Mac Cairthinn of Clogher: Difference between revisions

St Macartan of Clogher
St Macartan of Clogher
	Relief of Macartan by Elizabeth Ryan
Abbot and Bishop
Died	506; Clogher
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism; Eastern Orthodox Church; Church of Ireland
Feast	24 March

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 04:55, 24 July 2024

Saint Mac Cairthinn, also Macartan, McCartan (died 506), is recognized as the first presiding Bishop of Clogher from 454 to his death. One of the earliest Christian saints in Ireland, he is known as Saint Patrick's "Threin Fhir", or "Strong Man" for his dedication and faithfulness to the fledgling Church. His feast day is 24 March.

Legend

Saint Macartan grew up in the southern part of Ireland, somewhere in Munster. Before his conversion to Christianity by Patrick, the future saint was known by the name Aidus/Aedh, the son of Caerthen (son of the Rowan Tree). The identity of his father is uncertain but is sometimes associated with a Dalcassian prince of Thomond or with the Uí Maine of Connacht. Hence the Anglicized later name to come down to us is "Macartan". Some sources claim that he was uncle to Saint Brigid.^[1]

Hearing of Patrick's teaching, Aidus travelled from his home to hear him preach in Armagh, leaving behind his wife and child. He first met Patrick at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Here Macartan was baptized and soon became one of Patrick's official missionary staff. He was spoken of as Patrick's "champion" or "strong man". We are told that when the great Apostle was worn out by his work Macartan supported his faltering steps over rough roads, marshes and rivers by carrying him.^[2] Macartan was initially ordained to the role of presbyter.^[1]

He was the "staff of Patrick" in the Irish patron saint's declining years. On one occasion after carrying Patrick over a river, an exhausted Macartan expressed a wish that he might be relieved from further travel and allowed to settle down in charge of some church close by his beloved master where he could spend the evening of his life in peace. Patrick, full of sympathy for his faithful companion and friend, agreed that he should establish a monastery in Clogher, and finish out his life there. A monastery was established near the ancient royal fort of Rathmore on the outskirts of the town and one of Ireland's oldest bishoprics was established. To commemorate the occasion Patrick gave Macartan his staff and a number of precious relics contained in a shrine known to tradition as the Domnach Airgid.^[2]

Domnach Airgid

The Domnach Airgid (the Silver church) was made to enclose a manuscript that consists of fragments of 39 sheets of the Gospels, written in the distinctively Irish lettering of the eighth or ninth century.^[3]^[4] On the cover of the Domnach Airgid is one of the earliest surviving metalwork images of St. Patrick. Traditionally, the book was claimed to be that given by St Patrick himself to his companion St Macartan,^[5]^[6] making it an object of great veneration.^[7] Around 1350, the abbot of Clones, John O Carbry, commissioned a substantial remodelling of the Domnach Airgid.^[8] The figure of St. Patrick is thought to be at the lower right of the cover. In the lower left St. Patrick may be handing the Domnach Airgid to St. Macartan. The Domnach Airgid is no. 48 in A History of Ireland in 100 Objects, and can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.^[8]^[9]

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b Breen, Aidan. "Mac-Caírthinn", Dictionary of Irish Biography, 2009
^ ^a ^b "Saint Macartan: Our Patron Saint", Saint Macartan's college
^ "Domnach Airgid". Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 20 June 2021
^ "The Study of Celtic Literature". The Cornhill Magazine. Guildford: Cornhill 1993. p. 296
^ Overbey (2006), p. 488
^ O'Floinn (2002), p. 176
^ O'Toole (2013), p. 98
^ ^a ^b "The Domhnach Airgid", Cultural Heritage of Ireland
^ The Domhnach Airgid, c. 1350. A History of Ireland in 100 Objects. Retrieved 20 June 2021

Sources

Bourke, Cormac. "The Domnach Airgid in 2006". Clogher Record, volume 19, nr 1, 2006. JSTOR 27699541
O'Cróinín, Dáithí. The Cathach and Domnach Airgid. In: Cunningham, Bernadette; Fitzpatrick, Siobhán (eds), "Treasures of the Royal Irish Academy Library". Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 2009. ISBN 978-1-9048-9054-6
O'Floinn, Raghnall. "Irish Goldsmiths' Work of the Later Middle Ages". Irish Arts Review Yearbook, volume 12, 1996. JSTOR 20492877
O'Toole, Fintan. A History of Ireland in 100 Objects. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 2013. ISBN 978-1-9089-9615-2
Overbey, Karen. "Locating the Book: The Domnach Airgid Shrine in Medieval Ireland". Medford, MA: Tufts University, 2006

