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25-627: According to the traditional account the Amra Coluim Chille was composed about the year 575 by Dallán Forgaill , the Chief Ollam of Ireland of that time, in gratitude for the services of Columba in saving the bards from expulsion at the great assembly of Druim Cetta in that year. "The Amra is not", says Whitley Stokes , "as Professor Atkinson supposed, a fragment which indicates great antiquity." John Strachan , however, on linguistic grounds, assigns it in its present form to about

50-610: A church near Enniscorthy, in 510 (or 512), and the parish is still known as Templeshannon (Teampul Senain). Senan was well-read and an exceptional traveller in such times, travelling to Britain (see the village of Senan in Cornwall), France (Plouzane in Brittany being translated as the town or church of Senan) and Rome. He returned to Ireland about 520. Studying in many monasteries in Ireland, including Glendalough and Kerry, he founded

75-526: A famous abbey but the seat of a bishopric with Senan as its first bishop. Only men were allowed on Scattery Island while Senan was there, and legend has it that when his sister, St Conainne died, she willed it that she would be buried near Senan. To stay true to his own edicts, Senan waited until 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. This legend seems to have been wrongly associated with Conainne as it

100-750: A hora Although he was not a priest, Dallán founded several churches throughout Ireland, such as Kildallan in County Cavan, Disert, Tullyhunco in County Cavan, Kildallan, Westmeath , Burnchurch in County Kilkenny, Killallon in County Meath, Clonallan in County Down and Tullygallan in County Donegal. He probably did this out of his friendship with the clergy and perhaps to ensure Masses for his soul. Because of this, he

125-506: A popular text for students in Irish monasteries. The " Amra Senáin ", a funeral oration in praise of Senán mac Geirrcinn (Senán of Iniscattery), was said to preserve from blindness those who recited it with devotion. In c.640 Dallan was visiting his friend Saint Conall Cael at his monastery on Inishkeel when pirates raided the island monastery. Dallan was reportedly beheaded, and it is said that God reattached his head to his body after he

150-497: Is identical to that of the more famous St. Cainnear or Cannera of Bantry who was mentioned in the Latin life of St. Senan. It is very unlikely, though not impossible, that Conainne and Cainnear were actually the same person. A similar story has been associated with another obscure female saint named Ibie or Imy of Killimer . Perhaps these three female saints were all refused access to Scattery Island at some point by St. Senan but it

175-505: Is more probable that Cainnear's story has been misappropriated. Senan is said to have died on 8 March 544. He is buried on Scattery Island, probably in Temple Senan. The Chief Ollam of Ireland Dallán Forgaill was his friend and wrote a eulogy about Senan entitled "Amra Senáin" 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

200-602: Is sometimes confused with Saint Senan of Laraghbrine Parishes are named for him in Enniscorthy, Kilrush, Shanagolden and in Shannon. St Senan’s Church is located in Inniscarra. St. Senan's Primary School is located on Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy. St. Senan's National School is located in Shannon. His patron day on 8 March was an important day of pilgrimage to Inis Cathaig. The surname 'Gilsenan' in present-day

225-417: Is thought that Senan may have got his name from an earlier river god whose name gave rise to the river Shannon. He was a stepbrother of St. Cainnear and St Conainne . 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

250-504: 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 labour 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. The translation of "Senan" from old Gaelic means "little old wise man." It

275-474: The abbey on Inishmore (or Deer) Island , leaving St Liberius to preside over it. About 534, 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. The rule of the monastery was extremely austere. Ciarán and Brendan , and other holy men, who had heard of his sanctity and miracles, visited him for spiritual guidance. Scattery Island became not only

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300-647: The death of Dallán which caused his school to break up and the students to disperse as they would accept no other master. In a list of ancient Irish authors contained in the Book of Ballymote, Dallán is called "grandson of testimony". Saint Dallan was a poet, Chief Ollam of Ireland , as well as a scholar of Latin scriptural learning. He helped to reform the Bardic Order at the Convention of Drumceat. In addition to " Amra Choluim Chille" and " Amra Senáin" ,

325-639: The first time (Rev. Celt., vols. XX-XXI) by Stokes. The standard modern edition of the Amra is the 2019 work by Jacopo Bisagni. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain :  Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). " Amra ". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company. Dall%C3%A1n Forgaill Eochaid mac Colla ( c. 560 – 640), better known as Saint Dallán or Dallán Forgaill ( Old Irish : Dallán Forchella ; Latin : Dallanus Forcellius ; Primitive Irish : Dallagnas Worgēllas ),

