Saint Nathy
Encyclopedia
Saint Nath Í was an early Irish saint who was remembered as the founder of Achonry.
He is said to have been born in the barony of Leyney, in present-day Co. Sligo. In the 17th century, John Colgan
compiled a Latin Life of St Cormac, published in the Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae
series, which relates that Cormac left his native Munster for Connacht and arrived in the area of Leyney. When Niall, the brother of the local chieftain Diarmait, begged the saint for a blessing, Cormac revealed that he was to have a son by the name of Conamel, whose descendants would include a number of illustrious saints, such as Náth Í "the priest". In the Martyrology of Donegal (9 August), he is described as the priest (cruimthir) Nath Í of Achad Cain Conairi.
He is said to have studied under St Finnián of Clonard
. On the instructions of his mentor, he founded a monastery in Achad Cain or Achad Conaire (Achonry
) in the district of the Luigne
, the land having been granted to him by Cennfáelad, king of Luigne. The foundation gave its name to what in the 12th century would become the diocese of Achonry
. The saint Féchín of Fore is said to have studied under him.
The Book of Lismore
(fo. 43v) contains a short Irish
anecdote relating what happened when Nath Í, called Dathi the Priest, was once visited by the saints Columba
, Comgall and Cainnech after the monastic community had finished their meals.
He was buried in Achad Cain and his festival is 9 August. He is the patron saint of the Irish diocese of Achonry whose cathedral is The Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nathy
.
He is said to have been born in the barony of Leyney, in present-day Co. Sligo. In the 17th century, John Colgan
John Colgan
John Colgan was an Irish hagiographer and historian.-Life:...
compiled a Latin Life of St Cormac, published in the Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae is the abbreviated title of a celebrated work on the Irish saints by the Franciscan, John Colgan . The full title runs as follows: Acta Sanctorum veteris et majoris Scotiae, seu Hiberniae, Sanctorum Insulae, partim ex variis per Europam MSS. codd...
series, which relates that Cormac left his native Munster for Connacht and arrived in the area of Leyney. When Niall, the brother of the local chieftain Diarmait, begged the saint for a blessing, Cormac revealed that he was to have a son by the name of Conamel, whose descendants would include a number of illustrious saints, such as Náth Í "the priest". In the Martyrology of Donegal (9 August), he is described as the priest (cruimthir) Nath Í of Achad Cain Conairi.
He is said to have studied under St Finnián of Clonard
Finnian of Clonard
Saint Finnian of Clonard , or Finian, 'Fionán' or 'Fionnán' in Irish, was one of the early Irish monastic saints, who founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath. The Twelve Apostles of Ireland studied under him...
. On the instructions of his mentor, he founded a monastery in Achad Cain or Achad Conaire (Achonry
Achonry
Achonry is a village in County Sligo, Ireland.In the parish is the former Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Crumnathy, now deconsecrated.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland-External links:** — photograph at flickr.com...
) in the district of the Luigne
Luigné
Luigné is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France....
, the land having been granted to him by Cennfáelad, king of Luigne. The foundation gave its name to what in the 12th century would become the diocese of Achonry
Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is one of the five suffragan sees of the Archdiocese of Tuam. The diocese was often called the "bishopric of Luighne" in the Irish annals...
. The saint Féchín of Fore is said to have studied under him.
The Book of Lismore
Book of Lismore
The Book of Lismore is a Medieval Irish manuscript.-Overview:The Book of Lismore is an Irish vellum manuscript, compiled in early 15th century, Lismore, Ireland. Its original name was Leabhar Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh...
(fo. 43v) contains a short Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
anecdote relating what happened when Nath Í, called Dathi the Priest, was once visited by the saints Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
, Comgall and Cainnech after the monastic community had finished their meals.
He was buried in Achad Cain and his festival is 9 August. He is the patron saint of the Irish diocese of Achonry whose cathedral is The Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nathy
Ballaghaderreen Cathedral
Ballaghaderreen Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry...
.
Primary sources
- Félire Óengusso
- Lives of St Féchín of Fore
- Lives of St Finnian of ClonardFinnian of ClonardSaint Finnian of Clonard , or Finian, 'Fionán' or 'Fionnán' in Irish, was one of the early Irish monastic saints, who founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath. The Twelve Apostles of Ireland studied under him...
- Irish Life, ed. Whitley Stokes, Lives of the Saints from the Book of Lismore. Oxford, 1890. Vol. 2.
- Latin Life in the Codex SalmanticensisCodex SalmanticensisThe Codex Salmanticensis is a medieval Irish manuscript containing an extensive collection of Irish saints' Lives, now in the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels...
(fos. 83r-86v), ed. J. De Smedt and C. De Backer, Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae ex codice Salmanticensi. Edinburgh et al., 1888. Cols 189-210. - Latin Life in Bodleian, Rawlinson MS B 485 (fos. 54-8), and Rawlinson B 505 (fos. 156v-160v). Unpublished.
- John ColganJohn ColganJohn Colgan was an Irish hagiographer and historian.-Life:...
, Vita S. Corbmaci, abbatis ("Life of St Cormac, abbot"), Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. Louvain, 1645. 26 March. - Life of St Attracht