Saint Murtagh
Encyclopedia
Saint Muiredach mac Echdach, also known as Murtagh, was the founding bishop of the Diocese of Killala
, Killala
, Ireland
in the 6th century.
He was placed at the head of the church by St. Patrick
, patron saint of Ireland
. He allegedly met with St. Columba in the year 575
, in a town called Ballysadare
. He was connected to the royal family of King Lóegaire mac Néill
. He probably resigned after a few years, and retired to an island off the Sligo
coast in Donegal Bay.
The uninhabited island, Inishmurray
, bears his name. He may also be the patron of the monastery that was on that island. He died there as a hermit
, and his feast day is August 12.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala
The Diocese of Killala is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam. The current Bishop is Dr...
, Killala
Killala
Killala is a village in County Mayo in Ireland, north of Ballina. The railway line from Dublin to Ballina once extended to Killala. To the west of Killala is a Townsplots West , which contains numerous ancient forts.- History :...
, Ireland
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...
in the 6th century.
He was placed at the head of the church by St. 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....
, patron saint of Ireland
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...
. He allegedly met with St. Columba in the year 575
575
Year 575 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 575 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* The Kingdom of East Anglia is founded by...
, in a town called Ballysadare
Ballysadare
Ballysadare is a village about 7 kilometres from Sligo town Centre. Built on the Ballysadare river, the area experienced rapid growth during the 'Celtic Tiger' boom, with many new housing developments, many of which now lie empty, creating phantom estates. The village was once choked with heavy...
. He was connected to the royal family 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...
. He probably resigned after a few years, and retired to an island off the Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
coast in Donegal Bay.
The uninhabited island, Inishmurray
Inishmurray
Inishmurray is an uninhabited island situated 7 km off the coast of County Sligo, Ireland. It covers . On the island are remains of an early Irish monastic settlement. Saint Molaise founded a monastery here in the 6th century...
, bears his name. He may also be the patron of the monastery that was on that island. He died there as a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
, and his feast day is August 12.