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Saint Diarmaid the Just (also known as Diermit, Dhiarmuit, Dermod, Diermedus, Diermetus, Diermitius, Diermitius) was a Catholic abbot of Inis Clothrann (Inchcleraun), Lough Ree, County Longford and of Faughalstown, County Westmeath and a famous Irish confessor of the late-sixth century.
He was of princely origin as he was seventh in descent from Nath Í, King of Ireland, who died in 428, and a member of the Hy-Fiachrach family from Connacht. His father was Lugna, son of Lugad, son of Finbarr, son of Fraic, son of Cathchuon, son of Aengus Becchuoun, son of Nath Í son of Fiachrae. His mother was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga), daughter of Tren, son of Dubhthach moccu Lughair, who was a Chief Ollam of Ireland and royal poet of King Lóegaire mac Néill. Dediva's other children were Saint Senan of Laraghabrine, son of Fintan, Saint Caillin of Fenagh, son of Niata, St.Mainchín of Corann, son of Collan of Corann, Saint Felim of Kilmore son of Carill, Saint Daigh of Inniskeen son of Carill, Saint Femia daughter of Carill and Senchán Torpéist, a later Chief Ollam of Ireland. Saint Diarmaid was the youngest of Dediva's famous children.
About the year 530, he founded the great monastery of Inchcleraun on Lough Ree, in the Diocese of Ardagh. Wishing to found an oratory far from the day-to-day distractions of civilization, he selected the isolated island associated with the memory of Queen Medbh, Inchcleraun. [1]
Here his fame soon attracted disciples, among them Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. [1] He was a good teacher and also a distinguished writer and poet. On the island seven churches are traditionally said to have been erected, [2] and the traces of six are still in evidence, including Teampul Diarmada, or the church of St. Diarmiad. This oratory, eight feet by seven feet in size, is said to have been Diarmaid's own church. [3]
The monastic school he founded kept up its reputation for fully six centuries after his death, and the island itself was famous for pilgrimages in pre-Reformation days. An ivory statue of the saint was removed from the island during the Reformation to avoid destruction. Diarmaid also founded the monastery of Caille-Fochladha, Lough Derryvaragh, Co. Westmeath, where there is a holy well dedicated to him.
St. Diarmaid's nickname was 'Diarmaid the Just'; he is sometimes confused with an earlier St. Justus who was both baptiser and teacher of St. Ciaran. He was a friend of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy and he composed metrical psalters, [4] among which is "Cealtair Dichill".
He died on 10 January at Inchcleraun and his feast is celebrated on that date.
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford. Longford County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 46,634 at the 2022 census. The county is based on the historic Gaelic territory of Annaly (Anghaile), formerly known as Teffia (Teathbha).
Lough Ree, translated to English as King's Lake or King Lake, is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two major lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south. There are also several minor lakes along the length of the river. The lake serves as a border between the counties of Longford and Westmeath on the eastern side and County Roscommon in the province of Connacht on the western side. The lake is popular for fishing and boating. The lake supports a small commercial eel fishery and is locally famous for its eels on wheels truck. The town of Athlone is situated at the southern end of the lake, and has a harbour for boats going out on the lake. The small town of Lanesboro is at the northern end of the lake.
Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, supposedly born Ciarán mac an tSaeir, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and the first abbot of Clonmacnoise. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Younger to distinguish him from the 5th-century Saint Ciarán the Elder who was bishop of Osraige. His name produced many variant spellings, including Ceran, Kieran, Queran and Queranus.
Inis Cathaigh or Scattery Island is an island in the Shannon Estuary, Ireland, off the coast of Kilrush, County Clare. The island is home to a lighthouse, a ruined monastery associated with Saints Senan and Canir, an Irish round tower and the remains of an artillery battery. The last residents left in 1969. Most of the island is now owned by the Office of Public Works, who run a small visitor centre and carry out repairs and maintenance on the island; it was bought by Dúchas in 1991.The Irish name Inis Cathaigh was formerly anglicised Iniscathy, which later became Iniscattery and finally Scattery.
Senán mac Geircinn was an Irish Christian minister. He was a resident of Munster and is important in Irish tradition, as founder of Inis Cathaigh and patron of the Corco Baiscinn and the Uí Fhidgeinte. He is listed among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.
Saint Felim, an Irish Christian hermit and priest, was born, probably in Kiennacta Breagh, County Meath in the mid sixth century.
The Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finnian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird, now Clonard in County Meath.
Eochaid mac Colla, better known as Saint Dallán or Dallán Forgaill, was an early Christian Irish poet and saint known as the writer of the "Amra Coluim Chille" and, traditionally, "Rop Tú Mo Baile".
Saint Féchín or Féichín, also known as Mo-Ecca, was a 7th-century Irish saint, chiefly remembered as the founder of the monastery at Fore (Fobar), County Westmeath.
Newtowncashel is a village located near Lough Ree in County Longford, Ireland. Newtowncashel won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 1980.
Events from the 6th century in Ireland.
Senchán Torpéist was a Gaelic-Irish poet.
Dubthach maccu Lugair, is a legendary Irish poet and lawyer who supposedly lived at the time of St Patrick's mission in Ireland and in the reign of Lóegaire mac Néill, high-king of Ireland, to which Dubthach served as Chief Poet and Brehon. In contrast to the king and his druids, he is said to have readily accepted the new religion. This event has played a major part in Hiberno-Latin and Irish sources as representing the integration of native Irish learning with the Christian faith.
Saint Caillin was an Irish medieval saint and monastic founder. His Feast day is celebrated on 13 November. The patron saint of Fenagh, County Leitrim, Caillin was born in the 6th century and founded a monastic settlement at Fenagh. His history was given in the Old Book of Fenagh. The Annals of the Four Masters mention of him living in 464 is based on the very late unreliable 16th century Book of Fenagh. All his siblings lived in the second half of the 6th century so it is likely Caillín lived at the same time. This date is also supported by his position in the Irish genealogies and by the Life of Saint Mogue, who was taught by Caillín.
Mainchín mac Colláin was an Irish saint in Corran who is supposed to have flourished in the late 5th or 6th century.
Saint Senan of Laraghbrine, County Kildare, was an Irish Christian monk who lived towards the end of the 6th century. His father was Fintan, son of Strened, son of Glinder, son of Corc, son of Conned, son of Aengus, son of Fieg, son of Mail, son of Carthage of the race of Eochaidh.
Saint Femia was an Irish Christian saint, a sister of Saint Felim of Kilmore and Saint Daig of Inniskeen.
Saint Daig was an Irish Christian bishop and confessor of Inis-Caoin-Deagha, who lived towards the end of the 6th century. His name in Gaelic means "A great flame" and he was probably named after his mother Deighe.
Inchcleraun, also called Quaker Island, is an island situated in Lough Ree on the River Shannon, in central Ireland.
Inchbofin is an island situated in Lough Ree on the River Shannon, in central Ireland.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Diarmaid". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company.