40-487: Saint Enda of Aran (Éanna, Éinne or Endeus, died c. 530 AD) is an Irish saint . His feast day is 21 March. Enda was a warrior-king of Oriel in Ulster , converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea , an abbess. About 484 he established the first Irish monastery at Killeaney on Inis Mór . St Enda is described as the "patriarch of Irish monasticism". Most of the great Irish saints had some connection with Aran. According to
80-464: A great center of monasticism. There he took monastic vows and was ordained. The stories told of the early life of Saint Enda and his sister are unhistorical. More authentic vitae survive at Tighlaghearny at Inishmore , where he was buried. It is said that Enda learned the principles of monastic life at Rosnat in Britain. Returning to Ireland, Enda built a church at Drogheda . About 484 he was given land in
120-436: A little for the sick. St Enda himself died in old age around the year 530. Enda's monastery flourished until Viking times, but much of the stone was ransacked by Cromwell's men in the 1650s for fortifications, so only scattered ruins remain. Most survive as coastal ruined towers. Cattle, goats, and horses now huddle and shiver in the storm under many of the ruins of old walls where once men lived and prayed. These structures were
160-399: A miniature Mount Athos, with a dozen monasteries scattered over the island, the most famous, Killeany, where Enda himself lived. There, a great tradition of austerity, holiness, and learning was begun. Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise came there first as a youth to grind corn, and would have remained there for life but for Enda's insistence that his true work lay elsewhere, reluctant though he
200-408: A nave and a choir connected by a beautiful semi-circular arch of cut stone. The original layout was a rectangle with projections of the north and south walls beyond the east and west gables. It probably had an entrance doorway in the south wall, which suggests it was built in the 12th century or later. The building was remodeled in the 13th century when the chancel and arch were added. The interior of
240-460: A prophecy, "there will be left only three islands altogether, when Innish is sent from mortal planes: Inishmore , Inishmaan , and Inisheer ." On the largest will stand Saint Enda's well and altar, and the round tower of the church where the bell was sounded which gave the signal that Saint Enda had taken his place at the altar. At the tolling of the bell the service of the Mass began in all the churches of
280-420: A small church of Saint Brecan's. The original church was destroyed in 1197 by a Rotsel Pitun, a Norman knight. It is mentioned in a text from 1397. The ruins are those of a successor church built in 1585 in the same location by Redmond O'Gallagher , Bishop of Derry. The old church of Saint Brecan is one of the old standing Christian foundations in the city. According to Monsignor Eamon Martin , administrator of
320-733: Is a variant of the Norse Reith rune which resembles the letter 'r'. This is called the "Styrimathr" (STEE-ri-mah-thur) meaning in Norse "the Captain of the Seas path". It is carried in a small silk purse by the Abbot of the Abbey of St Enda. Those who lived there loved the islands which "as a necklace of pearls, God has set upon the bosom of the sea", and all the more because they had been the scene of heathen worship. according to
360-524: Is known as the father of Irish monasticism . At Killeaney the monks lived a hard life of manual labour, prayer, fasting, and study of the Scriptures. The monks of Aran lived alone in their stone cells, slept on the ground, ate together in silence, and survived by farming and fishing. Enda divided the island into two parts, one half assigned to the monastery of Killeany, and the western half to such of his disciples as chose "to erect permanent religious houses on
400-667: Is quite barren. Geologically, the islands are an extension of the Burren in Clare , on the mainland to the southeast: an uplifted limestone block, striated by gashes ranging from inches to hundreds of feet deep. Water percolates right through the stone, leading sometimes to water shortages and preventing the formation of the typically boggy western Irish land form. Peat for fires had to be imported from Galway. The resulting flora are unique; Mediterranean and Alpine species meet here, attracting masses of tiny multicoloured butterflies. Enda's monks imitated
440-400: Is recorded by Roderic O'Flaherty: A dispute arose among their disciples, who were numerous, regarding the boundary line of the two divisions. The Saints agreed to settle the matter amicably. At day-break next day the two bodies were to start from their respective monasteries and travel leisurely towards each other until they met. The place of meeting was to be the boundary. When the day dawned,
SECTION 10
#1732856066682480-566: Is said to have walked to Clonmacnoise with his pet cow, which was a particularly good milker; long after her death in great old age the Book of the Dun Cow was bound in her skin. This holy well is situated on the approach road to Silver Strand close to the village of Barna in County Galway , about 5 kilometres from Galway city. It is reputed to have been the resting place of St Enda of Aran on his way to
520-643: Is the Tempull Breccain complex on Inishmore in the Aran Islands. Brecan is the oldest of all the local saints of County Clare , and lived around 480 AD. He was grandchild of Carthan Fionn, one of the Dalcassian kings who reigned in Munster around 439 AD. His grandfather was baptized by Saint Patrick at what is now Singland, near Limerick . His father, son of the king, was Eochu Balldearg, or Eochu of
