Saint Caillin (fl. c.570) was an Irish

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

saint and

monastic Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religion, religious way of life in which one renounces world (theology), worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. 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 (no longer extant; material included in the 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 (born c.560), who was taught by Caillín.

Life

Caillin was born in Conmaicne Dun Mor (now north County Galway)."St. Caillin", Fenagh Visitors Centre
/ref> Caillin's mother's name was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga), daughter of Tren, son of

Dubhthach moccu Lughair Dubthach maccu Lugair (fl. fifth century), 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 ...

, who was

Chief Ollam of Ireland Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

and royal poet of King

Lóegaire mac Néill Lóegaire ('' floruit'' fifth century) (reigned 428–458 AD, according to the Annals of the Four Masters of the Kingdom of Ireland)(died c. 462), also Lóeguire, is said to have been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Irish annals and king ...

. Dediva's other children were

Saint Senan of Laraghabrine Saint Senan of Laraghbrine ( ga, Laithrech-Briuin), 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 ...

, son of Fintan, Saint Diarmaid the Just, son of Lugna, St.

Mainchín of Corann Mainchín mac Colláin was an Irish saint in Corran who is supposed to have flourished in the late 5th or 6th century. Biography Mainchín mac Colláin is commemorated on 13 January in the Martyrology of Tallaght, the Martyrology of Gorman and ...

, son of Collan of Corann,

Saint Felim Saint Felim (also called Feilim, Feidlimid, Feidhlimidh, Felimy, Feidhilmethie, Feidlimthe, Fedlimid, Fedlimidh, Phelim, Phelime), an Irish Christian hermit and priest, was born, probably in Kiennacta Breagh, County Meath in the mid sixth century ...

of Kilmore son of Carill, Saint

Daigh Saint Daig (d. 588?)Also spelled Dageus, Daggeus, Dagaeo, Daigeus, Dega, Daigh, Daghous, Daghaeus, Deghadh, Daygaeus, Dagous, Dagaeus, Dagée, Daganus was an Irish Christian bishop and confessor of Inis-Caoin-Deagha (now Inniskeen, County Mon ...

Inniskeen Inniskeen, officially Inishkeen (), is a small village, townland and parish in County Monaghan, Ireland, close to the County Louth and County Armagh borders. The village is located about from Dundalk, from Carrickmacross, and from Crossmaglen ...

son of Carill,

Saint Femia Saint Femia (also spelled Femme, Feme, and Eufemia; fl. 6th century) was an Irish Christian saint, a sister of Saint Felim of Kilmore and Saint Daig of Inniskeen. Biography Femia lived towards the end of the 6th century. Her father was Carill, ...

daughter of Carill and

Senchán Torpéist Senchán Torpéist (c. 560–649 AD) was a Gaelic-Irish poet. Background Seanchan Torpest was the Chief Poet of Connacht c.640 AD when he succeeded Dallán Forgaill as Chief Ollam of Ireland. He died in c.649 AD. His father was Cuairfheartaig ...

, another

. Caillin was the third eldest of Dediva's children. Caillin had another brother named Nisi Mac Niata, whose death left a legacy for Caillin.

Saint Fintan and Rome

Caillin studied under St. Fintan. To complete his studies he went to Rome and for this journey St. Fintan gave him 300 ounces of solid red gold. At the end of a long period of study in Rome he returned, bringing with him relics of the apostles and a cloth made by the Virgin Mary and used when she fed the infant Jesus. According to the ''Book of Fernagh'', Caillin returned to Ireland twelve years after the arrival of Patrick, who later consecrated him bishop.Hennessey, W. M., ''The Book of Fenagh'', Alexander Thom, Dublin, 1875
/ref>

Fenagh abbey

He founded a monastic site at Fenagh, County Leitrim, which was then the territory of the

Conmhaícne The Conmhaícne or Conmaicne were a people of early Ireland, perhaps related to the Laigin, who dispersed to various parts of Ireland. They settled in Connacht and Longford, giving their name to several Conmaicne territories. T. F. O'Rahilly's ...

Magh Rein, part of the overkingdom of Breifne. He became the patron saint of Fenagh and the Conmaicne of Magh Rein. An angel was sent to Caillin to show him the site of the Abbey at Fenagh. When Caillin commenced the erection of the monastery, Fergal mac Fergus, King of Breifne sent his son, Aedh Dubh, with his warriors, to drive Caillin away. Caillin converted Aedh Dubh and his men. Incensed, Fergus next sent his druids to destroy him, but Caillin turned the Druids into stones which gives its name to the townland called Longstone. (Beside Edentenny on the Fenagh Ballinamore road.) These standing stones of the Druids are still visible to this day at Longstone. The fame and glory of St Caillin spread through the land. Fenagh was celebrated for its school which students from all over Ireland and Europe came to study, among whom was Saint Mogue of the neighbouring parish of Templeport. Its importance we may judge from the story that claims many of Irelands Kings are buried in the ancient graveyards adjoining the Abbey.

