Ninnidh (alias Ninnidh the Pious, Irish: Ninnidh leth derc, meaning one-eyed Ninnidh, Nennius, Nennidhius, Ninnaid) was a 6th-century Irish Christian saint. St. Ninnidh is regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is associated with the shores of Lough Erne and particularly the island of Inishmacsaint and the parish of Knockninny, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (derived from the Irish: Cnoc Ninnidh, meaning the Hill of Ninnidh). His feast day is 18 January.
Ninnidh likely journeyed up and down the Southern portion of Lower Lough Erne in a hollowed-out boat, coming ashore and making his way inland to meet people and spread the gospel.[4] After St. Patrick's time, the Celtic Church was divided into many territories and ruled by Abbots of Monasteries, only some of whom were Bishops. St. Ninnidh built a monastery on Inishmacsaint Isle (near Devenish) circa 530A.D. and using the waterways of the time cared for the people from the Erne as far as the sea, sending his priests and monks to the local Churches. In 530 AD Ninnidh held a 40-day fast on Knockninny Hill, during the period of Lent.[3]
Other accountsedit
Ruins of Inishmacsaints
The monks of Ramsgate in their Book of Saints say only,
NENNIUS (St.) Abbot. (Jan 17)
(6th century) An Irish Saint, disciple of St. Finnian of Clonard, reckoned as one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland." The particulars of his life are lost.[5]
The hagiographer Alban Butler wrote in the Lives of the Irish Saints (1823),
January 17.
St. Nennius, or Nennidhius, Ab.
DESPISING the vanities of the world, though of the race of the monarchs of Ireland, from his youth made the science of the cross of Christ his chief science, and the sole object of his ambition; and to engrave in his heart the lessons which our divine Redeemer taught by that adorable mystery, was the centre of all his desires. Having past [sic] many years, first in the school of St. Fiachus, archbishop of Leinster, and afterwards in the celebrated monastery of Clonard, in the province of Meath, under its holy founder St. Finian, he retired into the isle of Inis-muighesamb, in the lake of Erne, in the province of Ulster. Here in process of time he became the director of many souls in the paths of Christian perfection, founded a great monastery, and on account of his eminent sanctity, and the number of illustrious disciples whom he left behind him, is called one of the twelve apostles of Ireland. He flourished in the sixth century, and has been honoured in Ireland among the saints. F. Colgan was not able to meet with any acts of his life, though he is mentioned in the lives of several other Irish saints. A church in the isle of the lake, formed by the river Erne, is dedicated to God in his honour.[6]
Legacyedit
St. Ninnidh's Bell from a sketch in 1877, when the bell's last whereabouts were known.
St. Ninnidh's feast day is 18 January. St. Ninnidh's well is situated at Knockninny Quay on the shores of Upper Lough Erne and is reputed to have curative properties for eye ailments. In William Henry's Upper Lough Erne in 1739 the well was described as a chief curiosity, "being a plentiful foundation of pure water, having a clearance and coolness scarce to be met with. It was at that time a popular spot for boatspeople to retire to for their entertainments for which and around it are arranged benches of sod and over it a shade of aquatic trees".[7]
St. Ninnidh's bell, traditionally presented to Ninnidh by St. Senach of Derrybrusk, was kept in Knockninny parish in the 17th century. It was at Castle Caldwell (now incorporated into the Enniskillen Castle Museum in County Fermanagh until 1877 when it was sold at auction to Robert Day of Cork (who sketched the drawing to right). When Day's collection was sold in 1913, this bell was not part of the sale. Although for some time it was identified with a bell in the National Museum of Edinburgh (probably St. Ninian's Bell, formerly from the collection of John Bell), the location of St. Ninnidh's Bell is unknown.[8]
^Wakeman, W.F., "Some Remarks on the Antiquities of Knockninny, Co. Fermanagh", 8 May 1876, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Royal Irish Academy, 1879. p. 335
^Henry, William (1892). Upper Lough Erne in 1739. Dublin: W. McGee.
^Ó Floinn, Raghnall. "The Bell of Saint Ninnid of Inishmacsaint, Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh." In The Modern Traveller to Our Past, Festschrift in Honour of Ann Hamlin. Ed. by Marion Meek. N.p.: DPK, 2006, 145-49.
