OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Irish Saints

  • Saint Suibhsech of Tirhugh, January 9

    The name of an otherwise obscure Irish holy woman, Suibsech of Tirhugh, is recorded in the Irish calendars at January 9. Canon O’Hanlon begins on a pious reflective note in his account below and places our saint in County Donegal:

    St. Suibhsech or Suabseg, Virgin, of Tirhugh Barony, County of Donegal.

    Virgins are purchased from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. Undefiled those virgins follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Suabseg, a virgin, is mentioned simply in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as having been venerated on the 9th of January. Again, Suibhsech, in Tir-Aedha, occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal, on this day. The old name of the territory has been converted into the modern denomination of Tirhugh barony, in the county of Donegal. There probably we must look for the exact locality where this saint was venerated as patron.

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  • Saint Sárán of Cuil-Creamha, January 8

    The name of yet another of the many obscure Irish saints is found on the calendars at January 8, Sárán of Cuil-Creamha. There are a number of Irish saints who share this name but, despite having a locality associated with him, we know nothing of where and when today’s Saint Sárán flourished . Canon O’Hanlon brings us the few details he can:

    St. Saran, of Cuil-creamha.

    Saran, of Cuil-cremha, is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal on this day. Nor is his name omitted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, which has a similar entry, on the 8th of January. The time and place of this saint do not appear to have been determined.

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  • Saint Brigh of Coirpre, January 7

    January 7 is the feast of an obscure Irish holy woman, Brigh of Coirpre. She is one of the many who simply have their names recorded in the calendars at the date of their commemoration, but about whom nothing else is known. Canon O’Hanlon, in the absence of any further details, raises the possibility that she may be Brigh or Briga of Annadown, Co. Galway. The hagiographical tradition records that she was a sister to Saint Brendan the Navigator and indeed such was the relationship between the pair that they were even described by one writer as ‘The Benedict and Scholastica of Ireland’.  I can’t see that in his brief account below Canon O’Hanlon really offers any supporting evidence for his suggestion that Saint Brendan’s sister is the Brigh of Coirpre commemorated today. The name is one of the most commonly found in hagiographical sources and the majority of the saints who bear it are untraceable.

    St. Brigh, of Coirpre, or of Annaghdown, County Galway.

    About this saint’s identity, a considerable amount of doubt must yet be entertained.  We find simply entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal, on this day, Brigh, of Coirpre. The life of Brenann, son of Flinnlogh of Cluain-Ferta, proclaims that he had a sister named Brigh; but the same life states, that she was of Enach-Duin. The present saint is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 7th of January, as being Brige, Corpre.  Annaghdown is in the county of Galway, and here there are yet extant several interesting vestiges of antiquity.
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