OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Saints of Offaly

  • Saint Tetgaill of Lann-Ela, April 16

     

    A 6th/7th-century abbot of Lann-Ela, Tetgaill (Tetghal), is commemorated on April 16. The monastery of Lann-Ela was founded by the poet saint Colman who had died roughly a century before Abbot Tetgaill, as Canon O’Hanlon explains:
    ST. TETGAILL OR TETGHAL, SON OF COLBRAIN, BISHOP OF LYNALLY, KING’S COUNTY.
    [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES.]

    We find, entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh, the name of Tetgaill Mac Colbrain, at the 16th day of April. The patronymic, given with his own proper name, does not reveal more than the name of his father: of his family line, we are ignorant. Tedgalius is the Latinized form of this holy man’s name. He was born, as we may suppose, in the seventh century; but, where his education had been received does not appear. He was Abbot of Lann-Ela. This place is thought to have derived its origin from St. Colman Elo, who died in 610, and who first erected here his Lann or Church. In pagan times, the locality was called Fiodh-Elo, or Elo-wood, which is said to lie in Feara Ceall, in the country of the southern Hy- Lynally. It contains the ruins of a church; but, decidedly, these are not old, yet that wall, which encloses the graveyard, appears to be very ancient. To the south of Lynally Church stands a moat, said to contain vaults built of lime and stone. Lann-Ela has been identified with the village of Lynnally, in the barony of Ballycowan, King’s County. The Four Masters make St. Tethghal Bishop of this place. There can hardly remain a doubt, that the Tethgaill here noted should not be identified with that bishop of Lynally, who is mentioned, in our Annals. He appears to have died, on the 16th of April, A.D. 709. The same date has been assigned for his death, by the local ecclesiastical historian. The festival, in honour of Tetghal, was celebrated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. At the xvi. of the May Kalends, which corresponds with the 16th day of April, the Irish Calendar, now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, has a peculiar notice of his festival and period.

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  • Saint Cronan Beg of Clonmacnoise, April 6

    On April 6 the Irish calendars commemorate the memory of one of the abbots of Clonmacnoise. As not a great deal is known of Saint Cronan as an individual, Canon O’Hanlon instead alludes in his account to the status of Clonmacnoise as a place of pilgrimage:

    St. Cronbeg, or Cronan Beg, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, King’s County.
    [Seventh Century.]

    This Saint is called Cronan Beg, or the Little, owing probably to his want of ordinary stature. He is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 6th of April, as Cronbrice, Abbot of Cluana, or Clonmacnoise. The date of his birth has not been ascertained, nor does his genealogy seem to be known. This holy man most probably succeeded Colman, Abbot, who died, in the year 681. Then was his successor elected to rule, in a spot, greatly resorted to, even from distant regions. The pilgrimage to holy places is one of the oldest of Christian institutions. The first known visits were to Jerusalem, and to other parts of Judea. Thus, Helena, the pious mother of the Emperor Constantine, hastened as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, when she visited the scenes of our Redeemer’s passion. The Empress returned, bringing with her the true cross, with other relics of Christ’s death; and, from that time forward, pilgrimages to the Holy Land were annually made by thousands, from every part of Christendom. Our Irish countrymen frequently visited this distant land, and usually combined with their journey a pilgrimage to the shrines of the Apostles, St. Peter and St Paul, at Rome. Hardships, persecutions, and even death itself, often overtook the zealous and devoted pilgrim. The tremendous conflicts, which shook Palestine during the period of the Crusades, barred the road thither to all but the most hardy, adventurous, and daring. The subsequent loss of the Holy City, all but closed its gates against the Christians. At and before this era, the practice of national pilgrimages grew into transcendent importance. Instead of turning towards the Holy Sepulchre, the penitent wended his way, towards some shrine in his native land, famous for some deed of sanctity, or for some spiritual manifestation. In Ireland, Lough Derg, Kildare, Glendalough, and Clonmacnoise, were the great pilgrimages. The ten ruined churches, which surround St. Kieran’s grave at the latter place, are said to have been the offering of ten royal pilgrims, who knelt at his shrine. Among the religious foundations here is shown, what purports to have been a church or chapel of the nunnery, said to have been built in 1170, by Dearvoirgilla, and it was consumed, with other buildings, by an accidental fire, A.D. 1180.

     
     
     

    The festival in honour of Cronbeg — a contraction most probably of his regular name — who was placed as Abbot, over Cluainmic Nois, occurs, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this date. This was the day for his death, and the year was 689, according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, or according to those of the Four Masters, A.D. 692. The Annals of Ulster place his demise, under the year 693.

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  • Saint Cathcan of Rath-derthaighe, March 20

     

    At March 20 we have one of the many Irish saints whose feast day is well-attested on the calendars, but about whom no other information has survived. Saint Cathcan is described as a bishop and associated with the locality of Rath-derthaige. The index of places attached to the translation of the Martyrology of Gorman suggests that this place is in Offaly.  Canon O’Hanlon brings us the evidence from the calendars below:

    St. Cathcan, Bishop of Rath-derthaighe.
    A record appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at this date, regarding a St. Catchan. There, his locality is designated, Ratha Turthaighe. The Bollandists record him, likewise, as Cathchan, of Rath-dertaighe. Under the head of Rath-Darthaighe, (or Derthaighe), Duald Mac Firbis enters a Cathchan —or perhaps
    Cathchu—bishop, at March 20th. Likewise, on this day, we find entered in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having veneration paid him, a St. Cathcan, Bishop, of     Rath-derthaighe.
    Note: This post was first published in 2013 and revised in 2022.


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