Saint Senan
Encyclopedia
Senán mac Geircinn is a prominent Munster saint in Irish tradition, founder of Inis Cathaig (Scattery Island, Iniscathy) and patron of the Corco Baiscinn
and the Uí Fhidgeinte
.
He came to be regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
.
He was born in 488 in a place once known as Moylougha, about four miles east of present day Kilrush
, County Clare
, Ireland
. According to the prose life, his mother entered labor while walking through the woods; when she grasped a tree branch for support, it is said to have blossomed to foretell the virtues of the saint. While still only a child, Senan began to practice and preach self-denial, once even reproving his mother for gathering blackberries. God, he reminded her, made time for abstinence as well as for eating. The boy promised his life to God after the miracle at the estuary, where a path opened for him and the cattle he was driving at high tide.
St. Senan was well read and an exceptional traveller in such times, travelling to Britain, France and Rome. Studying in many monasteries in Ireland, including Glendalough and Kerry, he founded a monastery of five churches and a round tower on Inis Cathaigh or Scattery island in the bay on the estuary
of the river Shannon just 3 km out from Kilrush. Legend has it that he slew a huge sea creature that inhabited the island and terrorised the locals.
From his childhood he surely would have heard about the ‘Cathach’, the beast that roamed and occupied the island, so fearful and so dangerous that neither man nor beast dared to come near the place. Since it had been revealed to the man of God that this was the place where he should work and pray, he went there, trusting in the power and protection of the Almighty. Facing the ferocious animal, the saint made the sign of the cross and commanded him to depart.
Since only men were allowed on Scattery Island while Senan was there, legend has it that when his sister, St. Ibie died, she willed it that she would be buried near Senan. To stay true to his own edicts, Senan waited till low tide to bury her in the inter-tidal zone, which was not officially the "island", thus fulfilling his sister's wish, while not breaking his own rules.
Saint Senan also founded the abbey on Inishmore (or Deer) Island
, leaving Saint Liberius to preside over it.
He was a stepbrother of Conainne
.
It is thought that Senan may have got his name from an earlier river god whose name gave rise to the river Shannon. The Chief Ollam of Ireland
Dallán Forgaill
was his friend and wrote a eulogy about Senan entitled "Amra Senáin"
The translation of "Senan" from old Gaelic means "little old wise man."
He is sometimes confused with Saint Senan of Laraghbrine
The surname 'Gilsenan' in present day is thought to have been the name for the followers of saint Senan.
Corcu Baiscind
The Corcu Baiscind were an early Érainn people or kingdom of what is now southern County Clare in Munster. They descended from Cairpre Baschaín, son of Conaire Cóem, a High King of Ireland. Closely related were the Múscraige and Corcu Duibne, both of Munster, and also the Dál Riata of Ulster and...
and the Uí Fhidgeinte
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
.
He came to be regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
Twelve Apostles of Ireland
The Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird , now Clonard in County Meath.-Dá apstol décc na hÉrenn:The twelve saints are grouped together as such in the text Dá...
.
He was born in 488 in a place once known as Moylougha, about four miles east of present day Kilrush
Kilrush
Kilrush is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland.-History:...
, County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, 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...
. According to the prose life, his mother entered labor while walking through the woods; when she grasped a tree branch for support, it is said to have blossomed to foretell the virtues of the saint. While still only a child, Senan began to practice and preach self-denial, once even reproving his mother for gathering blackberries. God, he reminded her, made time for abstinence as well as for eating. The boy promised his life to God after the miracle at the estuary, where a path opened for him and the cattle he was driving at high tide.
St. Senan was well read and an exceptional traveller in such times, travelling to Britain, France and Rome. Studying in many monasteries in Ireland, including Glendalough and Kerry, he founded a monastery of five churches and a round tower on Inis Cathaigh or Scattery island in the bay on the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the river Shannon just 3 km out from Kilrush. Legend has it that he slew a huge sea creature that inhabited the island and terrorised the locals.
From his childhood he surely would have heard about the ‘Cathach’, the beast that roamed and occupied the island, so fearful and so dangerous that neither man nor beast dared to come near the place. Since it had been revealed to the man of God that this was the place where he should work and pray, he went there, trusting in the power and protection of the Almighty. Facing the ferocious animal, the saint made the sign of the cross and commanded him to depart.
Since only men were allowed on Scattery Island while Senan was there, legend has it that when his sister, St. Ibie died, she willed it that she would be buried near Senan. To stay true to his own edicts, Senan waited till low tide to bury her in the inter-tidal zone, which was not officially the "island", thus fulfilling his sister's wish, while not breaking his own rules.
Saint Senan also founded the abbey on Inishmore (or Deer) Island
Inishmore (or Deer) Island
Deer Island or Inishmore is located in County Clare, Ireland.-Location:...
, leaving Saint Liberius to preside over it.
He was a stepbrother of Conainne
Conainne
Conainne, also known as Dachonna, was an Irish missionary and saint.Conainne was a female missionary who evangalised in the Soghain area of County Galway...
.
It is thought that Senan may have got his name from an earlier river god whose name gave rise to the river Shannon. The 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...
Dallán Forgaill
Dallan Forgaill
Saint Dallán Forgaill —also Dallán Forchella; Dallán of Cluain Dalláin; born Eochaid Forchella—was an early Christian Irish poet best known as the writer of the Amra Choluim Chille and the early Irish poem Rop tú mo baile, the basis of the modern English hymn Be Thou My Vision.-Personal...
was his friend and wrote a eulogy about Senan entitled "Amra Senáin"
The translation of "Senan" from old Gaelic means "little old wise man."
He is sometimes confused with Saint Senan of Laraghbrine
Saint Senan of Laraghbrine
Saint Senan of Laraghbrine , County Kildare, was an Irish Christian monk who lived towards the end of the 6th century. His father was Fintan, son of Strened, son of Glinder, son of Corc, son of Conned, son of Aengus, son of Fieg, son of Mail, son of Carthage of the race of Eochaidh, son of Muireadh...
The surname 'Gilsenan' in present day is thought to have been the name for the followers of saint Senan.