External links

[breen-1] Breen, Aidan. "Mac-Caírthinn", Dictionary of Irish Biography, 2009

[college-2] "Saint Macartan: Our Patron Saint", Saint Macartan's college

[ria-3] "Domnach Airgid". Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 20 June 2021

[Cornhill-4] "The Study of Celtic Literature". The Cornhill Magazine. Guildford: Cornhill 1993. p. 296

[o488-5] Overbey (2006), p. 488

[of176-6] O'Floinn (2002), p. 176

[ot98-7] O'Toole (2013), p. 98

[100o-8] "The Domhnach Airgid", Cultural Heritage of Ireland

[9] The Domhnach Airgid, c. 1350. A History of Ireland in 100 Objects. Retrieved 20 June 2021

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Refimprove|date=February 2013}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
+{{Use Irish English|date=June 2021}}
 {{Infobox saint
-|name= Macartan of Clogher
+|name= St Macartan of Clogher
 |death_date= 506
-|feast_day= March 24
+|feast_day= 24 March
-|venerated_in= [[Roman Catholicism]]
+|venerated_in= [[Roman Catholicism]]<br>[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<br>[[Church of Ireland]]
-|image= St McCartan's Cathedral, Clogher - geograph.org.uk - 156814.jpg
+|image=  Monaghan Saint Macartan's Cathedral Relief Macartan 506 – 2006 by Elizabeth Ryan 2013 09 21.jpg
-|caption= St. McCartan's Cathedral, Clogher
+|caption= Relief of Macartan by Elizabeth Ryan
 |death_place= Clogher
-|titles= Abbot and Bishop
+|titles= Abbot and Bishop}}
-}}
-'''Saint Mac Cairthinn''', also '''Macartan''', belongs to a very early generation of Christian saints in Ireland, and is recognized as the first presiding [[Bishop of Clogher]], from 454 to his death in 506. He is known as [[Saint Patrick]]'s [[Traynor_(surname)|"Threin Fhir"]], or "Strong Man", his name being a play on "strong-back" for his dedication and faithfulness to the cause of the young Irish Church. His feast day is March 24.
+'''Saint Mac Cairthinn''', also '''Macartan''', '''McCartan''' (died 506), is recognized as the first presiding [[Bishop of Clogher]] from 454 to his death. One of the earliest Christian saints in Ireland, he is known as [[Saint Patrick]]'s [[Traynor (surname)|"Threin Fhir"]], or "Strong Man" for his dedication and faithfulness to the fledgling Church. His feast day is 24 March.
 ==Legend==
-St. Macartan grew up in the southern part of Ireland, somewhere in Munster. Before his conversion to Christianity by Patrick the future saint was known by the name Aidus/Aedh, the son of Caerthen,(son of the Rowan Tree). The identity of his father is uncertain, but is sometimes associated with a [[Dalcassian]] prince of Thomond or with the [[U%C3%AD_Maine]] of Connaught. Hence the Anglicized later name to come down to us is "Macartan".<ref name=college>[http://www.stmacartanscollege.ie/The-College/Patron-Saint "Saint Macartan: Our Patron Saint", Saint Macartan's college]</ref> Some sources claim that he was uncle to [[Saint Brigid]].<ref>[http://www.clogher.anglican.org/News/1500/index.php?p=macartan MACARTAN 1500: Church of Ireland]</ref>
+Saint Macartan grew up in the southern part of Ireland, somewhere in [[Munster]]. Before his conversion to Christianity by Patrick, the future saint was known by the name Aidus/Aedh, the son of Caerthen (son of the Rowan Tree). The identity of his father is uncertain but is sometimes associated with a [[Dalcassian]] prince of Thomond or with the [[Uí Maine]] of [[Connacht]]. Hence the Anglicized later name to come down to us is "Macartan". Some sources claim that he was uncle to [[Saint Brigid]].<ref name=breen/>
+[[File:Monaghan Saint Macartan's Cathedral Statue St. Macartan and the Prince 2016 08 25.jpg|thumb|Statue of Macartan (right) with the local prince Cairbre]]
-Hearing of Patrick's teaching, Aidus traveled from his home to hear him preach in Armagh, leaving behind his wife and child. He first met Patrick at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Here Macartan was baptized and soon became one of Patrick's official missionary staff. He was spoken of as Patrick's "champion" or "strong man". We are told that when the great Apostle was worn out by his work that Macartan supported his faltering steps over rough roads, marshes and rivers by carrying him.<ref name=college/> Macartan was initially ordained to the role of presbyter (priest) while Patrick was still living, possible by Patrick himself.
