Saint Gobhan has long been linked with the parish of Seagoe – recorded for instance as ''Teach dho-Ghobha'' – in County Armagh, Ireland. This saint - ''Gobban find mac Lugdach'' (-639), was primarily known for his abbacy of the monastery of Oldleighlin, County Carlow, where in 633 an important synod was held to debate the timing of Easter. This monastery later evolved into St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin. This abbot also held authority at

Killamery Killamery () is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It was the site of a famous monastery (c. 632) under the abbacy of St. Gobban, who died 639 and was buried in the hallowed grounds of St.Fintan of Clonenagh's Abbey, County Laois. Killame ...

– ''Cell Lamraide'' in County Kilkenny. He died in 639 and was buried in either the ancient abbey of Clonenagh: ''Cluain-Ednech'', County Laois or Clooneagh: ''Cluain Each'', County Kerry.

St. Gobhan of Seagoe in Iveagh

''Clans, landscapes and borders'' A holy man named St. Gobhan ( St Goban-Gobban-Goba) is associated with the foundation , of a church of Celtic Christianity origins in the parish of Seagoe,

Portadown Portadown () is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about southwest of Belfast. It is in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area and had a population of a ...

, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The present St. Gobhan's church is a post reformation

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the secon ...

and is located within the

Diocese of Down and Dromore The Diocese of Down and Dromore (also known as the United Dioceses of Down and Dromore) is a diocese of the Church of Ireland in the south east of Northern Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. The geographical remit of the d ...

(of the

), or alternatively the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Dromore The Diocese of Dromore is a Roman Catholic diocese in Northern Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The 17th century Irish historian and hagiographer John Colgan wrote of this location: "''Gobanus – Goba of Teg da-goba – Seagoe, on the bank of the Bann in Iveagh of Ulidia (also) St. Gobanus of

, near the mountain called Slievenaman.''" Ireland early peoples and politics

Situated four miles due south of Lough Neagh, St. Gobhan's church stands on a high-commanding ridge overlooking and to the east of the upper

river Bann The River Bann (from ga, An Bhanna, meaning "the goddess"; Ulster-Scots: ''Bann Wattèr'') is one of the longest rivers in Northern Ireland, its length, Upper and Lower Bann combined, being 129 km (80 mi). However, the total lengt ...

in a region where three counties almost meet –

County Armagh County Armagh (, named after its county town, Armagh) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the southern shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of an ...

, County Down and

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population o ...

. When St. Gobhan first arrived in this locale almost one and a half thousand years ago he was in the lands of the

Uí Echach Cobo Iveagh ( ; ) is the name of several historical territorial divisions in what is now County Down, Northern Ireland. Originally it was a Gaelic Irish territory, ruled by the ''Uí Echach Cobo'' and part of the overkingdom of Ulaid. From the 12th c ...

whose territory would later become the baronies of Upper & Lower

Iveagh Iveagh ( ; ) is the name of several historical territorial divisions in what is now County Down, Northern Ireland. Originally it was a Gaelic Irish territory, ruled by the ''Uí Echach Cobo'' and part of the overkingdom of Ulaid. From the 12th ...

, in modern-day County Down. This boundary remained for many centuries until the Plantation of Ulster when in 1605 "''The land east of the Upper Bann on the shore of Lough Neagh, known as Clanbrassilagh was formally annexed to the County of Ardmaghe...becoming eventually the barony of Oneilland East''". The continuous spread of urban development and the re-designation of boundaries has masked or obliterated the ancient

topography Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps. Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary sc ...

allowing many small and independent hamlets to be swallowed up. Seagoe continued its independent existence until in 1888 the

Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c. 37) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that established a system of local government in Ireland similar to that already created for England, ...

facilitated its inclusion into Portadown Urban District. So although present-day Seagoe by definition is in county Armagh, its location and ancient history displays an affinity and tenuous bond of ecclesiastical ties with the lands within the historical diocese of Down and Dromore. The original foundation of St. Gobhan's church is in the ancient cemetery some one hundred yards distance from the present church. The old church ruins set amid tall Yew trees and ornate headstones are a poignant reminder of many past incarnations.

Gobban of Killamery

Whether political upheaval or ecclesiastical differences precipitated St. Gobban's departure from OldLeighlin is unclear. However, prior to the highly important synod of 633, it would appear that he left his monastery and along with numerous monks journeyed into the west of the

kingdom of Ossory Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory, was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois, corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory. The home of t ...

. Again whether or not he founded or inherited the monastery at Killamery:''Cill lamraidhe'' in Ossory is disputed; however, during his abbacy, its fame and importance flourished. The 9th-century book - "The Martyrology of Oengus'' states “''of Gobban of Cell Lamraide in Hui Cathrenn in the west of Ossory, a thousand monks it had, as experts say and of them was Gobban.''",Martyrology of Oengus,page 425 The

Killamery High Cross Killamery Cross is a 9th-century high cross and National Monument in Killamery, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the north of Killamery graveyard. History A monastery was established at Killamery by St Gobhan, a disciple of Sain ...

has become famous as part of the west Ossory group of High crosses.

