St Ruadhán of Lorrha (d. 584) abbot
Of the race of the kings of Munster
Ruadhán is
said to have been the son of Fergus Bern, son of Dera Dubh, of the race
of the kings of Munster and to have studied and been ordained at
Clonard.
According to the Bethada Náem nÉrenn he had a foundation at a place called Musccraighe, in Ara Mac Ua Neitt, before he moved to Lorrha.
Disputes
There are stories of disputes
between Ruadhán and Brendan of Clonfert, who set up a monastery near to
Ruadhan's, but when the monks of Lorrha protested, Brendan and his
monks decided to move on.
Another story tells that Ruadhán cursed the kings of Tara so comprehensively that their influence declined and their high places were abandoned.
Another story tells that Ruadhán cursed the kings of Tara so comprehensively that their influence declined and their high places were abandoned.
His monastery highly regarded
Despite the
evidence of these conflicts, Ruadhán was highly regarded. His monastery
was said to have had 150 monks with a reputation for prayer and manual
labour.
Friends and associates
One story makes Ruadhán a friend of Colmán Elo, who had a foundation at nearby Lynnaly (Lann Eala).
A hind used to come each evening to Lorrha to be milked by Ruadhán, and then run to Lynnaly for a morning milking by Colmán.
Another story makes him a friend of the saoi liag or master physician Aed Mac Bricc of Killare, Co Westmeath.
It may also be that Maelruain (servant of Ruadháin) had some connection with Lorrha, or that he was simply called after him.
A hind used to come each evening to Lorrha to be milked by Ruadhán, and then run to Lynnaly for a morning milking by Colmán.
Another story makes him a friend of the saoi liag or master physician Aed Mac Bricc of Killare, Co Westmeath.
It may also be that Maelruain (servant of Ruadháin) had some connection with Lorrha, or that he was simply called after him.
Influence
Ruadhan's hand, enshrined in
silver, was preserved at Lorrha until the Reformation time,
when it was
lost. His bell is in the British Museum.
Lorrha today
Lorrha is a good example of an
early monastic site that was taken over by the Normans in the 12th
century and subsequently developed into an Anglo-Irish borough.
There are a number of ruins - of the Celtic foundation and of later Augustinian and Dominican foundations.
Today both the Catholic and Church of Ireland churches in Lorrha in the diocese of Killaloe are dedicated to St Ruadhán.
There are a number of ruins - of the Celtic foundation and of later Augustinian and Dominican foundations.
Today both the Catholic and Church of Ireland churches in Lorrha in the diocese of Killaloe are dedicated to St Ruadhán.
Praise in the Féilire of Aengus
Aengus praises Ruadhán in his Féilire on his feast of 15th April:
| Prímdae bréo nád athbi ar-fich tola tothlai, ba caín lie lógmar Ródán lócharn Lothrai. |
An excellent flame that does not wane, that vanquishes urgent desires. Fair was the gem, Ruadhán, lamp of Lorrha |