Diarmaid the Just
Encyclopedia
Saint Diarmaid the Just was a Catholic Abbot of Inis Clothrann (Inchcleraun), Lough Ree, County Longford & of Faughalstown, County Westmeath and a famous Irish confessor of the late-sixth century.
He was of princely origin as he was 7th in descent from Nath Í, King of Ireland who died 428 and a member of the Hy-Fiachrach family from Connacht. His father was Lugna, son of Lugad, son of Finbarr, son of Fraic, son of Cathchuon, son of Aengus Becchuoun, son of Nath Í son of Fiachrae
son of Eochaid Mugmedon
. His mother was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga or Mediva), daughter of Tren, son of Dubhthach moccu Lughair
, who was a Chief Ollam of Ireland
and royal poet of King Lóegaire mac Néill
. Dediva's other children were Saint Senan of Laraghabrine, son of Fintan, Saint Caillin
of Fenagh, son of Niata, St.Manchin
, son of Collan of Corann, Saint Felim
of Kilmore son of Carill, Saint Daigh
of Inniskeen
son of Carill, Saint Femia daughter of Carill and Senchán Torpéist
, a later Chief Ollam of Ireland
. Saint Diarmaid was the youngest of Dediva's famous children.
About the year 530, he founded the great monastery of Inchcleraun on Lough Ree
, in the Diocese of Ardagh
. Wishing to found an oratory
far from the day-to-day distractions of civilization, he selected the isolated island associated with the memory of Queen Medbh
, Inchcleraun.
Here his fame soon attracted disciples. He was a good teacher, and also a distinguished writer and poet. On the island seven churches are traditionally said to have been erected, and the traces of six are still in evidence, including Teampul Diarmada, or the church of St. Diarmiad. This oratory, eight feet by seven feet, is said to have been Diarmaid's own church. The monastic school he founded kept up its reputation for fully six centuries after his death, and the island itself was famous for pilgrimages in pre-Reformation days. An ivory statue of the saint was removed from the island during the Reformation to avoid destruction. He also founded the monastery of Caille-Fochladha, Lough Derryvaragh, Co Westmeath where there is a holy well dedicated to him.
St.Diarmaid’s nickname was ‘Diarmaid the Just’and he is sometimes confused with an earlier St.Justus who was both baptizer and teacher of St.Kieran of Clonmacnoise. He was a friend of St.Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy and he composed metrical psalters, among which is “Cealtair Dichill”.
He died on January 10 at Inchcleraun and his feast is celebrated on that date.
He was of princely origin as he was 7th in descent from Nath Í, King of Ireland who died 428 and a member of the Hy-Fiachrach family from Connacht. His father was Lugna, son of Lugad, son of Finbarr, son of Fraic, son of Cathchuon, son of Aengus Becchuoun, son of Nath Í son of Fiachrae
Fiachrae
Fiachrae was an Irish prince, the son of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón by his wife Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig. He was ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach dynasties of Connacht. He lived in the late 4th century....
son of Eochaid Mugmedon
Eochaid Mugmedon
-Biography:According to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, Eochaid was a High King of Ireland, best known as the father of Niall of the Nine Hostages and ancestor of the Uí Néill and Connachta dynasties...
. His mother was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga or Mediva), daughter of Tren, son of Dubhthach moccu Lughair
Dubhthach moccu Lughair
Dubthach maccu Lugair is a legendary Irish poet and lawyer who supposedly lived at the time of St Patrick's mission in Ireland and in the reign of Lóegaire mac Néill, high-king of Ireland. In contrast to the king and his druids, he is said to have readily accepted the new religion...
, who was a Chief Ollam of Ireland
Chief Ollam of Ireland
The Ollamh Érenn or Chief Ollam of Ireland was a professional title of Gaelic Ireland.-Background:An ollam was a poet or bard of literature and history. Each chief or tuath had its own ollam...
and royal poet of King Lóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire , also Lóeguire, is said to have been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Irish annals and king lists include him as a King of Tara or High King of Ireland. He appears as an adversary of Saint Patrick in several hagiographies...