External linksedit
Butler, Alban (1823), The Lives of the Irish Saints, Extracted from the Writings of the Rev. Alban Butler, and Now Placed in Order, with a Prefixed Callender; to which is Added, an Office and Litany in Their Honour, with a Defence of the Monastic Institute. By a Cistercian Monk, J. Coyne, retrieved 25 July 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Monks of St. Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate (1921), The Book of saints : a dictionary of servants of God canonized by the Catholic Church, London: A. & C. Black, ltd., retrieved 25 July 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
St Ninnidh Stained Glass Window
April 13, 2024
ninnidh, other, uses, name, nennnius, nennius, disambiguation, alias, pious, irish, leth, derc, meaning, eyed, nennius, nennidhius, ninnaid, century, irish, christian, saint, regarded, twelve, apostles, ireland, associated, with, shores, lough, erne, particula. For other uses of the name Nennnius see Nennius disambiguation Ninnidh alias Ninnidh the Pious Irish Ninnidh leth derc meaning one eyed Ninnidh Nennius Nennidhius Ninnaid was a 6th century Irish Christian saint St Ninnidh is regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland He is associated with the shores of Lough Erne and particularly the island of Inishmacsaint and the parish of Knockninny County Fermanagh Northern Ireland derived from the Irish Cnoc Ninnidh meaning the Hill of Ninnidh His feast day is 18 January SaintNinnidhApostle of IrelandInismacsaint Lower Lough Erne FermanaghBornCenel Conaill Gaelic Ireland today County Donegal Ireland ResidenceInis muighesamb Lough Erne UlsterDied6th centuryInis muighesamb Cenel Rochada Gaelic IrelandVenerated inEastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic ChurchFeast18 JanuaryNinnidh of Inismacsaint is often confused with Saint Ninnidh of the Pure Hand who attended Brigid of Kildare on her deathbed 1 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Other accounts 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife editNinnidh was born in County Donegal a grandson of Laoghaire the High King of Ireland He was educated under St Finian at Clonard 3 where his fellow students included Ciaran of Clonmacnoise St Molaise of Devenish and St Aidan of Ferns St Ninnidh preached along the South shore of Lough Erne making the island of Inishmacsaint Island of the Sorrel Plain his headquarters around 532 1 Ciaran visited Inishmacsaint in 534 citation needed Ninnidh likely journeyed up and down the Southern portion of Lower Lough Erne in a hollowed out boat coming ashore and making his way inland to meet people and spread the gospel 4 After St Patrick s time the Celtic Church was divided into many territories and ruled by Abbots of Monasteries only some of whom were Bishops St Ninnidh built a monastery on Inishmacsaint Isle near Devenish circa 530A D and using the waterways of the time cared for the people from the Erne as far as the sea sending his priests and monks to the local Churches In 530 AD Ninnidh held a 40 day fast on Knockninny Hill during the period of Lent 3 Other accounts edit nbsp Ruins of InishmacsaintsThe monks of Ramsgate in their Book of Saints say only NENNIUS St Abbot Jan 17 6th century An Irish Saint disciple of St Finnian of Clonard reckoned as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland The particulars of his life are lost 5 The hagiographer Alban Butler wrote in the Lives of the Irish Saints 1823 January 17 St Nennius or Nennidhius Ab DESPISING the vanities of the world though of the race of the monarchs of Ireland from his youth made the science of the cross of Christ his chief science and the sole object of his ambition and to engrave in his heart the lessons which our divine Redeemer taught by that adorable mystery was the centre of all his desires Having past sic many years first in the school of St Fiachus archbishop of Leinster and afterwards in the celebrated monastery of Clonard in the province of Meath under its holy founder St Finian he retired into the isle of Inis muighesamb in the lake of Erne in the province of Ulster Here in process of time he became the director of many souls in the paths of Christian perfection founded a great monastery and on account of his eminent sanctity and the number of illustrious disciples whom he left behind him is called one of the twelve apostles of Ireland He flourished in the sixth century and has been honoured in Ireland among the saints F Colgan was not able to meet with any acts of his life though he is mentioned in the lives of several other Irish saints A church in the isle of the lake formed by the river Erne is dedicated to God in his honour 6 Legacy edit nbsp St Ninnidh s Bell from a sketch in 1877 when the bell s last whereabouts were known St Ninnidh s feast day is 18 January St Ninnidh s well is situated at Knockninny Quay on the shores of Upper Lough Erne and is reputed to have curative properties for eye ailments In William Henry s Upper Lough Erne in 1739 the well was described as a chief curiosity being a plentiful foundation of pure water having a clearance and coolness scarce to be met with It was at that time a popular spot for boatspeople to retire to for their entertainments for which and around it are arranged benches of sod and over it a shade of aquatic trees 7 St Ninnidh s bell traditionally presented to Ninnidh by St Senach of Derrybrusk was kept in Knockninny parish in the 17th century It was at Castle Caldwell now incorporated into the Enniskillen Castle Museum in County Fermanagh until 1877 when it was sold at auction to Robert Day of Cork who sketched the drawing to right When Day s collection was sold in 1913 this bell was not part of the sale Although for some time it was identified with a bell in the National Museum of Edinburgh probably St Ninian s Bell formerly from the collection of John Bell the location of St Ninnidh s Bell is unknown 8 See also editKnockninnyReferences edit a b Parke W K The Parish of Inismacsaint 1973 McKenna J E Inismacsaint Ulster Journal of Archaeology Ulster Archaeological Society 1904 a b Knockninney Parish Wakeman W F Some Remarks on the Antiquities of Knockninny Co Fermanagh 8 May 1876 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Royal Irish Academy 1879 p 335 Monks of St Augustine s Abbey Ramsgate 1921 p 200 Butler 1823 p 6 Henry William 1892 Upper Lough Erne in 1739 Dublin W McGee o Floinn Raghnall The Bell of Saint Ninnid of Inishmacsaint Lough Erne Co Fermanagh In The Modern Traveller to Our Past Festschrift in Honour of Ann Hamlin Ed by Marion Meek N p DPK 2006 145 49 External links editButler Alban 1823 The Lives of the Irish Saints Extracted from the Writings of the Rev Alban Butler and Now Placed in Order with a Prefixed Callender to which is Added an Office and Litany in Their Honour with a Defence of the Monastic Institute By a Cistercian Monk J Coyne retrieved 25 July 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Monks of St Augustine s Abbey Ramsgate 1921 The Book of saints a dictionary of servants of God canonized by the Catholic Church London A amp C Black ltd retrieved 25 July 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain St Ninnidh Stained Glass Window Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ninnidh amp oldid 1197662603, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