+Hearing of Patrick's teaching, Aidus travelled from his home to hear him preach in Armagh, leaving behind his wife and child. He first met Patrick at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Here Macartan was baptized and soon became one of Patrick's official missionary staff. He was spoken of as Patrick's "champion" or "strong man". We are told that when the great Apostle was worn out by his work Macartan supported his faltering steps over rough roads, marshes and rivers by carrying him.<ref name=college>[http://www.stmacartanscollege.ie/The-College/Patron-Saint "Saint Macartan: Our Patron Saint", Saint Macartan's college]</ref> Macartan was initially ordained to the role of presbyter.<ref name=breen>[https://www.dib.ie/biography/mac-cairthinn-a4997 Breen, Aidan. "Mac-Caírthinn", ''Dictionary of Irish Biography'', 2009]</ref>
-He was the "staff of Patrick" in the Irish patron saint's declining years. On one occasion after carrying Patrick over a river, an exhausted Macartan expressed a wish that he might be relieved from further travel and allowed settle down in charge of some church close-by his beloved master where he could spend the evening of his life in peace. Patrick, full of sympathy for his faithful companion and friend, agreed that he should establish a monastery in Clogher, and finish out his life there. A monastery was established near the ancient royal fort of Rathmore on the outskirts of the town and one of Ireland's oldest bishoprics was established. To commemorate the occasion  Patrick gave Macartan his staff and a number of precious relics contained in a shrine known to tradition as the Domhnach Airgid.<ref name=college/>
+He was the "staff of Patrick" in the Irish patron saint's declining years. On one occasion after carrying Patrick over a river, an exhausted Macartan expressed a wish that he might be relieved from further travel and allowed to settle down in charge of some church close by his beloved master where he could spend the evening of his life in peace. Patrick, full of sympathy for his faithful companion and friend, agreed that he should establish a monastery in Clogher, and finish out his life there. A monastery was established near the ancient royal fort of Rathmore on the outskirts of the town and one of Ireland's oldest bishoprics was established. To commemorate the occasion Patrick gave Macartan his staff and a number of precious relics contained in a shrine known to tradition as the Domnach Airgid.<ref name=college/>
-==Domhnach Airgid==
+==Domnach Airgid==
+{{main|Domnach Airgid}}
-The Domhnach Airgid (the Silver church) was made to enclose a manuscript that consists of fragments of 39 sheets of the Gospels, written in the distinctively Irish lettering of the eighth or ninth century. On the cover of the Domhnach Airgid is one of the earliest surviving metalwork images of St. Patrick. Traditionally, the book was claimed to be that given by St Patrick himself to his companion St Macartan, making it an object of great veneration. Around 1350, the abbot of Clones, John O Carbry, commissioned a substantial remodelling of the Domhnach Airgid. The figure of St. Patrick is thought to be at the lower right of the cover. In the lower left St. Patrick may be handing the Domhnach Airgid to St. Macartan. The Domhnach Airgid can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.<ref>[http://www.culturalheritageireland.ie/index.php/component/content/article/67-metalwork/188-the-domhnach-airgid- "The Domhnach Airgid", Cultural Heritage of Ireland]</ref><ref>[http://www.100objects.ie/portfolio-items/domhnach-airgid/ A History of Ireland in 100 Objects]</ref>
