OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Saints of Donegal

  • 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 Cillene of Fahan, January 3

    Bell of Saint Mura (UJA, 1853)

    January 3 is the commemoration of a seventh/eighth-century Abbot of Fahan in County Donegal, Cillene Ua Colla. The monastery of Fahan was founded by Saint Mura and various of his successors, including our saint, had the dates of their deaths noted in the Irish Annals. Canon O’Hanlon has this account of Abbot Cillene:

    St. Cillin, or Cillene Ua Colla, Abbot of Fathan-Mura, now Fahan, County of Donegal. 

    [Seventh and Eighth Centuries.]—

    We find a festival, Cillini Mac h Colla, at the 3rd of January, in the “Martyrology of Tallagh.” In addition to this notice the “Martyrology of Donegal” mentions Cillin Ua Colla, abbot of Fathan-Mura, as having been venerated on this day. The name of this place is sometimes found written Athain and Othain in ancient records. A church was founded here so early as the sixth century by the great St. Columkille. St. Cilline, the descendant of Colla, was born most probably about the middle of the seventh century. The modern designation of his locality is Fahan, within the peninsula of Inishowen, in the county of Donegal. At present, it is said, the old church of Fahan Mura lies close to the eastern shore of Lough Swilly, in the barony of Inishowen, county of Donegal, and in an exceedingly picturesque situation within the ornamental glebe grounds.  In the Annals of Ireland we have on record the death of Ceallach, son of Saran, abbot of Othan-mor or Fahan, A.D. 657. It seems likely the present saint did not succeed him as abbot for many years afterwards, as the death of St. Cillene Ua Colla is set down in the “Annals of the Four Masters,” at A.D. 720, on the 3rd of January. The “Annals of Ulster” place his death at A.D. 724, and the Martyrologists of Donegal seem to adopt this latter computation.

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  • Saint Ainmire of Aileach, June 10

    We commemorate a saint of County Donegal on June 10, Ainmire of Aileach. Canon O’Hanlon has a brief account of this holy man of the Inishowen peninsula:

    St. Ainmire, or Ainmirech, of Aileach, County of Donegal.

    Veneration was given on this day, 10th of June, to Ainmirech of Ailich, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. This place, formerly very celebrated, is now known as Elagh, in the peninsula of Inishowen, and in the county of Donegal. The Irish word Ainmire is said to have an identical meaning with the Latin word Animosus. Again, in the Martyrology of Donegal, the name Ainmire, of Aileach, is entered at the same date.

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