The Demise of an Irish Clan/Chapter II

by

Terence Kearey

Chapter II. Early Irish Christian Beginnings.

Entry from Gaul - Enda – Saint Patrick – Written Latin – Irish Monks - Cashel – Clonmacnoise – Clonard - Rule of Columba – Saint Ciaran – Lough Ree – Cianan of Saigir – Irish scholars – Lough Derg – Province of Ormond - Saint Columba.

Ireland’s early history is about the claim to High kingship, which led to an unstable society. Precedents propped up the whole system. Therefore, there was never a central power, which controlled the uniform development of the country. In seventh century Ireland the provincial kings accorded to the High King sovereignty - gave them not just the title but power. These sovereign bodies were something learnt from the Roman government of Britain. This high ideal of kingship was overtaken by practical reality. The last High King was Brian Boru round about the turn of the first millennium.

This continuous warring between Irish clans upset the society. The people disliked the dynastic violence, which often dislodged whole clans driving the remnants away from their territory. Their ancient beliefs and habits did nothing to stem the unrest. When Christianity began to have the affect of order upon the social unrest the people were well disposed towards the religion. The coming of Christianity brought about a greater stability - the Catholic Church’s governing body set the rules from afar, which brought about conformity not only in Christian Ireland but also within the continent of Europe.

In Ireland, the monasteries carried on their powerful influence for many centuries whilst in other countries including England their power rose and fell. It is believed that Christianity came initially from England at the time of Patrick, died 493, the earliest Irish abbot being Enda. The Irish greeted the monks as saviours from violence, which quickly made their influence grow. Finnian set out as a missionary travelling through Leinster and Connacht staying for seven years - making his home in Clonard an area roughly thirty miles square, taking in part of the four provincial kingdoms Meath, Leinster, Connacht, and Munster.

Ireland changed dramatically when Mac Erca died. Up to the twelfth century, the monastic churches were all under the Rule of Columba 544. St Ciaran, one of a number of Benedictine monks, was one of the first saint-founders. Between Mac Erca’s death and the arrival of Patrick Christianity became established - an established power governed by Bishops. It was during Mac Erca’s time that there were mass conversions that covered all Irish society. Several of those Bishops stood up to the power of the lords and probably the greatest of these was St Ciaran. St Ciarán, the ‘smith’s [carriage-wright] son’ from Enda’s Aran, foundered Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, in 547/8. He was one of the principals of the synods of Meg Léne at the time of ‘Diarmait the Good’, one of the great kings of Ireland. Columba commented wryly at the time of Ciarán’s death:

‘Blessed is God who called Ciaran from this world in his youth. If he had lived to an old age, he would have aroused many men’s hostility’.

Clonmacnoise is famous for its monastery completed by Queen Devorgilla founded in 547, built on land gifted by Diatmid Mac Cerbhaill. At St Ciarán’s Church, one of the churches attached to the monastery, lays the founder’s burial place. The monastery fort was enclosed behind a cashel – a stepped walled settlement: with individual stone cells for the monks, a stone chapel, and graveyard. It was located close to a main trading route and Loch Ree. It was considered ‘greater than the king’s influence’ - a city within itself. Inside the enclosure, the monastic settlement resembled a collection of beehive stone huts with just a single opening. They looked very much like the Trulli, conical brick houses in Puglia, Italy and the Scandinavian houses in the Scottish outer Isles.

The clerics had a powerful influence over provincial kings; it was a case of each looking to the other for support - from outside domination. The area of Ireland of greatest monastic influence was Connacht, which was safest from Viking incursion, and clan wars… found in north-west Ireland. By the middle of the sixth century, the greater part of Ireland was made of kinglets. Most rulers had a very strong link with the church – a clan chief could also be a priest, as could a lord – one position did not have greater importance. Clan chiefs saw this as an easy way to achieve salvation, the church, as a means of converting the chief’s subjects. If the same person - a family member - held these positions, then it all became very convenient. It is not surprising to find that some families held these offices for generations.

Irish Christianity had a great influence on Britain, and records should not be interpreted without some recourse into pagan Ireland and its traditions. Irish history, through the language of the bards, is much older and far more developed than England's - it’s neighbour to the east. Later history needs reference to early accounts by the Romans - particularly Ptolemy, and later Christian writings, by priests - leaders like Cianan of Saigir. We have to be grateful for the visiting monks who stayed and had the necessary foresight to record what they saw and heard. In that, way we can form and date some events.

During early monastic life [mid 500s] the monks used Hiberno-Latin to compose religious works. Irish writings were formed after this date using Latin grammer... The earliest being The Cathach Psalter. Irish canon law constructed early 700s. Between the centuries 600 - 700 the Ciardha clan was formed.

--Terence Kearey 13:19, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

• Setting the scene (Introduction and Table of Contents)
• Chapter I: Prehistory (Previous Chapter)
• Chapter III: The birth and development of Clan Ciardha (Next Chapter)