Banban the Wise
Encyclopedia
Name
Banban's name is rendered differently in a number of sources. The most common are include Banbanus, Banbhanus, Mauranum cognomento Barbanum, alias Banbanum, Banuanus Sapiens. Others include Mabran Barbarus, Methbrain, Methbruin, Mauran, Niabrain, Nia Brain, Niethbrain, Seannan.Biography
After destroying the idol Crom CruachCrom Cruach
Crom Cruach or Cromm Crúaich , also known as Cenn Cruach /ˈkʲɛnˠ: ˈkɾˠuəxˠ/ or Cenncroithi /ˈkʲɛnˠ: ˈkɾˠoθʲɨ/, was a deity in pre-Christian Ireland, reputedly propitiated with human sacrifice, whose worship is said to have been ended by St...
in Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht is the name of an historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw and County of Cavan. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Rushen mountain,...
, Templeport
Templeport
Templeport civil parish is situated in the Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland. The chief towns in the parish are Bawnboy and Ballymagauran...
, County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland, St.Patrick installed Banban as pastor of the Domnach Mór (Big Church) church which he erected there. This is now the site of the Roman Catholic church in Kilnavart townland and is the oldest Christian site in County Cavan.
Sources
The Vita tripartita Sancti PatriciiVita tripartita Sancti Patricii
The Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii is a bilingual Life of Patrick, written partly in Irish and in parts in Latin from the late 9th century. It is the earliest example of a saint's Life written in the Irish language and it was meant to be read in three parts over the three days of the saint's...
or Tripartite Life of St.Patrick, page 93 states- "Patrick founded a church in that stead, namely, Domnach Maighe Sleacht, and left therein Mabran [whose cognomen is] Barbarus Patricii, a relative of his and a prophet. And there is Patrick's well, wherein he baptized many. Then Patrick went into the province of Connaught by Snam da En over the Shannon."
Tírechán
Tírechán
Tírechán was a 7th century Irish bishop and biographer of Saint Patrick. Tírechán wrote his untitled memoir sometime after the death of his mentor, Ultan of Ardbraccan, in 657. The work survives in the manuscript The Book of Armagh.Tírechán's account, which J. B...
's Collections in the Book of Armagh
Book of Armagh
The Book of Armagh or Codex Ardmachanus , also known as the Canon of Patrick and the Liber Armachanus, is a 9th-century Irish manuscript written mainly in Latin. It is held by the Library of Trinity College, Dublin...
states- "Patrick, however, sending Methbrain, a foreign kinsman of Patrick's, to Rath Slecht, who told the wonders of the true God. And Patrick came to the channel of the Shannon."
The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
state at 448 - "M448.2, 9- His sister's son was Banban, of fame;"
Flann's poem in The Yellow Book of Lecan
Yellow Book of Lecan
The Yellow Book of Lecan , or TCD MS 1318 , is a medieval Irish manuscript written no later than the dawn of the 15th century. It is currently housed at Trinity College, Dublin and should not be confused with the Great Book of Lecan.-Overview:The manuscript is written on vellum and contains 344...
states- "Seannan was his brother or cousin of fame"
Said by John Colgan
John Colgan
John Colgan was an Irish hagiographer and historian.-Life:...
to be a son of St.Patrick’s sister, Richella. However "Barbanus" also means 'a paternal uncle'.
Feast day
His feast-day is either 1st or 9 May. It may or may not be a coincidence that the next saint's name listed at 9 May in the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum is St.BricínBricín
Bricín , Irish Abbot of Tuaim Dreccon, c.590 - 650.-Túaim Dreccon:The history of Bricín centres around the abbey of Tuaim Drecconin, in Breifne , which flourished in the 7th century A.D.Tomregan got its name in pre-Christian times from the burial mound of Dreacon, a pagan chieftain ruling the...
of Tomregan
Tomregan
Tomregan civil parish straddles the international border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The chief town of the parish is Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Most of Tomregan's constituent townlands are situate in County Cavan, with the remainder in County Fermanagh...
which is also in Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht is the name of an historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw and County of Cavan. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Rushen mountain,...
.
Others of the name
Banban should not be confused with Colman Banban, Bishop of LeighlinBishop of Leighlin
The Bishop of Leighlin was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the small town of Old Leighlin in County Carlow, Ireland.The title is now united with other bishoprics. In the Church of Ireland, it is held by the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, whose full title is the Bishop of Cashel,...
& Kildare who died in 720 AD. His feastday is 26 November.