560-636: The Aran Islands by his brother-in-law, Aengus, King of Munster. Three limestone islands make up the Aran Islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer (respectively, the Great, Central and Eastern Island). The three islands of Aran stretch across the mouth of Galway Bay, forming a natural breakwater against the Atlantic Ocean. The largest of the three, Inishmore, is about nine miles long. In many places it
600-450: The Martyrdom of Oengus , Enda was an Irish prince, son of Conall Derg of Oriel (Ergall) in Ulster . Legend has it that when his father died, he succeeded him as king and went off to fight his enemies. The soldier Enda was converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea, an abbess. He visited Fanchea, who tried to persuade him to lay down his arms. He agreed, if only she would give him a young girl in
640-501: The 6th century. Saint Brecan's most important foundations were the Seven Churches of Aran on Inishmore , of which only the ruins of two have survived. Brecan's church is the chief of the Seven Churches. The Tempull Breccain (Church of Brecan) on Aran was described in 1684 as a handsome and formerly parochial church in which Brecan's feast was celebrated on 22 May each year. The Damhliag or great Church of Saint Brecan consists of
680-609: The Aran islands became an important pilgrimage destination, as well as a centre for the evangelisation of surrounding areas. At least two dozen canonised individuals had some association with "Aran of the Saints". Among these were Saint Brendan the Voyager, who was blessed for his voyage there; Jarlath of Tuam, Finnian of Clonard , and Saint Columba of Iona who called it the "Sun of the West". Aran became
720-451: The Aran islands. Local tradition has it that St Enda used it to spend the night here on his way to the islands and that one day a well sprung up as he prayed. Through the years pilgrimages were made regularly to the well. Tobar Éinne (or Tobar Éanna) is located near the west coast of Inis Oírr . Locals still carry out a ceremony (or pilgrimage) called Turas to the Well of Enda . It is said that
760-522: The Red Spot. It was recorded that Eochu was hopelessly disfigured and diseased when he was born, but was cured through a miracle by Saint Patrick. Brecan was one of two sons of Eochaidh Bailldearg, the other being Conall Caemh, and was originally named Breasel. A poem from the 14th or 15th century says he was a soldier before becoming a missionary. On his first mission to Aran he destroyed a reigning idol named Brecán, and took that name for himself. He converted
800-472: The asceticism and simplicity of the earliest Egyptian desert hermits. He established the monastery of Enda, which is regarded as the first Irish monastery, at Killeany on Inismór. [This is not compatible with Enda's having studied for the priesthood at the monastery at Emly, Co Tipperary, above.] He also established a monastery in the Boyne valley, and several others across the island, and along with Finnian of Clonard
840-535: The building is 56 by 18.33 feet (17.07 by 5.59 m). A second church, the Teampull an Phoill (Church of the Hollows) is 125 feet (38 m) from the main church, and probably dates from the 13th century or later. Brecan's tomb is beside the main church. The Leaba Brecain is an early enclosure that holds a broken but richly carved cross, and contains a slab inscribed with a cross and "[S]ci Brecani". This shows that he
SECTION 20
#1732856066682880-448: The chosen home of a group of poor and devoted men under Saint Enda. He taught them to love the hard rock, the dripping cave, and the barren earth swept by the western gales. They were "men of the caves", and "also men of the Cross". One tale tells that Saint Brecan was not happy with Enda's land division so Enda and Brecan made an agreement. Each say mass at his own monastery on either end of
920-418: The clothes worn by day. They assembled for their daily devotions in the church or oratory of the saint under whose immediate care they were placed. The monks took their meals in silence in a common refectory, from a common kitchen, having no fires in their cloghauns or stone cells, however cold the weather or wild the seas. They invariably carried out the monastic rule of procuring their own food and clothing by
960-832: The club cycled from Galway to Omagh. St. Endas College secondary school (Coláiste Éinde in Irish) in Galway is also named after him. St Enda's GAA in GLengormley County Antrim is also named for him. 530 in Ireland Events from the 6th century in Ireland . Saint Brecan Saint Brecan was an Irish saint active in the 5th century AD. There are legends concerning Brecan from Clare and Aran, and wells and churches are dedicated to him in various places in Ireland. His main monument
1000-433: The convent for a wife. He renounced his dreams of conquest and decided to marry. The girl she promised turned out to have just died, and Fanchea forced him to view the girl's corpse, to teach him that he, too, would face death and judgment. Faced with the reality of death, and by his sister's persuasion, Enda decided to study for the priesthood, and studied first at St Ailbe ’s monastery at Emly. Fanchea sent him to Rosnat ,
1040-432: The disciples of St. Brecan saw to their astonishment that the followers of St. Enda, who had commenced to travel before daylight, were already far advanced on their journey. They went to their master and complained of this breach of faith. The latter had recourse to prayer, when lo! the advancing party were rooted to the rocks, and remained in that position until St. Brecan arrived to release them. Saint Brecan died early in
1080-655: The east of Doora Church. The modern St. Brecan's Church, Doora, on Noughaval Drive in Noughaval townland, also bears his name. Brecan's name is remembered as "Rikin" at Clooney near Quin , and as "Brecan" at Kilbreckan in Doora parish and at the Toomullin well near the Moher cliffs. A well at Doolin, near Toomullin, was known as St. Brecan's in 1839. St. Columb's Park in Derry has the ruins of
