Colman of Mullingar
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Saint Colman of Mullingar, Colman son of Luachan's, life has come down to the present time via the Rennes Library in Brittany France. He was born towards the end of the 6th century, or the beginning of the 7th century. His is credited for working a miracle that became the name of the An Muileann gCearr ('Wry Mill').
The biography, (Vita or in Gaelic, Bhetha) were usually accounted when the saint had died.
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[edit] Available Documentation
Today, there still remains the name of the area next to Mullingar where St. Colman once dwelled, Lynn. The Life of Colman of Lynn, (or in gaelic Betha Colmain Lainne). This converges somewhat the place of learning near Fore Abbey, Lough Lene, the lake of Learning, associated with the monks nearby, some 15km north of Mullingar.
[edit] Hagiography
He was born at Portloman, on Lough Owel, (or also possibly at Less in Daire, where his father settled). Like most people at the time he also descended from Nial of the Nine Hostages. All of the other three brothers he had became priests also.
During his boyhood he herded cows. At the age of 30 he went to Lismore to study with Mochuta. Some time around 630, he became deacon and dispenser of food to lepers, where he got the nickname Lamh-glan, pronounced as, Lauve-glan ('Clean-hand') Around 636 he was ordained and founded Cell Bec, followed by 'Lann' to signify, 'family of soil'.
He founded churches ....and died on the 17th July.... third or last quarter of the 7th century, and was then buried in Lann.
[edit] How Maelblatha became An Muileann gCearr (Mullingar)
Saint Colman of Mullingar (Colmáin Maic Lúacháin) on day in the late 6th or early 7th century, was asked by his mother, 'My good son, help us, for we are in a great plight.' Colman went to the mill with his sack of barley upon him, as Colum Cille took the sack upon him to the stone which is in the refectory at Iona, (Maelblatha, was its name then, and there is luck upon every food that is upon it).
Now on his arrival there was Conall's corn under the mill and it was wheat. Colman ordered it to cease, for he was in great haste(?); but the steward would not do it at his bidding. 'Then put it in,' said the cleric, 'and we will put (ours in) on this side, and God will divide for us.' They did thus, and Colman put his hand against the mill and turned it lefthandwise, so that thenceforward it has been Mullingar (Wry Mill). And God exchanged the corn so that Colman had wheat and the steward had barley. So God's name and Colman's were magnified through the miracle.
Betha Colmáin Maic Lúacháin, or, The Life of Colmán son of Lúachan
[edit] Saint Colman 6-7th century Cell Foundations
The 7 chief cemeteries, (Cells, seminaries), 3 of them were in Hui Forannain.
- Less Dochiund
- Lene
- Carrac Leime-ind-Eich
- Cell Uird in Munster
- Cell Bec
- Uachtar Comartha in Hui Thigernain
- Lann Meic Luachain.
These may have been the 7 churches alluded to, the churches of his 3 brothers and of his 7 sisters, for he is the head of them all, both sons and daughters, as his brothers and sisters became priests and nuns.
[edit] Note
Lynn is a district in Mullingar where once the monastery existed, closed by King Henry VII during Anglo-Norman period of Mullingar's history.
Lough Lene is a lake surrounded by habitations and ring forts, upon fertile soil.
Lough Leane is a Killarney lake.
Lann was a close relation most likely a brother to St. Colman
