Saint Colman Lucell of Clonkeen, October 6
On October 6 we commemorate one of the many Irish saints with the name of Colman who appears to have been an abbot at one of the many Irish places with the name of Clúain. This particular saint also...
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Saint Dubhthach Mac Ua Lugair, October 7
On October 7 some of the later Irish calendars of the saints record the name Dubhthach. This name does not appear in either The Martyrology of Tallaght or that of Saint Oengus, but the 12th-century...
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'Venerable, aged Simeon'
I was surprised to see that the entries for the saints of October 8 begin in the Martyrology of Gorman with this lovely verse in praise of Saint Simeon:8. a.Símeon sruith saeglac[h]ro gab Ísu ollán,ar...
View ArticleSaints Loman and Fortchern of Trim, October 11
October 11 is the feast of two County Meath saints associated with the mission of Saint Patrick, Loman and Forthchern of Trim. Patrician hagiography records that Loman was a Briton, and his royal...
View ArticleSaint Mobhi of Glasnevin, October 12
12 October sees the feastday of another one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, Saint Mobhi of Glasnevin, famed as the founder of a monastic school and as a teacher of some famous saints, among them...
View ArticleSaint Findsech of Sliabh Guaire, October 13
On October 13 the Irish calendars commemorate a female saint, Findsech, who flourished in Sliabh Guaire. I have not been able to find out any more about her, although the author of a paper on the cult...
View ArticleSaint Gall of Switzerland, October 16
October 16 is the feastday of the Irishman hailed as the 'Apostle of Switzerland', Saint Gall, who gave his name to the Swiss canton of Saint-Gallen. He was a contemporary of the great Irish missionary...
View ArticleSaint Maonach of Dunleer, October 17
At October 17 the Martyrology of Donegal records:17. C. SEXTO DECIMO KAL. NOVEMBRIS. 17.MAENACH, son of Cláirin, Abbot of Lann Léire, A.D. 720.A footnote adds that the year 720 is the date given for...
View ArticleSaint Teca of Rooskey, October 18
At October 18 the Irish calendars record the name of a female saint, Teca and associate her with the locality of 'Ruscach, in Cuailgne'. The Martyrology of Donegal records:18. D. QUINTO DECIMO KAL....
View ArticleSaint Cronan of Tomgraney, October 19
October 19 is the commemoration of a County Clare saint, Cronan of Tomgraney. The Martyrology of Donegal records:19. E. QUARTO DECIMO KAL. OCTOBRIS. 19. CRONAN, of Tuaim Greine.The website of the Clare...
View ArticleSaint Fintan Moeldubh, October 20
October 20 is the feastday of a Saint Fintan or 'Fintan Moeldubh', who may have been especially venerated as a patron of Ossory, a kingdom and diocese of south-central Ireland. Confusion arises, as we...
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Saint Siollan of Moville, October 21
In the calendar appended to his Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore, Bishop William Reeves notes on October 21:' S. SIOLLAN, abbot of Magh Bile'.The Martyrology of Gorman...
View ArticleSaint Donatus of Fiesole, October 22
22 October is the feastday of Saint Donatus of Fiesole, an Irishman who, accompanied by his faithful companion Andrew, set off on a pilgrimage to Rome and ended up being chosen as a bishop. He is a...
View ArticleSaint Dalbach of Cúil Collainge, October 23
October 23 is the feastday of a County Cork saint associated with the asceticism of the Céile-Dé movement, Dalbach of Cúil Collainge. This saint features in a poem, the Oentú Maelruain, listing the...
View ArticleSaint Colman, October 24
I have often alluded on this blog to the problem of trying to disentangle Ireland's homonymous saints. I must admit that my heart sinks when I see the name Colman in particular on the calendars. I...
View ArticleSaint Laisren of Ard-mac-Nasca, October 25
October 25 is the feast of a saint from my own part of the world - Laisren of Ard-mac-Nasca, on the shore of Lough Laoigh. Lough Laoigh, the 'lake of the calf', is the ancient name of Belfast Lough and...
View ArticleSaints Nasad, Beoan and Meldan of Tamlach Mellan, October 26
We are staying in County Down for the commemoration of an intriguing trio of saints, Nasad, Beoan and Meldan, on October 26. They flourished in a locality near Loch Bricenn, known today as...
View ArticleSaint Colman of Seanbotha, October 27
October 27 is the feastday of yet another Irish Saint Colman, this one associated with the locality of Sean Botha, which the great 19th-century scholar John O'Donovan identified as the present day...
View ArticleSaint Dorbéne Foda of Iona, October 28
October 28 is the feastday of an eighth-century abbot of Iona (Hy, Ia), Dorbéne Foda (Dorbéne the Tall), whose repose is recorded at the year 713. The Martyrology of Donegal records:28. G. QUINTO KAL....
View ArticleSaint Colman of Kilmacduagh, October 29
October 29 is the feastday of Saint Colman of Kilmacduagh, a saint of the west of Ireland, who was related to the ruling house of his district. In the account below, which has been distilled from...
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