Saint Mac Nisse (died 514) was an early Irish saint known as the founder and first
bishop-abbot of Connor (Irish: ''
Condere'', in what is now Co. Antrim). In the ''Tripartite Life of St. Patrick'', he is said to have been a disciple of St.
Olcán
Olcán () is the name of an early Irish saint of the Dál Riata, disciple of St Patrick, founder and bishop of the monastery in Armoy in northeast County Antrim, Northern Ireland.Charles-Edwards, "Ulster, saints of (act. ''c''.400–''c''.650)"
...
, Bishop of Armoy.
His story as known is largely legendary He is said to have been baptized by
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...
. Oengus Mac Nisse is thought to have been at Kells as a hermit earlier in his life.
Simms, George Otto. ''Among the Cloud of Witnesses: Notes and suggested prayers for commemorations of worthies of the Irish Church'', Church of Ireland, 1994
/ref> He is considered the founder of Kells monastery.
References
Primary sources
* Tripartite Life of St Patrick
* ''Félire Óengusso''
* ''Annals of Ulster
The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...
''
* ''Life'' of St. Nisse ('' Codex Salmanticensis''), ed. W.W. Heist, ''Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae ex codice olim Salmanticensi nunc Bruxellensi''. Brussels, 1965. p. 406. Short, late homily for the saint's festival (3 September) at Connor.
6th-century Irish bishops
6th-century Christian saints
514 deaths
Medieval saints of Ulster
People from County Meath
People from County Antrim
Year of birth unknown
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