that of his former master. Saint Mobhi is famous also for having the rather curious adjective ‘clarinech’ appended to his name, this is usually translated as ‘flat-faced’. The earliest Irish calendar, the Martyrology of Oengus, attempted to explain why. The entry for today reads:

    12. Declare Fiacc and Fiachra, at the same time —
    great is that treasure!
    my Bi, strong that triumph!
    that fair flatfaced one.

    The notes for this entry read:

    Mobi, i.e. of Glasnevin on the brink of the river Liffey on the north side. Mobi son of Beoan, of Corco tri of the Luigni of Connaught. Uaine, Findbarr’s daughter, was his mother. In Cell maic Taidg was he conceived and brought forth, and of a dead woman he was begotten.

    Table-faced was he, for the earth pressed him down, so that he was one flat board. Mobi the Table-faced of Glasnevin in (the country occupied by) the Danes. Berchan was Mobi’s name. Beoaith son of Senach was his father’s name, and Huanir the Fair, daughter of Finnbarr, his mother’s name. Mobi etc.

    The later Martyrology of Marianus O’Gorman records the saint as ‘Clarenech (‘table-face’), from Glasnevin in Fingal on the river Liffey’s brink, on the north side, and Berchan was another name of his.’

    The 17th-century Martyrology of Donegal refers to Saint Mobhi’s famous Glasnevin foundation and to some of its notable students:

    MOBHI CLAIRENECH, [Abbot], of Glas Naoidhen in Fine-Gall, on the brink of the river Life, on the north side; and Bearchan was another name for him. The year of the Lord when he resigned his spirit was 544. He was of the race of Eochaidh Finn Fuathairt, of whom Brighit is descended; and Uanfinn, daughter of Finnbarr, was his mother. The Life of Colum Cille, chap. 35, states that Colum Cille went to Glas Naoidhen, where Mobhi Clairenech was with two score and ten persons at his school ; and among them were Cainneach, Ciaran of Cluain, and Comgall; and after the dispersion of the school, Mobhi requested of Colum Cille not to accept of any land till he should give him leave. The same life states, chap. 39, that when Colum Cille was at Doire, where the king of Erin, Aedh, son of Ainmire, was, Aedh offered that town to Colum Cille, and that Colum refused to accept of the town because he had not the permission of Mobhi, and that on his coming forth from the town, two of Mobhi’s people met him, bringing the girdle of Mobhi with them to him, after Mobhi’s own death, together with his permission to him to accept of land. When Colum received the girdle he said: “Good was the man who had this girdle,” said he, “for it was never opened for gluttony, nor closed on falsehood.” On which occasion he composed the quatrain:

    “Mobhi’s girdle, [Mobhi’s girdle],
    Nibhdar sibhne im lo,
    It was not opened for satiety,
    It was not closed on a lie.”

    In his classic work on the monastic schools of Ireland, Archbishop John Healy recounts the time spent by Saint Columba at Glasnevin:

    It was the custom in those days for the students to visit the various saints of Erin, who were celebrated for holiness and learning; and so we find that Columba, when he had finished his studies under Finnian of Clonard, directed his steps to the school of another great master of the spiritual life, St. Mobhi Clarainech of Glasnevin.

    The students’ cells at Glasnevin were situated on one side of the River Tolka, and Mobhi’s church was on the other, at or near the spot where the Protestant church now stands. The light-footed youngsters of those days, however, found no difficulty in crossing the rapid and shallow stream at ordinary times. But when the river was swollen with heavy rains, it was no easy task to breast the flood; yet such was Columba’s zeal in the service of God that on one such occasion, to his master’s admiration and surprise, he crossed the angry torrent, that he might be present as usual at the exercises in the church. “May God be praised,” said Columba, when he had crossed safely over, “and deliver us from these perils in future.” It is said that his prayer was heard ; and that all the cells, with their occupants, were suddenly transferred to the other side of the stream, and remained there ever after.

    Columba had for companions at Glasnevin St. Cannech, St. Ciaran, and St. Comgall—and during their entire lives a tender and ardent friendship united these holy men together. A pestilence which broke out in A.D. 544, and of which St. Ciaran appears to have died, scattered the holy disciples of St. Mobhi’s School; so Columba resolved to return home to his native territory.

    Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum or Ireland’s Ancient Schools and Scholars by the Most Rev. John Healy (6th edition, Dublin, 1912),296-297.

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