. Dediva's other children were Saint Senan of Laraghabrine, son of Fintan, Saint Caillin
Saint Caillin
Saint Caillin, Irish medieval saint and monastic founder, fl. 6th century.-Background:The patron saint of Fenagh, County Leitrim, Caillin was born in the 6th century and founded a famous monastic settlement at Fenagh. He...
of Fenagh, son of Niata, St.Manchin
Manchin
Mainchín mac Colláin was an Irish saint in Corran who is supposed to have flourished in the late 5th or 6th century.He is commemorated on 13 January in the Martyrology of Tallaght, the Martyrology of Gorman and the Martyrology of Donegal. The Martyrology of Donegal compiled by Micheál Ó Cléírigh in...
, son of Collan of Corann, Saint Felim
Saint Felim
Saint Felim , an Irish Christian hermit and priest, was born, probably in Kiennacta Breagh, County Meath in the mid sixth century....
of Kilmore son of Carill, Saint Daigh
Daigh
Saint Daig was an Irish Christian bishop and confessor of Inis-Caoin-Deagha , who lived towards the end of the 6th century. His name in Gaelic means "A great flame" and he was probably named after his mother Deighe....
of Inniskeen
Inniskeen
Inniskeen, officially Inishkeen , is a small village and parish in County Monaghan, Ireland, close to the County Louth and County Armagh borders. It is located about 17 km from Dundalk and 12 km from Carrickmacross and 5 km from Crossmaglen...
son of Carill, Saint Femia daughter of Carill and Senchán Torpéist
Senchán Torpéist
Senchán Torpéist, Gaelic-Irish poet of Ireland, -Background:Seanchan Torpest was the Chief Poet of Connacht in 598 AD when he succeeded Dallán Forgaill as Chief Ollam of Ireland...
, a later Chief Ollam of Ireland
Chief Ollam of Ireland
The Ollamh Érenn or Chief Ollam of Ireland was a professional title of Gaelic Ireland.-Background:An ollam was a poet or bard of literature and history. Each chief or tuath had its own ollam...
. Saint Diarmaid was the youngest of Dediva's famous children.
About the year 530, he founded the great monastery of Inchcleraun on Lough Ree
Lough Ree
Lough Ree is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two major lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south, there are also several minor lakes...
, in the Diocese of Ardagh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland.-Geographic remit:The diocese is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland. It includes almost all of County Longford, half of County Leitrim and parts of counties Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon...
. Wishing to found an oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
far from the day-to-day distractions of civilization, he selected the isolated island associated with the memory of Queen Medbh
Medb
Medb – Middle Irish: Meḋḃ, Meaḋḃ; early modern Irish: Meadhbh ; reformed modern Irish Méabh, Medbh; sometimes Anglicised Maeve, Maev or Maive – is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
, Inchcleraun.
Here his fame soon attracted disciples. He was a good teacher, and also a distinguished writer and poet. On the island seven churches are traditionally said to have been erected, and the traces of six are still in evidence, including Teampul Diarmada, or the church of St. Diarmiad. This oratory, eight feet by seven feet, is said to have been Diarmaid's own church. The monastic school he founded kept up its reputation for fully six centuries after his death, and the island itself was famous for pilgrimages in pre-Reformation days. An ivory statue of the saint was removed from the island during the Reformation to avoid destruction. He also founded the monastery of Caille-Fochladha, Lough Derryvaragh, Co Westmeath where there is a holy well dedicated to him.
St.Diarmaid’s nickname was ‘Diarmaid the Just’and he is sometimes confused with an earlier St.Justus who was both baptizer and teacher of St.Kieran of Clonmacnoise. He was a friend of St.Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy and he composed metrical psalters, among which is “Cealtair Dichill”.
He died on January 10 at Inchcleraun and his feast is celebrated on that date.