+The [[Domnach Airgid]] (the Silver church) was made to enclose a manuscript that consists of fragments of 39 sheets of the Gospels, written in the distinctively Irish lettering of the eighth or ninth century.<ref name="ria">"[https://www.ria.ie/library/catalogues/special-collections/medieval-and-early-modern-manuscripts/domnach-airgid Domnach Airgid]". [[Royal Irish Academy]]. Retrieved 20 June 2021</ref><ref name="Cornhill">"The Study of Celtic Literature". ''[[The Cornhill Magazine]]''. Guildford: Cornhill 1993. p. 296</ref> On the cover of the Domnach Airgid is one of the earliest surviving metalwork images of St. Patrick. Traditionally, the book was claimed to be that given by St Patrick himself to his companion St Macartan,<ref name="o488">Overbey (2006), p. 488</ref><ref name="of176">O'Floinn (2002), p. 176</ref> making it an object of great veneration.<ref name="ot98">O'Toole (2013), p. 98</ref> Around 1350, the abbot of Clones, John O Carbry, commissioned a substantial remodelling of the Domnach Airgid.<ref name="100o" /> The figure of St. Patrick is thought to be at the lower right of the cover. In the lower left St. Patrick may be handing the Domnach Airgid to St. Macartan. The Domnach Airgid is no. 48 in ''[[A History of Ireland in 100 Objects]]'', and can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.<ref name="100o">[http://www.culturalheritageireland.ie/index.php/component/content/article/67-metalwork/188-the-domhnach-airgid- "The Domhnach Airgid", Cultural Heritage of Ireland]</ref><ref>[https://100objects.ie/the-domhnach-airgid/ The Domhnach Airgid, c. 1350]. [[A History of Ireland in 100 Objects]]. Retrieved 20 June 2021</ref>
-==The Collect of St Macartan's Day==
-Heavenly Father,<br>
-we thank you for Macartan, faithful companion of Saint Patrick,<br>
-and builder of your church in Clogher:<br>
-Build up your church through those whom you call to leadership<br>
-in this generation,<br>
-and strengthen your church to proclaim the gospel<br>
-of reconciliation and peace;<br>
-through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 ==References==
+===Citations===
 {{Reflist}}
+===Sources===
+* [[Cormac Bourke|Bourke, Cormac]]. "The Domnach Airgid in 2006". ''[[Clogher Record]]'', volume 19, nr 1, 2006. {{JSTOR|27699541}}
+* O'Cróinín, Dáithí. ''The Cathach and Domnach Airgid''. In: Cunningham, Bernadette; Fitzpatrick, Siobhán (eds), "Treasures of the Royal Irish Academy Library". Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 2009. {{isbn|978-1-9048-9054-6}}
+* [[Raghnall Ó Floinn|O'Floinn, Raghnall]]. "Irish Goldsmiths' Work of the Later Middle Ages". ''Irish Arts Review Yearbook'', volume 12, 1996. {{JSTOR|20492877}}
+* [[Fintan O'Toole|O'Toole, Fintan]].  ''A History of Ireland in 100 Objects''. Dublin: [[Royal Irish Academy]], 2013. {{ISBN|978-1-9089-9615-2}}
+* Overbey, Karen. "[https://www.academia.edu/2488059/Locating_the_Book_The_Domnach_Airgid_Shrine_in_Medieval_Ireland Locating the Book: The Domnach Airgid Shrine in Medieval Ireland]". Medford, MA: Tufts University, 2006
 ==Further reading==
@@ Line 44: / Line 43: @@
 ==External links==
-* [https://books.google.com/books?id=_zJJtvK2_KsC&pg=PA280&lpg=PA280&dq=Mac+Cairthinn+of+Clogher&source=bl&ots=4OvDhjVyz6&sig=RSDOEzgiWMZfHsdRQMerurI6Ycc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-7JnVO78DM7asAThx4KYBQ&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Mac%20Cairthinn%20of%20Clogher&f=false Farmer, David. "Macartan", ''Oxford Dictionary of Saints'', 5th ed., Oxford University Press, 2011] ISBN 9780199596607
+* [https://books.google.com/books?id=_zJJtvK2_KsC&dq=Mac+Cairthinn+of+Clogher&pg=PA280 Farmer, David. "Macartan", ''Oxford Dictionary of Saints'', 5th ed., Oxford University Press, 2011] {{ISBN|9780199596607}}
 * [https://elmss.nuigalway.ie/catalogue/588 More information at Earlier Latin Manuscripts]
+{{authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Mac Cairthinn of Clogher}}
 [[Category:People from County Tyrone]]
 [[Category:Irish Christian monks]]
 [[Category:5th-century Christian saints]]
-[[Category:5th-century Irish people]]
+[[Category:5th-century Irish bishops]]
-[[Category:6th-century Irish people]]
+[[Category:6th-century Irish bishops]]
 [[Category:Medieval saints of Ulster]]
 [[Category:506 deaths]]
 [[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
-[[Category:Bishops of Clogher]]
+[[Category:Pre-Reformation bishops of Clogher]]
-[[Category:Pre-diocesan bishops in Ireland]]