Íomar Fir Bolg
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Íomar Fir Bolg () was an early
Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
Saint In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of Q-D-Š, holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and Christian denomination, denominat ...
. Writing on 5 November 1838, John O'Donovan reported that his field work for the
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had brought him to the parish of Killimer-Bologue, which was ''"according to tradition ... the principal establishment and the birth-place of St. Imor, whose life was preserved in the Country in Irish metre to a late period."'' O'Donovon, who appears to have been informed by a Mr. McEgan ''"who lives near the old church"'' included the following account of Íomar in his letter:
''Imor was a very respectable man living in Sil-Anmhcadha a long time ago radition never remembers datesand had no idea originally of becoming a saint, but had intended to apply himself to increasing the number of the human family in a lawful manner iberis procreandis operam dare sibi proposuitand for this purpose he married a very beautiful girl, a native of
Ely O'Carroll Ely or ELY may refer to: Places Ireland * Éile, a medieval kingdom commonly anglicised Ely * Ely Place, Dublin, a street United Kingdom * Ely, Cambridgeshire, a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England ** Ely Cathedral ** Ely Rural District, a ...
on the other side of the Shannon. But before he had seen her she had been wooed by another who was driven to desperation on hearing of her marriage with Imor, and he swore that he would never suffer her to be brought to
Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...
. Accordingly on the day that Imor went with a party of his friends to take her home, he is_Munster_rival.html"_;"title="Munster.html"_;"title="is_Munster">is_Munster_rival">Munster.html"_;"title="is_Munster">is_Munster_rival_having_collected_a_body_of_the_men_of_Slieve_Bloom_Mountains.html" "title="Munster">is_Munster_rival.html" ;"title="Munster.html" ;"title="is Munster">is Munster rival">Munster.html" ;"title="is Munster">is Munster rival having collected a body of the men of Slieve Bloom Mountains">Slieve Bloom The Slieve Bloom Mountains ( ga, Sliabh Bladhma; la, Bladinae montes) is a mountain range in Ireland. They rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards. The high ...
, attacked him on the way after he had cross (the Shannon), and made a desperate effort to carry off the bride. But the Connaught (party) were equally vigorous in resisting, and the poor girl was killed in the struggle between them! After this Imor became a melancholy recluse and swore to (he would) dedicate his virginity to God. He never took holy orders, but still was always esteemed as an Irish saint.'' At the time of O'Donovan's visit, it measured 75 feet long and 18 broad, ''"It is the largest parish churcy of the period to which it must be referred, that I have yet seen in Ireland ... The greater part of the two side walls is destroyed, but the two gables, which are 75 feet asunder are in good preservation. The oldest tombstone in this church is a monument to William O'Tressy, who died in the year 16-4."'' St. Imor's well was situated at the side of the road immediately beside the church.


See also

*
Íomar of the Sogain Íomar of the Sogain is an obscure fifth- or sixth-century saint associated with Killimorsogan (''Cill Íomar Soghain'', or ''the church of Íomar of the Sogain''), now the townlands of Killaghaun and Lisheen, north-east of Killamude, County Gal ...


References

* * ''Ordnance Survey Letters Galway 1838 and 1839'', pp. 182–183, ed. Michael Herity, MRIA, FourMasters Press,
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
, 2009. {{DEFAULTSORT:Iomar Of The Sogain People from County Galway 5th-century Irish people 6th-century Irish people Medieval saints of Connacht