350-500: The following works are attributed to Dallán, although some may be later works by other poets who credited Dallan with authorship in order to make their poems more famous. 1. Amra Conall Coel – in praise of St. Conall Coel, abbot of Inishkeel 2. Dubgilla dub-airm n-aisse 3. Fo réir Coluim cén ad-fías 4. Conn cet cathach a righi (This is the final poem in the tale " Aírne Fíngein ") 5. Rop tú mo baile (English: Be Thou my Vision ) 6. Comaillfithir d'Éirinn ídail dar

375-440: The miracle at the estuary, where a path opened for him and the cattle he was driving at high tide. He studied under a monk, named Cassidus from whom he received the habit and tonsure of a monk. From him, he learned sacred scriptures and the practices of the religious life. Cassidus sent him on to St Natalis at Kilnamanagh , whereupon completion of his studies he was ordained a priest. He commenced his missionary career by founding

400-404: The most important poems we have from the early medieval Gaelic world". It is reported that after completing the work, Dallan regained his sight. It was claimed that those who recited the praises of Columba from memory would receive the gift of a happy death, a custom that was widely abused by those who attempted to rely on their memory rather than a virtuous life. The " Amhra Coluim Cille " became

425-488: The north of County Fermanagh was named after them.) He was a first cousin of Saint Mogue . (The Life of Máedóc of Ferns says in ch. 72 that Dallán and Máedóc were sons of two brothers and he lived in Kildallan townland .) He was also a fourth cousin of Tigernach of Clones . The Amhra Coluim Cille , a panegyric on Columba , written shortly after Columba's death in 597, is his best-known work and considered "one of

450-613: The year 800 (Rev. Celt., XVII, 14). Stokes, too, seems to favour this view (ibid., XX, 16). But Strachan adds "perhaps something more may be learned from a prolonged study of this and other such as the Amra Senain and the Amra Conroi." Dallan was the author of the former, "held in great repute", says John Colgan , "on account of its gracefulness", and also of another Amra on St. Conall Cael of Inishkeel in Donegal , with whom he

475-458: 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. On his arrival on the island, an archangel led Senan to the highest hill from which he

500-462: Was able to locate the Cathach. Facing the ferocious animal, the saint made the sign of the cross and commanded him to depart. A local chief hired a druid to put a spell on Senan, but when the druid landed on a nearby island, a tidal wave enveloped him and swept him to his death. That smaller island is still pointed out as Carraig an Draoi or The Druid’s Rock, which can still be seen at low tide. He

525-436: Was an early Christian Irish poet and saint known as the writer of the " Amra Coluim Chille " ("Elegy of Saint Columba") and, traditionally, " Rop Tú Mo Baile " (" Be Thou My Vision "). Saint Dallan's given name was Eochaidh ( Old Irish : Eochaid ); his father was Colla, a descendant of the legendary High King Colla Uais , and his mother was Forgall (Old Irish: Forchella ). His nickname, Dallán ("little blind one"),

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550-518: Was buried in one grave. The Amra Coluim Chille was printed with a translation by John O'Beirne Crowe in 1871 from the imperfect text in the Lebor na hUidre ; also in his edition of the " Liber Hymnorum " by Robert Atkinson , and in his "Goidelica" by Whitley Stokes, from an imperfect text in Trinity College, Dublin . The Bodleian text (Rawlinson B. 502) was edited, with a translation, for

575-698: Was earned after he lost his sight, reputedly as a result of studying intensively. He was born in Maigen (now Ballyconnell ), at the eastern edge of the territory of the Masraige of Magh Slécht in the north-west of modern County Cavan . He was not a member of the Masraige but belonged to a branch of the Airgíalla called the Fir Lurg, who were in the process of spreading southwards into modern-day County Fermanagh and County Cavan . (The Barony of Lurg in

600-591: Was known as Forgaill Cille in medieval texts, meaning 'Forgaill of the Churches'. Sen%C3%A1n mac Geirrcinn Senán mac Geircinn ( fl. 6th century) was an Irish Christian minister. He was a resident of Munster and is important in Irish tradition, as founder of Inis Cathaigh (Scattery Island, Iniscathy) and patron of the Corco Baiscinn and the Uí Fhidgeinte . He is listed among

625-511: Was martyred. He was buried on Iniskeel; his friend Canall Cael was later laid to rest in the same grave. He was acclaimed a saint in the early 11th century, during the reign of the High King of Ireland Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill but was already listed as a saint in the earlier 9th century martyrologies compiled by Óengus of Tallaght . A medieval poem entitled "On the breaking up of a School" composed by Tadhg Og O Huiginn, c.1400, refers to

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