Táin Bó Cúailnge

Caillin is said to have helped his brother Senchán Torpéist to recover the lost tale called

Táin Bó Cúailnge (Modern ; "the driving-off of the cows of Cooley"), commonly known as ''The Táin'' or less commonly as ''The Cattle Raid of Cooley'', is an epic from Irish mythology. It is often called "The Irish Iliad", although like most other early Iri ...

. This great epic tale had vanished almost completely from the memory of the fili (story tellers-poets) of Ireland. Some of them knew one part and some another, but no one knew the whole of it. Caillin invited

Columcille Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...

Ciarán of Clonmacnoise Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (c. 516 – c. 549), supposedly born Ciarán mac an tSaeir ("son of the carpenter"), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and the first abbot of Clonmacnoise. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Youn ...

Brendan of Birr Saint Brendan of Birr (died c. 572) was one of the early Irish monastic saints. He was a monk and later an abbot, of the 6th century. He is known as "St Brendan the Elder" to distinguish him from his contemporary and friend St Brendan the Navi ...

and

Brendan Brendan may refer to: People * Saint Brendan the Navigator (c. 484 – c. 577) was an Irish monastic saint. * Saint Brendan of Birr (died 573), Abbot of Birr in Co. Offaly, contemporaneous with the above * Brendan (given name), a masculine given na ...

son of Finnlogh, to meet at the grave of the great hero of the Tain Bo Chuailgne

Fergus mac Róich Fergus mac Róich (literally " manliness, son of great stallion") is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Formerly the king of Ulster, he is tricked out of the kingship and betrayed by Conchobar mac Nessa, becomes the ally and lo ...

. There they fasted and prayed for three days and three nights, after which Fergus, who had been dead 500 years, appeared to them and related the whole story of the Tain, thus the celebrated epic was preserved in the book of the Dun Cow, so called because its parchment was made from the hide of St. Ciaran's favourite cow.

Prophecy

The importance of being buried in this ancient graveyard lives on to this day in a prophecy given by St. Caillin as he lay dying, that anyone buried in Fenagh Abbey graveyard and in full observance of the true faith will go straight to Heaven on their death.

St. Caillin's Well

St. Caillin's holy well is located in Keeraunmore in Ballyconneely. It is associated with St. Caillin who was a local saint and, like St. MacDara, has had a long affinity with seafarers. The well has been a popular place of pilgrimage for centuries, and is mentioned in O‟ Flaherty‟s history of 1684. Around the well are a number of penitential stations, one of which is known as St. Caillin‟s Bed. Also associated with St. Caillin is Chapel Island not far offshore from this well. This island contains the ruins of an early Christian chapel. The holy well and penitential stations is now only visited on the saint's day, 13 November.

Pedigree

His pedigree is given as follows: * ''Caillin, mac Niata mac Duban mac Fraech mac Cumscrach mac Echt mac Ere mac Ercdal mac Echt mac Dubh mac Moghruadh mac Nert mac Fornert mac Echt mac Beidhbhe mac Doilbhre mac Lugaid Conmac mac Oirbsen Mor mac Ethedon mac Seghda mac Art mac Allta mac Oghamun, mac Fidhchar mac Doilbhre mac Eon mac Cetguine Calusach mac Conmac mac Mochta mac

mac Mesoman mac Rossa mac Mogh Taeth mac

Rudraige mac Sithrigi Rudraige mac Sithrigi ( ga, Ruairí; en, Rory mac Sitric), was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. The son of Sitric, he took power after killing his predecessor, Crimthann Coscrach, and ruled f ...

.''

Mac Giolla Chaillín/Kilgallin

The family name Mac Giolla Chaillín means (son of) devotee of St. Caillin. The surname is also commonly Anglicized as Kilcullen, Kilgallen, Kilgallon and Clyne, and is found mainly in County Mayo and

County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the an ...

. Bearers of the name include T.J. Kilgallon and

Matthew Kilgallon Matthew Shaun Kilgallon (born 8 January 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Kilgallon began his career at Leeds United, where he came through the youth set up before becoming a fixture in their first ...

.Surnames: Kilgallen, "Irish Times
/ref>

References

The Book of Fenagh in Irish and English. Published 1875. Originally compiled by St. Caillin. Edited and translated by W. M. Hennessy & D. H. Kelly
Internet Archive link

Sources

* Hynes, Rev. John; "St. Caillin" in ''J.R.S.A.I.''; Vol. LXI (1931), pp. 39–54.

Secondary sources

External links

Murphy, Denis, "The shrine of St. Caillin of Fenagh, J.R.S.A.I., Vol. XXII, pp 151–153, 1892

''The Book of Fenagh''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caillin 6th-century births 6th-century Christian saints 6th-century Irish abbots People from County Galway Religious leaders from County Mayo People from County Leitrim Year of death unknown People of Conmaicne Maigh Rein