Saint of the Month
ST. FLANNAN
St. Flannan
Cathedral
In monastic times the
Dalcassian tribe, or O`Brien family, were powerful rulers. Brian Boru was
descended from this family. Another powerful member of this same family was St.
Flannan.
Flannan was the son of
Turlough who was King of Thomond. Turlough was a devout man who began his reign
in 625 and who retired in his old age to Lismore to become a monk. Flannan lived
in the seventh century but little is known about his life and there are various
versions of it.
In his youth, Flannan was
placed under the care of Saint Blathmet who was very learned in Sacred
Scripture. Blathmet was renowned as a great teacher and children of the nobility
were sent from miles around to study with him.
Flannan then entered
Molua`s monastery at Killaloe. Legend tells us that he worked diligently here.
One day, after he had been baking continuously for thirty-six hours, a heavenly
light shone through the fingers of his left hand. It lit up the darkness to
enable him to continue with his task. The Abbot, on learning of this, was so
impressed that he decided to retire from his position and he appointed Flannan
as Abbot in his place.
His time as Abbot of
Killaloe has become legendary, being described as a period when " the fields
waved with the richest crops, the sea poured almost on the shore an abundance of
large whales and every kind of smaller fish, and the apple trees drooped under
the weight of the fruit, woods abounded in acorns and hazel-nuts, the most
restless nations were at peace, and the poor of every description experienced
open-handed hospitality ".
The people of Thomond
agreed that Flannan should become bishop. His nomination required Papal
confirmation and so Flannan made a trip to Rome where he received consecration
from Pope John. On his homeward journey he travelled through Tuscany and
Burgundy. When he arrived back in Killaloe the prelates, the nobles and the
general public came to listen to him speak. He had a great reputation as a
preacher and it is thought that he travelled widely. There was a church of his
at Inishlannaun in Lough Corrib and another on Inishbofin. The Flannan Islands
in the Outer Hebrides may be connected to him. However, it is not certain that
the Scottish Flannan is the same as the Killaloe Flannan. There is a possibility
that there was a second saint called Flannan.
Saint Flannan of Killaloe
is said to have performed many remarkable miracles. When he had a presentiment
of the approach of death he gathered some special people together. He told them
of the importance of observing natural and human justice and asked them to
encourage peace among the people of the provinces. He blessed his relatives and
died.
After his death, stories of this holy man spread throughout the country and crowds came to visit his tomb.