Gobban find mac Lugdach of Uí Ferba-Altraighe

In the south west of Ireland, in the province of Munster, on the edge of the Atlantic ocean, lies the "''Kingdom''" of County Kerry (Irish: Ciarraí). The kingdom of the Ciarraige tribe whose founder was Ciar, son of the legendary

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 ...

of the

Ulster Cycle The Ulster Cycle ( ga, an Rúraíocht), formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the Ulaid. It is set far in the past, in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly coun ...

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths native to the island of Ireland. It was originally passed down orally in the prehistoric era, being part of ancient Celtic religion. Many myths were later written down in the early medieval era by Ch ...

. A place where crumbling fortresses on jagged headlands still guard the memories of faded kingdoms. In the "''Martyrology of Oengus the culdee''", (9th-century register of saints and their feast days), it is stated…"''Of Gobban, i.e. of cell Lamraide in Hui Cathrenn in the west of ossory, i.e. a thousand monks it had, as experts say. angelic wall, i.e. angels founded the wall of his church for him. Lane, an old tribe which was once in the south of Ireland, and of them was Gobban''." The tribal name of ''Lane'' is an interpretation of the Irish O'Laoghin or O'Laeghain as mentioned by

Geoffrey Keating Geoffrey Keating ( ga, Seathrún Céitinn; c. 1569 – c. 1644) was a 17th-century historian. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and is buried in Tubrid Graveyard in the parish of Ballylooby-Duhill. He became an Irish Catholic priest and a ...

when referring to the Topographical Poems of Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin and

Giolla na Naomh Ó hUidhrín Giolla na Naomh O hUidhrin, Irish historian and poet, died 1420. O hUidhrin is known as the author of '' Tuilleadh feasa ar Éirinn óigh'', a topographical poem of a kind with Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin's '' Triallam timcheall na Fodla'', of whic ...

. where it is stated - "''O'LAEGHAIN, O'Leyne, or Lane, chief of UI ferba and O'Duibhduin, chief of Ui Flannain, districts in the county of kerry''...''O'Laeghain, a warrior of fame, We found him over Ui fearba; O'Cathnendaigh obtained the land, firmly settled under the high hills of cualan.''" Some authorities describe the land of Ui Ferba as extending northwards from

Tralee Tralee ( ; ga, Trá Lí, ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the Lee River') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in Count ...

along Ballyheigue bay to

Cashen Bay Cashen Bay is located on the estuary of the River Feale in County Kerry, Ireland. The village of Ballyduff overlooks the bay. It has been a minor harbour for many centuries. A small number of inhabitants live the area called "The Cashen". A lo ...

. However prior to its breakup during the Cambro-Norman invasion of Ireland, Ui Ferba not only included the forementioned lands but also included territory to the west of Tralee in the Dingle/ Corkaguiny peninsular. Scattered and embedded into this primitive landscape of stone age dolmens and Iron Age forts are the very foundation stones of early Irish medieval ecclesiastical sites. Many of these early Christian sites have been lost to the vagaries of time, man, and nature. However many still exist to some extent: one of which is the ancient ecclesiastic site of Rattoo, with its famous round tower. The estate of the Abbey and churches of Rattoo arose within the ancient ecclesiastical see of

Ardfert Ardfert () is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. Historically a religious centre, the economy of the locality is driven by agriculture and its position as a dormitory town, being only from Tralee. The population of the village was 749 at the 2 ...

in the cantred of Altry bordering Ui Ferba, within the over kingdom of Ciarraige Luachra and was founded by - "''the gentle bishop Lugdach''". This ecclesiastical site, which was reported to consist of seven churches was long known as "''Rath Muighe tuaiscirt''" - the fort of the northern plain. This bishop Lugdach, could be the father of Gobban find mac Lugdach and this ecclesiastical enclosure might not only be St. Gobhan's birthplace: but also that of his real final resting abode. It is generally regarded that St. Gobhan was buried, or his holy relics preserved at the celebrated monastery of St. Fintan of Clonenagh(''Cluain Ednech)'', county Laois. However St. Gobhan had no apparent ecclesiastical ties to this historic establishment. An examination of the etymology of ''Cluain Eidhneach'' may be instructive. The meaning of the middle Irish word ''Cluain'' is invariably found to be a piece of fertile land surrounded by a bog or moor, or on one side by a bog, and the other by water. Also the word ''eidnech/eidhneach'' refers to an area of ivy-clad trees. In summary an area of raised fertile land surrounded by bog/swamp. A few miles to the north of Ratoo the

river Feale Beach seine fishing for salmon in River Feale near by town Ballybunion, year 1975. The River Feale (''An Fhéil'' or ''Abhainn na Féile'' in Irish) rises near Rockchapel in the Mullaghareirk Mountains of County Cork in the southwest of Irel ...

