Kerrill
Encyclopedia
Saint Kerrill aka Caireall mac Curnain was a Christian missionary in what is now east County Galway
, alive in the mid-to-late 5th century.
people of Ireland, specifically those located in the kingdom of that name in what is now east County Galway
. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh
identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin, and stated of them:
"Of the Cruithin of Ireland are the Dál Araidhi (Dál nAraidi
), the seven Lóigisi of Leinster
, the seven Soghain of Ireland, and every Conaille (see Conaille Muirtheimne) that is in Ireland."
The Soghain of Connacht were described by Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
in his poem Triallam timcheall na Fodla where he states that:
"The six Sogain let us not shun/their kings are without oblivion/Good the host of plundering excursions/to whom the spear-armed Sogain is hereditary."
While the Book of Lecan lists their six branches as Cinel Rechta, Cinel Trena, Cinel Luchta, Cinel Fergna, Cinel Domaingen and Cinel Deigill.
Kerrill's genealogy
is given as Caireall mac Curnain mac Treana mac Fionnchada mac Nair mac Earca mac Tiobraide mac Sodhain Salbhuidhe mac Fiacha Araidhe. His grandfather, Treana mac Fionnchada, was the eponym of the Cinel Trena, who were apparently located close to Knockma as envinced by the placename Tír Mhic Trena (the land of the sons of Trena).
did extensive missionary work among the Soghain. Kerrill was a disciple of Saint Benan of Kilbennan, Tuam
. Benen was born in Tír Ailill, County Sligo, though his mother was from Kilbennan. Benen's grandfather, Lughaidh mac Netach, gave his fort at Kilbennan to St. Patrick to establish a fort over which he placed Benen, who set it up as a training school for evangelists
.
Kerrill was apparently with Patrick when the latter founded a church at Tawnagh, Lough Arrow. Patrick made Kerrill a bishop
and placed him in charge of Tawnagh. He also led the nuns who were under the care of Mathona, Benen's sister.
Kerrill was later translated to Soghain, much of which Patrick had apparently reserved for him to evangelise.
Legends told about Kerrill include his fight with an Oll-phéist (terrible serpent) which was devastating the area about Cloonkeen. According to Joseph Mannion the story "is an echo of the enormous struggle which took place between Christianity and Paganism and the defeat of the Oll-phéist by St. Kerrill symbolises his success as a Christian missionary in the area. The 'monster' in question, in all probability, refers to some pagan deity that was worshipped at this place in pre-Christian times ... Many similar stories are told ... at different locations throughout the country.""
Kerrill is portrayed as having a rivalry with St Connell, who's eccleastical territory bounded Kerrill's. One outcome was a mutual curseing, in which Connell said May there be blood shed on every fair day in Kilconnell to which Connell replied May there be a funeral every Monday in Cloonkeen. To this day no funerals are held in Cloonkeenkerrill on Monday.
Connell has been mistaken for Conainne
, a female missionary and founder of Kilconnell
.
A miracle told of Kerrill stated that his intercessions with God allowed Cianóg ní Cicharáin to become pregnant after years of a childless marriage. She bore two daughters, who were the respective ancestors of Brian Boru
and the Ó Conchobair Kings of Connacht
.
Kerrill was important enough to be rated the second Patrick of that fifth (i.e., province).
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, alive in the mid-to-late 5th century.
Origins
Caireall mac Curnain was a member of the SoghainSoghain
The Soghain were a people of ancient Ireland. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin, and stated of them:...
people of Ireland, specifically those located in the kingdom of that name in what is now east County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh
Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh
Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, also known as Dubhaltach Óg mac Giolla Íosa Mór mac Dubhaltach Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh, Duald Mac Firbis, Dudly Ferbisie, and Dualdus Firbissius was an Irish scribe, translator, historian and genealogist...
identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin, and stated of them:
"Of the Cruithin of Ireland are the Dál Araidhi (Dál nAraidi
Dál nAraidi
Dál nAraidi was a kingdom of the Cruthin in the north-east of Ireland in the first millennium. The lands of the Dál nAraidi appear to correspond with the Robogdii of Ptolemy's Geographia, a region shared with Dál Riata...
), the seven Lóigisi of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
, the seven Soghain of Ireland, and every Conaille (see Conaille Muirtheimne) that is in Ireland."
The Soghain of Connacht were described by Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin
Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin was an Irish Gaelic poet.-Background:Ó Dubhagáinn was among the first notable members of the bardic family Baile Uí Dhubhagáin , near Loughrea, County Galway...
in his poem Triallam timcheall na Fodla where he states that:
"The six Sogain let us not shun/their kings are without oblivion/Good the host of plundering excursions/to whom the spear-armed Sogain is hereditary."
While the Book of Lecan lists their six branches as Cinel Rechta, Cinel Trena, Cinel Luchta, Cinel Fergna, Cinel Domaingen and Cinel Deigill.
Kerrill's genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
is given as Caireall mac Curnain mac Treana mac Fionnchada mac Nair mac Earca mac Tiobraide mac Sodhain Salbhuidhe mac Fiacha Araidhe. His grandfather, Treana mac Fionnchada, was the eponym of the Cinel Trena, who were apparently located close to Knockma as envinced by the placename Tír Mhic Trena (the land of the sons of Trena).
Mission
Local tradition maintains that Saint PatrickSaint 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....
did extensive missionary work among the Soghain. Kerrill was a disciple of Saint Benan of Kilbennan, Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
. Benen was born in Tír Ailill, County Sligo, though his mother was from Kilbennan. Benen's grandfather, Lughaidh mac Netach, gave his fort at Kilbennan to St. Patrick to establish a fort over which he placed Benen, who set it up as a training school for evangelists
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
.
Kerrill was apparently with Patrick when the latter founded a church at Tawnagh, Lough Arrow. Patrick made Kerrill a 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 placed him in charge of Tawnagh. He also led the nuns who were under the care of Mathona, Benen's sister.
Kerrill was later translated to Soghain, much of which Patrick had apparently reserved for him to evangelise.
Legends told about Kerrill include his fight with an Oll-phéist (terrible serpent) which was devastating the area about Cloonkeen. According to Joseph Mannion the story "is an echo of the enormous struggle which took place between Christianity and Paganism and the defeat of the Oll-phéist by St. Kerrill symbolises his success as a Christian missionary in the area. The 'monster' in question, in all probability, refers to some pagan deity that was worshipped at this place in pre-Christian times ... Many similar stories are told ... at different locations throughout the country.""
Kerrill is portrayed as having a rivalry with St Connell, who's eccleastical territory bounded Kerrill's. One outcome was a mutual curseing, in which Connell said May there be blood shed on every fair day in Kilconnell to which Connell replied May there be a funeral every Monday in Cloonkeen. To this day no funerals are held in Cloonkeenkerrill on Monday.
Connell has been mistaken for 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...
, a female missionary and founder of Kilconnell
Kilconnell
Kilconnell is a small rural village in County Galway, Ireland.Its population in 2006 was 680. Its land is mainly used for dairy farming and the raising of cattle....
.
A miracle told of Kerrill stated that his intercessions with God allowed Cianóg ní Cicharáin to become pregnant after years of a childless marriage. She bore two daughters, who were the respective ancestors of Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
and the Ó Conchobair Kings of Connacht
Kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...
.
Kerrill was important enough to be rated the second Patrick of that fifth (i.e., province).