Twelve Apostles of Ireland
The Twelve Apostles of Ireland (also known as Twelve Apostles of Erin) were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird (Eraird's Meadow), now Clonard in County Meath.[1]
Dá apstol décc na hÉrenn
The twelve saints are grouped together as such in the text Dá apstol décc na hÉrenn ("The Twelve Apostles of Ireland"). The text is preserved in a manuscript belonging to Michael O'Clery, Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale MS 2324–2340, and elsewhere. When the so-called twelve apostles of Ireland are gathered together for a feast in the house of St Finian, a magical flower appears in their midst. It is decided that a voyage to the flower's homeland is to be undertaken by one of them, the choice of person then being determined by casting lots. When however, the lot falls on the old Brendan of Birr, his younger namesake Brendan moccu Altae goes in his stead. Brendan sets out with many companions and undergoes many adventures, much as related in Brendan's Life.[2]
Clonard Abbey
- Main article: Clonard Abbey
In Early Christian Ireland the druidic tradition was succeeded or absorbed by the new Christian faith. Study of Latin learning and Christian theology in monasteries flourished. Clonard Abbey, situated on the River Boyne in modern County Meath was one of the main monastic schools. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. It is said that the average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was 3,000. Twelve students who studied under St. Finian became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.[1]
The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles of Erin, as they were known by old Irish writers, are said to have been:
- Finnen of Cluain Iraird, now Clonard in Meath. He died in the year 522.
- Ciaran of Cluain Mic Nois, now Clonmacnoise, on the Shannon, in the barony of Garrycastle, County Offaly, died in the year 549.
- Brenainn of Birra - St. Brenainn, or Brendan, of Birra, now Birr, County Offaly. He died on the 29th of November 571.
- Brenainn, the son of Finnloga, the patron saint of the see of Clonfert, in County Galway, was born in 484, and died in 577 aged 94.
- Colum Mac Crimthainn, was abbot of Tir-da-glas, now Terryglass, in the barony of Lower Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, and died in 552, the same year as St. Finen of Clonard.
- Colum Cille. - St. Columbkille was born in the year 521, and died in the year 597, aged 75. Columba was an outstanding figure among the Gaelic missionary monks who some of his advocates claim introduced Christianity to the Kingdom of the Picts during the early medieval period.
- Mobhi Clarainech, patron of Glasnaidhen, now Glasnevin, near Dublin. He died on 12th of October 545
- Ruadhain of Lothra - St. Ruadain, the patron of Lothra, now Lorrha, in County Tipperary. He died on the 15th of April 584.
- Ninnadh the Pious, the patron of the parish of Inis Muighe Samh, now Inismacsaint, in the north-west of County Fermanagh. He was alive in 530 but the year of his death is uncertain.
- Molaisi, the son of Nadfraech, he was the brother of Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster and died in 570.
- Cainnech Mac h-Ui Dalann, the patron of Aghaboe in County Laois, who died in 599 at the age of 84.
- Finnen of Magh Bile, now Movilla, in County Down. He died in the year 576.
See also
Notes
References
- Dá apstol décc na hÉrenn, ed. Charles Plummer (1922). Oxford. 2 vols: 1 and 2. Clarendon. pp. 96–102 (vol. 1, text), 93–8 (vol. 2, translation). See also pp. xxiv–xxv (vol. 1).
- Mac Mathúna, Séamus (2006). "The Irish Life of Saint Brendan: Textual History, Structure and Date". In Glyn S. Burgess and Clara Strijbosch. The Brendan Legend: Texts and Versions. Leiden and Boston: Brill. pp. 117–58.
External links
|
Twelve Apostles of Ireland
|
|
|
|
|