, Brick and Gale converge: thus united they become the Cashen river which flows some six more miles before emptying into Cashen bay on the River Shannon estuary. The low ground south of the Cashen river was known as cashen bog. The church of Rattoo lies within this bog, though now much reduced: however one and a half thousand years ago this topography would have been more apparent. The church of Rattoo adjoins the ancient townland of Clooneagh:''Cluain Each.'' - while seven miles west of Tralee, on the Corkaguiny peninsular is the old church of Kilgobbin.

St Gobban and St Scuithin

St. Gobban founded his monastery at OldLeighlin in 616. The boundary lines of counties Carlow, Laois and Kilkenny all meet on the castlecomer plateau. A portion of this plateau has often been referred to as Slieve Margy. OldLeighlin sits on the eastern slopes of the Johnswell hills in the south of the plateau in county Carlow. In the 6th century Scuithin left Ireland to become a disciple of the Welsh holy man Saint David, whom he is credited with saving from poisoning. On returning home to Ireland he became a hermit and holy man in the Johnswell hills where the memory of his name and abode are preserved in "tigh scuithin." While the site of "''Tigh Scuthin''" has thankfully been preserved in the eponymous location of Tiscoffin it has unfortunately almost obliterated the memory of St. Scuithin as an actual historical entity. When the ancient tuatha were reorganised Kilkenny was divided into baronies and parishes. The Kilkenny barony of Gowran includes the civil parish of Tiscoffin (tigh scuithin) which stretches into the Johnswell hills. It seems probable that here, in the 7th century, existed the fluid and fluctuating boundary between the

Kingdom of Ossory Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory, was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois, corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory. The home of t ...

and that of

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...

in which Old leighlin is situated. Kilkenny would eventually become a county of Leinster in 1210. The county Kilkenny town of Castlewarren:(''Caisleán an Bhairínigh'') in the civil parish of Tiscoffin preserves his memory with the Church of Scuithin. This church is seven kilometres distant from OldLeighlin. No doubt the ancient abode of St. Gobban of OldLeighlin is on the periphery of Tigh Scuthin – Tiscoffin. Also according to the ''Journal of the Royal Antiquaries of Ireland (1876)'' St. Gobban may have briefly aboded at ''tigh Scuithin.'' (after leaving OldLeighlin and before Killamery) for at a time unknown a monastery was erected here. Time, linguistic variations, dialects and anglicisation has confused and entangled St Goban and St.Scuithin: however, two distinct historical persons did exist. Vague references to a ''tascaffin'' in county Limerick are extant but no designation of that name can be found. However Tiscoffin monastery, county Kilkenny is in the

List of monastic houses in Ireland This is a list of the abbeys, priories, friaries and other monastic religious houses in Ireland. This article provides a gazetteer for the whole of Ireland. Links to individual county lists ''To navigate the listings on this page, use th ...

. The Goban Saor. The history of Ireland is steeped in mythology. According to Irish invasions tradition, the fifth group to arrive was the

Tuatha Dé Danann The Tuath(a) Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the goddess Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("tribe of the gods"), are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deities of pre-Christian Gae ...

. They fought and won many battles and displaced and disposest the

Fir Bolg In medieval Irish myth, the Fir Bolg (also spelt Firbolg and Fir Bholg) are the fourth group of people to settle in Ireland. They are descended from the Muintir Nemid, an earlier group who abandoned Ireland and went to different parts of Europe. ...

. The Tuatha de Danann had a trinity of gods of craft, the most important of which was

Goibniu In Irish mythology, Goibniu (pronounced , modern spelling: Gaibhne) was the metalsmith of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is believed to have been a smithing god and is also associated with hospitality. His name is related to the Welsh Gofannon and the ...

. Goibnui forged lethal weapons and brewed their magical elixirs of invincibility. His name in

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

Gobae~Gobann translates as smith~craftsman. Gobann the craftsman – a skilled builder – the Gobán Saor. St. Gobhan was renowned as a builder-founder of many churches. However, as a founder, he should be acclaimed, for the churches were not lavish, spectacular Romanesque or Gothic cathedrals but simple mud and wattle mixtures that embraced usually the holy well – Christianized to act as the font. The interconnectedness and mutuality of names and professions undoubtedly gave rise to an expression of oneness. The Goban Saor of the Tuatha de Danann existed in an un-dateable period of Ireland's pre-history. St. Gobhan's death is recorded during a dateable period of Ireland's early history. Although St. Gobhan is not the goban saor of the Tuatha de Danann, he could be described as a ''Goban Saor'' of 6th–7th century Ireland.

St. Gobhan of Seagoe in Iveagh

Gobban of Killamery

Gobban find mac Lugdach of Uí Ferba-Altraighe

St Gobban and St Scuithin

See also

References

Further reading