Carthage the Elder
Encyclopedia
Saint Carthage the Elder (or Carthach) was an Irish
bishop
and abbot
in the sixth century. His feast day
is March 5.
The saint
is mainly known as the tutor and fosterer of his greater namesake, Saint Carthage of Lismore, also known as Saint Mochuda. Carthage was of the Eóganacht Chaisil
and son, or, more probably, grandson of Óengus mac Nad Froích
whom Saint Patrick
baptized. He was himself a disciple of Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise
who had condemned him to a condign penance for a sin of the flesh committed in his younger days. On completion of his canonical penance Carthage was reinstated as a member of the religious brotherhood. Afterwards he founded the monastery
of Druim Fertain and another monastery in the upper island of Lough Sheelin
, County Meath
.
In the barony of Clanmaurice is a townland called Monument on which are some scant remains of an ancient church called Cill Cartaig (Carthage's Church).
There is a small paragraph about St. Cartha in the book
The Martyrology of Donegal: a Calendar of the Saints of Ireland
1864
By James Michael O'Clery
page 65
Carthach, Bishop, alumnus of Ciaran of Saighir. One of his places was Druim-fertain, and in Cairbre Ua Ciardha is Druim-fertain; and to him belongs Inish Uachtair in Loch Sileann, and Cill Charthaigh in Tir Boghaine in Cinel Conaill. He was son of Aenghus, son of Nadfraech king of Munster, &c.
Cill Charthaigh is Kilcar
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
in the sixth century. His feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is March 5.
The saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
is mainly known as the tutor and fosterer of his greater namesake, Saint Carthage of Lismore, also known as Saint Mochuda. Carthage was of the Eóganacht Chaisil
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
and son, or, more probably, grandson of Óengus mac Nad Froích
Óengus mac Nad Froích
Óengus mac Nad Froích was an Eoganachta and the first Christian king of Munster. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady...
whom Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
baptized. He was himself a disciple of Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise
Ciarán of Clonmacnoise
Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the early Irish monastic saints and Irish bishop. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Younger to distinguish him from Saint Ciarán of Saighir. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland....
who had condemned him to a condign penance for a sin of the flesh committed in his younger days. On completion of his canonical penance Carthage was reinstated as a member of the religious brotherhood. Afterwards he founded the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Druim Fertain and another monastery in the upper island of Lough Sheelin
Lough Sheelin
Lough Sheelin is a limestone freshwater lough in Ireland located in County Westmeath, County Meath and County Cavan near the village of Finea and the town of Granard County Longford....
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
In the barony of Clanmaurice is a townland called Monument on which are some scant remains of an ancient church called Cill Cartaig (Carthage's Church).
There is a small paragraph about St. Cartha in the book
The Martyrology of Donegal: a Calendar of the Saints of Ireland
1864
By James Michael O'Clery
page 65
Carthach, Bishop, alumnus of Ciaran of Saighir. One of his places was Druim-fertain, and in Cairbre Ua Ciardha is Druim-fertain; and to him belongs Inish Uachtair in Loch Sileann, and Cill Charthaigh in Tir Boghaine in Cinel Conaill. He was son of Aenghus, son of Nadfraech king of Munster, &c.
Cill Charthaigh is Kilcar
Kilcar
Cill Charthaigh is a small Gaeltacht village on the R263 regional road in the south west of County Donegal, Ireland.-The Village:...
.