Ruadhán of Lorrha

For the literary figure of Ruadán, son of Bres and Brigid, see Brigid

St. Ruadhán^[1] mac Fergusa Birn, also known as Rowan and Rodan, was an Irish Christian abbot who founded the monastery of Lorrha (Lothra, County Tipperary, Ireland), near Terryglass. He was known for his prophesies. After his death, he was venerated as a saint and as one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland".

The Dictionary of Saints states that Ruadan was born in Tara in Leinster, Ireland, became a disciple of St. Finian of Clonard and founded the Abbot of Lothra Monastery in Tipperary. He directed 150 monks. Also, his death date is April 15, 584; not April 5.

He is said to have died at the monastery of Lorrha, 5 April 584. His feast is kept on the anniversary of his death.

Life

Lorrha Priory of St. Ruadhan

Ruadhan was educated in Clonard Co. Westmeath by St. Finnian and was known as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.^[2] He is said to have replaced St. Brendan (the navigator) at Lorrha who preceded to cross the Shannon and set up his monastery at Clonfert Co. Galway. Ruadhan founded a monastic settlement here that would have consisted of a monastery and various other buildings including cells for the many monks that would have lived here. Also a ditch or large mound would have been built around the settlement to keep animals in and intruders out, the outlines of these are still visible today. Life for the monks would have been tough but simple, rising early from their beds which would have consisted of rushes or straw placed on the bare ground. They then would pray and fast between their domestic chores. The settlement would have been self-sufficient in those days providing everything from food, clothing, to shelter. Villages and towns often popped up around monastic settlements as trade and refuge attracted the local people, the origin of Lorrha village can be attributed to this.^[3]

Ruadán's prophecy

His embassy in 556 to King Diarmait mac Cerbaill at Tara, is worked into a legend known as the "Curse of Tara", but the high-king continued to reside at Tara till his death in 564. The legend as to Tara's halls having been deserted after 564 is of comparatively late origin.^[4] Adomnan held a synod at Tara in 697.^[5]

Diarmuid Mac Cerbhaill, had violated the sanctity of the church by taken a hostage from its protection. The downfall of Tara from a once thriving royal residence is credited to Ruadhan.^[3]

Ruadán gave the prophecy that Diarmait would be killed by the roof-beam of his hall at Tara. Diarmait had the beam cast into the sea. Diarmait then asked his druids to find the manner of his death, and they foretold that he would die of slaughter, drowning and burning, and that the signs of his death would be a shirt grown from a single seed of flax and a mantle of wool from a single sheep, ale brewed from one seed of corn, and bacon from a sow which had never farrowed. On a circuit of Ireland, Diarmait comes to the hall of Banbán at Ráith Bec, and there the fate of which he was warned comes to pass. The roof beam of Tara has been recovered from the sea by Banbán and set in his hall, the shirt and mantle and ale and bacon are duly produced for Diarmait. Diarmait goes to leave Banbán's hall, but Áed Dub, waiting at the door, strikes him down and sets fire to the hall. Diarmait crawls into an ale vat to escape the flames and is duly killed by the falling roof beam. Thus, all the prophecies are fulfilled.^[6]

The bell of St. Ruadhan was found in a well named after the Saint, and is preserved in the British Museum.^[4] This well is situated across the road from the present day Church of Ireland.

References

Primary sources

• Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill "The Violent Death of Diarmait mac Cerbaill" (first version), ed. and tr. S.H. O'Grady, Silva Gadelica. London, 1892. Vol. I: pp. 72–82; vol. II: pp. 76–88. For details, visit Dan Wiley's Cycles of the Kings website.
• Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill "The Violent Death of Diarmait mac Cerbaill" (second version). For details, visit Dan Wiley's Cycles of the Kings website.
• Comlond Díarmata meic Cerbaill fri Rúadán "Díarmait mac Cerbaill's Contention with Rúadán". For details, visit Dan Wiley's Cycles of the Kings website.
• Betha Ruadhain (medieval Irish Life of Ruadán), ed. Charles Plummer et al. Bethada Náem nÉrenn. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1922. Edition available online from CELT.

Secondary sources

• Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. B.T. Batsford, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7134-5882-8
•  Grattan-Flood, W. (1913). "St. Ruadhan". In Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.