OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Saints of Fermanagh

  • Saint Dichuill of Airiudh-muilt, February 28

    To close the month of February, Canon O’Hanlon brings a notice of a saint linked to the locality of Lough Erne. Although he does not say so in his brief entry for Saint Dichuill of Airiudh-muilt, I am assuming that O’Hanlon is referring to Lough Erne in County Fermanagh:

    St. Dichuill, of Airiudh-muilt, Lough Erne.

    In the Martyrology of Tallagh, and at the 28th of February, we find recorded, “Dichuill Mac Maelduibh in Airudh Muilt oc Locuibh Eirne.” Marianus O’Gorman has an entry, which is somewhat similar. The Martyrology of Donegal registers on this day, Diochuill, son of Maoldubh, of Airiudh-muilt, on Loch Eirne. It seems impossible, at present, to identify this saint’s locality, or to determine whether it was on an island, or along the shores.

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  • Saint Aedh of Lisgoole, January 25

    The commemoration of Saint Aedh (anglicized Hugh) of Lisgoole, on Lough Erne, County Fermanagh features on a number of Irish calendars, but he is one of those saints for whom no other details seem to have survived. Canon O’Hanlon summarizes the sources:

    On this day, we find entered in the Martyrology of Donegal, Aedh, bishop, of the now deserted Lisgabhail, on Loch Eirne. This place is Anglicized Lisgool, ” the fort of the fork.” It is situated on the west bank of Lough Erne, a short distance to the south of Enniskillen. Only S. Aedha, Epis., without any further distinction, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh, on the 25th of January. A monastery is said to have been erected here in the early ages of Christianity, and a St. Aid or Hugh was here invoked. A religious establishment existed here until within a comparatively recent period. Also under the head of Gabhuil, Duald Mac Firbis, enters Hugh, Bishop of Lis-gabhuil, on Loch Erne, at the 25th of January. This townland of Lisgoole, is in the parish of Rossory, barony of Clanawley, and county of Fermanagh.

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  • Saint Colum of Inis-caoin, October 14

    October 14 is the feast day of yet another of the many saints with the name of Colum (Colm, Colomb, Columba, Colman). This saint Colum is associated with the locality of Inis-caoin in Loch Melghe, today known as Inniskeen on Lough Melvin, County Fermanagh. The Irish calendars tell us that he was a priest.

    The Scholiast Notes from the Martyrology of Oengus record:

    14. Colum the presbyter of Loch Melge here.

    whilst the later Martyrology of Donegal notes:
    14. G. PRIDIE IDUS OCTOBRIS. 14.
    COLUM, Priest, of Inis-caoin, in Loch Melghe.
    The Martyrology of Marianus O’Gorman also records our saint as:

    Colomb of pellucid Loch Meilge.

    with a note:

    a priest, of Inis Cain on Loch Meilge.

    In his July volume Canon O’Hanlon had remarked:

    There are three distinct Inis-caoins, viz.: first, Inishkeen, on Lough Erne; secondly, another on Lough Melvin— both of these are in the county of Fermanagh —and thirdly, Inis-caoin-Deagha, or Iniskeen, in the county of Louth.

    Our saint is clearly associated with the second of these places, but I am unsure when he flourished.

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