Ciarán m. Beodáin of Clonmacnoise

Other names

Ciarán of Cluain Mac Nóis (Clonmacnoise); Ciarán Mac int Saír (Mart. T)

Introduction

Ciarán is assigned to various genealogies from Antrim to Munster, but also said to be the saint of Connacht - Clanna Connacht ar cúl Chiarain (CGSH 729.2). His main foundation, in Co. Offaly, became extremely influential and wealthy. It is visited by Colum Cille in VC I.3 (Sharpe 1985 p 115). There are four Lives - 3 Latin and one Irish. The fullest version is in Plummer 1910 i 200-16. Kenney thinks they all derive from a single original dating to the 9th century or earlier (Kenney 1929 no 166).

Associated places

Cluain Mac Nóis (Clonmacnoise)

Obituary

AU 549 Dormitacio filii artificis, .i. Ciaraini, anno .xxx.iiii. etatis sue, uel anno 7 postquam Cluain Mc. Nois construere cepit. [.i. Ciaraini interlin. H1. From uel to end is interlin. & marg. H2]

Genealogies

There are a variety of genealogies assigned to him, but usually he is descended from Fergus m. Rosa / Roích (of Ulster Cycle fame – king at Emain Macha, later defected to the Connachta) (Rec. Mai. 125.1, Rec. Met. 662.197) and assigned to the Latharna Molt (Rec. Mai. 125.2) of the Dál nAraide (Mart O notes in RB512). His mother, Darerca, is claimed as Patrick’s sister (Mothers of the ss 722.57); ‘this is Patrician propaganda of a familiar kind’ (Stalmans and Charles-Edwards 2004)

Related Saints

Belongs to the group Ciarán (ns) (certain)

Same as Ciarán m. Luaigne of Saigir (possible)

No particular grounds are given for merging the two most famous Ciaráns, but Ó Riain notes that of the twenty saints of this name in the Irish record, 'some, if not all of those named Ciarán probably represented localizations of a single original cult' (Ó Riain, Dictionary, 168)

Related Personal Names

Name

Ciarán (certain)

Feast days

Day of Year

Sept 8

Calendar

Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen

Source code

Mart. Ab.

Source title

Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen

Editors

Forbes, A. P.

Secondary Title

Kalendar of Scottish Saints

Pages

125-137

Year

1872

Notes

Mart. Ab. Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen, in Forbes 1872, 125-137

Quote from source

In Ybernia Sancti Kyrani viri Dei cuius vita claris miraculis in Christi ecclesia refulsit.

Day of Year

Sept 9

Calendar

Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee

Source code

Mart. O

Source title

Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee

Editors

Stokes, Whitley

Year

1905

Notes

Full title is Félire Óengusso Céli Dé, The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee, critically edited from Ten Manuscripts, with a Preface, Translation, Notes and Indices.

Quote from source

féil cháin Chíaráin Chlúana

Day of Year

Sept 9

Calendar

Martyrology of Tallaght

Source code

Mart.T

Source title

Martyrology of Tallaght

Editors

Best, R. I. and Lawlor, H. J.

Year

1931

Notes

From the Book of Lesinter and MS 5100-4 in the Royal Library, Brussels.

Quote from source

Ciaran mac in tsáer

Day of Year

Sept 9

Calendar

Martyrology of Gorman

Source code

Mart. G

Source title

Martyrology of Gorman

Editors

Stokes, Whitley

Year

1895

Notes

Full title is Félire Húi Gormáin, The Martyrology of Gorman edited from a manuscript in the Royal library, Brussels, with a preface, translation, notes and indices. It is published by the Henry Bradshaw Society.

Quote from source

mac in tsáir caemh Ciaran 'dear Ciaran, the carpenter's son' gloss: abb Clúana meic Nóis

Day of Year

Sept 9

Calendar

The Martyrology of Donegal

Source code

Mart. Do.

Source title

The Martyrology of Donegal

Editors

Todd, J. H.

Year

1864

Notes

Other author to be specified.

Quote from source

Ciarán, mac an tsaoir, abb Cluana mic Nois. Beoaidh ainm an tsaoir a athar. Darercam inghen Earcain, mic Buachalla, mic Glais, file do Ciarraighe Irluachra a mathair. Do sliocht Chuirc, mic Ferghasa, mic Rosa, mic Rughraighe do. [There is more; it is paraphrased in 'notes']

Notes

Summary of entry in Mart. Do: Throws seed at a poor man, which turns into gold. King Oengus m. Crimthain gives 2 horses and chariot to Ciarán which Ciarán gives to poor man in exchange for the gold. Gold turns to wheat which yields excellent corn. Died at 33 in 548. He is like Christ in that he died at same age and father was a carpenter. Cuimine of Condeire says he never looked at a woman and never lied. Ciarán composed the poem 'An rim a ri an richid rain', asking for a longer life. Great miracles. 4 brothers: Cronan, Donnán, Luachall, Odhran. 3 sisters: Lughbet, Pata, Raithbeo. Like John the Apostle.

Day of Year

Sept 9

Calendar

Calendar of Adam King

Source code

Adam King

Author

Adam King

Source title

Calendar of Adam King

Editors

A.P.Forbes

Secondary Title

Kalendar of Scottish Saints

Pages

141-171

Year

1872

Quote from source

S. Queranus abot in scotland vnder king Ethus. 876.