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.

Life

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 Fiachrae was an Irish prince, the son of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón (d.362) by his wife Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig (d.367).Francis J.Byrne, ''Irish Kings and High-Kings'', Table 1 He was ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach dynasties o ...

son of

Eochaid Mugmedon Eochaid Mugmedón () was a semi-legendary Irish king. According to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, Eochaid was a High King of Ireland, best known as the father of Niall of the Nine Hostages and ancestor of the Uí Néill and Conna ...

. His mother was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga or Mediva), 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 a

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 Caillin of Fenagh, son of Niata, 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 Mona ...

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 ...

, a later

. Saint Diarmaid was the youngest of Dediva's famous children. About the year 530, he founded the great monastery of Inchcleraun on

Lough Ree Lough Ree () 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 Loug ...

, 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.Grattan-Flood, William. "St. Diarmaid." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 13 Oct. 2021 Here his fame soon attracted disciples, among them Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. He was a good teacher and also a distinguished writer and poet. On the island seven churches are traditionally said to have been erected,"Saint Diarmaid the Just". ''New Catholic Dictionary''
CatholicSaints.Info. 21 October 2012 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. 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. Kieran of Clonmacnoise. He was a friend of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy and he composed metrical psalters, among which is "Cealtair Dichill". He died on 10 January at Inchcleraun and his feast is celebrated on that date.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diarmaid The Just People from County Roscommon 6th-century Christian saints 542 deaths 6th-century Irish writers Medieval Irish saints 6th-century Irish abbots 6th-century Latin writers Year of birth unknown