1120-430: The idol's sanctuary into a hermitage. According to the antiquarian Thomas Johnson Westropp , The Clare stories, though vague, represent him consistently as a bright, joyful, affectionate man, hardly troubled by the more mundane temptations. He won crowds of converts by a tact, patience, and sweetness, and is said even to have tried to convert the devils who led forlorn hopes against his temper and patience. He won over
1160-410: The impatient, jealous St. Enda by becoming one of his disciples and causing his own more numerous converts to pay reverence to that saint. He converted a chief (‘King’) whom Enda threatened with lightning, by thanking God for sparing the pagan, and then teaching the convert to do the same. ... In Aran the most definite tale is that Brecan and Enda agreed to set out from their churches at opposite ends of
1200-477: The island and to fix the boundary of their districts at the point at which they met. Brecan celebrated a mass early and set out, with the untiring energy ascribed to him in the Clare tales; but Enda prayed, and the feet of Brecan’s horse stuck fast in the rock near Kilmurvey, in the valley across the island below the great fort Dun Aengusa, until Enda came. A different version of the dispute between Saints Enda and Brecan
1240-403: The island". Later he divided the island into 8 parts, in each of which he built a "place of refuge". The life of Enda and his monks was frugal and austere. The day was divided into fixed periods for prayer, labour, and sacred study. Each community had its own church and its village of stone cells, in which they slept either on the bare ground or on a bundle of straw covered with a rug, but always in
Enda of Aran - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-407: The island, and when they finished they would begin walking towards the centre. Wherever they met, that's where they'd divide the land. But Brecan began saying mass earlier than the agreed time. Enda prayed for divine intervention. Brecan's feet became stuck in the sand at the beach of Kilmurvey, and Enda wound up getting most of the land. Corbanus, who was still a heathen, and a churl to boot, vacated
1320-419: The island. Patrick Pearse named his bilingual boys' school Scoil Éanna , or St Enda's School, in honour of the saint in 1908. Ballyboden has a Gaelic Athletic Association club named after him, Ballyboden St. Enda's . Omagh St Enda's Gaelic Athletic Club is also named in his honour and in 2011, members of the club paid tribute to their patron by visiting his church on the Aran Islands before 150 members of
1360-461: The isle, and conveyed his people and their property to the opposite coast. There he met St Enda and his monks preparing to cross in their slender currachs, and seemingly ill provided with food and furniture. There were several sacks and casks of corn and meal on the shore belonging to Corbanus, and as the boats were putting off he joked to the saint, "Here are some barrels and sacks of good corn which I would gladly give to save you and these poor men with
1400-445: The labour of their hands. Some fished around the islands; others cultivated patches of oats or barley in sheltered spots between the rocks. Others ground grain or kneaded the meal into bread, and baked it for the use of the brethren. They spun and wove their own garments from the undyed wool of their own sheep. They could grow no fruit in these storm-swept islands; they drank neither wine nor mead, and they had no flesh meat, except perhaps
1440-527: The parish of Kilcummin, County Galway , Kilbreccan of Thomand in the parish of Doora, County Clare , Kilbreccan in Kilkenny , and two churches named Kilbreccan in Carlow . Doora Church near Kilbrecan, Doora parish would have been one of the first central mission churches in Clare if the tradition that it was founded by Brecan is accurate. He also founded what is now called Carntemple about 2 miles (3.2 km) to
1480-462: The shorn heads, from starvation, but your wretched boats could not bear their weight across." "Do not mind that," said the saint; "let the gift be from your heart—that is the main thing." "Surely!" said the other, "I make a free offer!" At the word, sacks and barrels, with much bustle, shot forward over the boats and over the men in them, and in a direct line to the eastern landing-place of Inishmore. During his own lifetime, Enda's monastic settlement on
1520-462: The well has healing powers and that it never runs dry. When Saint Brendan returned from his travels far to the West he thanked God at the Abbey and laid down the only gift he brought back from his travels, a stone with an eye carved on one end and a rune on the other. It was given to him by a dwarf. This stone was said to float if placed on water and the gem pointed to the Last Isle of the West. The rune
1560-637: Was revered as a saint from an early date. A smaller circular stone found in the tomb, about three inches in diameter, was inscribed with the short prayer in Irish : "OR AR BRAN NAILITHER", which may be short for "OROIT AR BRECAN NAILITHER", meaning "A prayer for Brecan the Pilgrim". However, the stone may well have been placed by a pilgrim named Bran. Brecan is said to have founded many other churches and monasteries. These include Ardbraccan in County Meath , Kilbreccan in
1600-514: Was to part with him. When he departed, the monks of Enda lined the shore as he knelt for the last time to receive Enda's blessing, and watched as the boat bore him from them. Saint Finnian left St Enda and founded the monastery of Moville (where Columba spent part of his youth) and who afterwards became bishop of Lucca in Tuscany, Italy. Among those who spent time with Enda was Carthach the Elder. Ciarán
#681318