Cruithnechán (Irish: Cruithneachán), also known as Cruithnechan, Crunathan, and Cronaghan, was an Irishsaint from around the 6th century, known as one of the mentors of Columba, who founded the famous monastery at Iona.
Cruithnechán is mentioned briefly in Adomnán's 7th-century hagiographic life of Columba; he served as foster-father or tutor (nutritor) to the young Columba before the latter went on to study with Gemmán in Leinster, and later with Finnian at Movilla.[1][2][3] An anecdote is told that Cruithnechán once saw a ball of fire hanging over Columba's head, while the boy was sound asleep.[1] The miracle has been explained as representing a "typical motif used to show how teachers or parents were made aware of the precocious sanctity of their charges".[4]
Adomnán does not mention a church for Cruithnechán, but the present-day parish of Kilcronaghan (Irish: Cill Chruithneacháin) in County Londonderry is thought to derive its name from what would have been his church there.[5][6][7]
A number of later sources supply details lacking in Adomnán's account. The otherwise "austere" Middle Irish version of Columba's Life, which has been dated to the 12th century,[8] identifies Cruithnechán as a son of one Cellachán, and says that he baptized the boy before he took him into fosterage.[9][10] The story of Columba's upbringing had undergone further expansion by 1532, when County Donegal chieftain Manus O'Donnell produced the Betha Colaim Chille, a vernacular Life compiled from a range of sources. For instance, citing a poem ascribed to Mura of Fahan, it relates that Columba was sent to Temple Douglas, in the modern parish of Conwal, to be baptized by Cruithnechán mac Cellacháin, who then fostered the boy in Kilmacrenan, County Donegal.[5][7][11]
^ abAlan Orr; Marjorie Ogilvie Anderson, eds. (1991) [1961]. Adomnán's Life of Columba. Oxford Medieval Texts (revised ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. xxix. Also: book 3, chapter 2
^Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí (1995). Early Medieval Ireland, 400-1200. London: Longman. p. 180.
^Richter, Michael (1988). Medieval Ireland: the enduring tradition. Dublin: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 54.
^Smyth, Alfred P. (1989). Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland, A.D. 80-1000. Edinburgh University Press. p. 91.
^ abGwynn, Aubrey; Hadcock, R. Neville (1970). Medieval Religious Houses: Ireland. London: Longmans. p. 39, 390, 406.
^"Kilcronaghan". Logainm Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
^ abcReeves, William, ed. (1850). Acts of Archbishop Colton in his metropolitan visitation in the diocese of Derry, A.D. MCCCXCVII. Dublin: Irish Archaeological Society. p. 82 note c. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
^Herbert, Máire (2004). "Columba [St Columba, Colum Cille]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6001. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Stokes, Whitley, ed. (1877). Three Middle-Irish Homilies. Calcutta: privately printed.
^Stokes, Whitley, ed. (1890). Lives of saints from the Book of Lismore. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 24, 172.
^O'Kelleher, A.; G. Schoepperle, eds. (1918). Betha Colaim Chille: Life of Columcille Compiled by Manus O'Donnell in 1532. See further §§ 53-54, 59, 60-62, 68.
August 25, 2023
cruithnechán, irish, cruithneachán, also, known, cruithnechan, crunathan, cronaghan, irish, saint, from, around, century, known, mentors, columba, founded, famous, monastery, iona, mentioned, briefly, adomnán, century, hagiographic, life, columba, served, fost. Cruithnechan Irish Cruithneachan also known as Cruithnechan Crunathan and Cronaghan was an Irish saint from around the 6th century known as one of the mentors of Columba who founded the famous monastery at Iona Cruithnechan is mentioned briefly in Adomnan s 7th century hagiographic life of Columba he served as foster father or tutor nutritor to the young Columba before the latter went on to study with Gemman in Leinster and later with Finnian at Movilla 1 2 3 An anecdote is told that Cruithnechan once saw a ball of fire hanging over Columba s head while the boy was sound asleep 1 The miracle has been explained as representing a typical motif used to show how teachers or parents were made aware of the precocious sanctity of their charges 4 Adomnan does not mention a church for Cruithnechan but the present day parish of Kilcronaghan Irish Cill Chruithneachain in County Londonderry is thought to derive its name from what would have been his church there 5 6 7 A number of later sources supply details lacking in Adomnan s account The otherwise austere Middle Irish version of Columba s Life which has been dated to the 12th century 8 identifies Cruithnechan as a son of one Cellachan and says that he baptized the boy before he took him into fosterage 9 10 The story of Columba s upbringing had undergone further expansion by 1532 when County Donegal chieftain Manus O Donnell produced the Betha Colaim Chille a vernacular Life compiled from a range of sources For instance citing a poem ascribed to Mura of Fahan it relates that Columba was sent to Temple Douglas in the modern parish of Conwal to be baptized by Cruithnechan mac Cellachain who then fostered the boy in Kilmacrenan County Donegal 5 7 11 The Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae by John Colgan lists his festival day as 7 March 7 See also EditColumba KilcronaghanNotes Edit a b Alan Orr Marjorie Ogilvie Anderson eds 1991 1961 Adomnan s Life of Columba Oxford Medieval Texts revised ed Oxford Clarendon Press p xxix Also book 3 chapter 2 o Croinin Daibhi 1995 Early Medieval Ireland 400 1200 London Longman p 180 Richter Michael 1988 Medieval Ireland the enduring tradition Dublin Palgrave Macmillan p 54 Smyth Alfred P 1989 Warlords and Holy Men Scotland A D 80 1000 Edinburgh University Press p 91 a b Gwynn Aubrey Hadcock R Neville 1970 Medieval Religious Houses Ireland London Longmans p 39 390 406 Kilcronaghan Logainm Placenames Database of Ireland Retrieved 7 July 2010 a b c Reeves William ed 1850 Acts of Archbishop Colton in his metropolitan visitation in the diocese of Derry A D MCCCXCVII Dublin Irish Archaeological Society p 82 note c Retrieved 21 February 2011 Herbert Maire 2004 Columba St Columba Colum Cille Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 6001 Subscription or UK public library membership required Stokes Whitley ed 1877 Three Middle Irish Homilies Calcutta privately printed Stokes Whitley ed 1890 Lives of saints from the Book of Lismore Oxford Clarendon Press pp 24 172 O Kelleher A G Schoepperle eds 1918 Betha Colaim Chille Life of Columcille Compiled by Manus O Donnell in 1532 See further 53 54 59 60 62 68 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cruithnechan amp oldid 1171897619, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
