Cú Chuimne (died 747 AD) was a monk and scholar of

Iona Iona (; , sometimes simply ''Ì'') is an island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there are other buildings on the island. Iona Abbey was a centre of Gaeli ...

. Cú Chuimne, along with Ruben of Dairinis, was responsible for the great compendium known as ''

Collectio canonum Hibernensis The ''Collectio canonum Hibernensis'' () (or ''Hib'') is a systematic Latin collection of Continental canon law, scriptural and patristic excerpts, and Irish synodal and penitential decrees. ''Hib'' is thought to have been compiled by two Iris ...

'' (''Irish collection of Canon law''), which is the first systematic western collection of canon law. Cú Chuimne is credited with composing the

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

to the

Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

''Cantemus in omni die.'' This hymn is one of the earliest pieces of evidence for devotion to Mary in the Irish church and is described by James F. Kenney as ‘the finest example extant of

Hiberno-Latin Hiberno-Latin was a learned style of literary Latin first used and subsequently spread by Irish monks during the period from the sixth century to the twelfth century. Vocabulary and influence Hiberno-Latin was notable for its curiously learn ...

versification’. His obit in the

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, 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 Luin� ...

refers to him as ''sapiens'' (learned), and quotes a short Old Irish poem that is humorously descriptive of his somewhat eclectic career: :Cú Chuimne in youth :read his way through half the truth. :He let the other half lie :while he gave women a try. :Well for him in old age. :He became a holy sage. :He gave women the last laugh. :He read the other half. Of which Dáibhí Ó Cróinín recently remarked: "We are not told which he preferred."

Sources

* ''Die irische Kanonensammlung'', ed. Hermann Wasserschleben. Leipzig, 1885. * Breen, Aidan. "Some seventh-century Hiberno-Latin texts and their relationships." ''Peritia'' 3 (1984)": pp. 204–14. * Ó Crónín, Dáibhí. "Hiberno-Latin Literature to 1169." In ''A New History of Ireland'', volume one, 2005.

External links

* http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/L400002/index.html 747 deaths Irish scribes Medieval Irish musicians 8th-century writers in Latin Irish Christian monks 8th-century Irish writers 8th-century Christian monks 8th-century Irish poets Medieval European scribes Year of birth unknown Irish male poets Irish writers in Latin {{Ireland-RC-clergy-stub