OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Saints of Mayo

  • Saint Luigbhe of Inismore, January 14

    An island saint is commemorated on January 14, Luighbhe of Inismore. Canon O’Hanlon, in his account below, feels that this holy man may be connected with another saint we have already met on the blog at this date, Baetan of Inishbofin:

    St. Lugeus or Luighbhe, of Inismore.

    It seems likely this holy man had a residence on Inis-bo-finne; but it is not easy to fix the true period. A festival, in honour of St. Lugeus, of Inismor, is entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh, on the 14th of January. There are many islands bearing the name Inishmore in different parts of Ireland. According to the Martyrology of Donegal, on this day was venerated Luighbhe, but without any further distinctive adjunct to the simple entry of his name. From the manner in which the unpublished Martyrology of Tallagh connects St. Lugeus and St. Beatan, it seems probable that both belonged to Inis-bofinne, in the county of Mayo.

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  • Saint Loarn of Achadh-Mor, August 30

    August 30 is the commemoration of Saint Loarn of Achadh-mor. As Canon O’Hanlon explains below, he is said to have been an early disciple of Saint Patrick from County Mayo:

    St. Loarn, Priest, of Achadh-mor, now Aghavower, or Aghamore, County of Mayo

    [Fifth Century]

    In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 30th of August, in honour of Loarn, Priest, of Achadh-moir. In that copy, as found in the Book of Leinster, the record is nearly identical, for this same date. Loarn was the son of Ernasc, who lived in the western province of Ireland, when St. Patrick’s missionary course led him thither. At that time, Loarn seems to have been a youth of good and pious dispositions. He received the gift of Divine Faith, and he then became a disciple of the great Apostle. The incident is thus related. The illustrious missionary, after leaving Kierragia Airtech, came to Kierragia Airne. Here he found both Ernasc and Loarn sitting under a shady tree. To them the Apostle opened the welcome message of salvation, and, in return, he was kindly received, with twelve of his companions. They were invited to spend a week at that place. During his sojourn there, St. Patrick taught Loarn to write an alphabet. His instruction in letters and piety was rapid, and to the end of his life, it was in still greater progress. Moreover, the youth was celebrated for holiness and the gifts of God’s spirit. It appears probable, that he was ordained priest by the Irish Apostle, although this is not recorded in the Acts of the latter. However, St. Patrick had desired to establish a church in that part of the country. This place is now known as Aghavower or Aghamore, a parish in the barony of Costello, and County of Mayo. Near this place, too, Saint Patrick designed the measure and spot where a church should be erected. It rose near a fountain, called in Irish Tober Muena. The church was designated Seincheall, meaning the “old cill,” or church. When Saint Patrick had there laid the foundations of a church, in due course of time, Loarn presided over it. Some of our modern writers call it a monastery. In the Martyrology of Donegal, Loarn is commemorated on this day, as a Priest of Achadh-mor.

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  • Saint Airmedach of Cong, June 8

    June 8 is the commemoration of a saint of the west of Ireland, Airmedach of Cong. Cong Abbey is today associated with the twelfth-century processional cross pictured left. As our saint is featured in the late eighth/early ninth-century Martyrology of Tallaght, however, he obviously predates these later medieval glories. Canon O’Hanlon brings us the details and gives us a brief guide to the area:

    St. Airmedach, or Ermedhach, Abbot of Cong, County of Mayo.

    On the 8th of June, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, appears the name Airmedach a Cunga. This place is now known as Cong, delightfully situated at the head of Lough Corrib, and in the county of Mayo. About its early ecclesiastical history, little appears to be known ; but, it is probable, a bishop had been here, from an early period. The founder seems to have been a St. Molocus, or as otherwise called St. Loichen, whose name is found to be connected with the place. But his period does not appear to have been discovered. In 1114, Cunga was destroyed by fire; and, as Gilla-Keerin O’Roda and O’Draeda, two of its Erenachs or Conventual superiors, are stated to have died, A.D. 1127-28, it is not improbable, that some time within these dates, a fine abbey was founded, which belonged to Canons Regular of the Order of St. Augustine.

    The ruins at Cong are yet seen, in a good state of preservation; and, they are a truly picturesque group, in a district celebrated for the loveliness of its natural features. They have undergone restoration, at the instance and expense of the lately deceased public-spirited proprietor, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. Though not exactly an island, Cong is surrounded by water; while the town or rather village is situated upon an isthmus, by which Loughs Corrib and Mask are divided. The old name Cunga, in Irish, means “a neck,” so that the site is very appropriately described, as indeed, many of the Celtic denominations preserved in Ireland are indicative of the local peculiarities connected with them. The delightfully situated village of Cong is remarkably rich in scenery, natural wonders, and antiquities. Here, there is a curious cave , called “the Pigeon Hole,” to which a flight of stone steps descends, from the upper surface of the ground outside ; while, at the bottom, runs a subterraneous river, that petrifies into transparent blocks. We find, set down in the Martyrology of Donegal, that a festival in honour of Ermedhach, Abbot of Conga, was celebrated on this day.

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