Grellan (saint)
Saint Grellan (in Irish : Ghrealláin ) is an Irish saint and patron saint of the Kelly clan and the parish of Ballinasloe in County Galway , Ireland .
Early life
After hagiography The life of Saint Grellan lived Grellan in the 5th century, the time of the Holy Patrick of Ireland . Grellan was assigned a place by Duach Gallach , King of Connacht , to build a church at Achadh Fionnabhrach . Duach Gallach had Grellan build the church after he had brought to life Duach Gallach's stillborn son, Eoghan Sriabh , through baptism .
Achadh Fionnabhrach has been called Craobh Ghrealláin ( Irish for "the branch of Grellan"), named after the branch that King Duach and Patrick of Ireland presented to the Grellan as a sign of possession. The king also ordered that seven robes of each chief's wife should be given as tribute to the young clergyman.
Then Grellan moved on to the northern third of Connacht and continued to tour the country. Eventually, however, he settled down and founded a church at Cill Cluaine (or Kilclooney , near today's Ballinasloe ) in Magh Seincheineoil , an area occupied by the Firbolg and ruled by Cian .
Interfering in the battle of the Fir Bolg against the Colla da Chrioch
The area was invaded by the Gaelic tribe Colla da Chrioch from the Kingdom of Oriel . These were led by the semi-legendary figure Maine Mór , who was accompanied by his father Eochaidh Ferdaghiall and his two sons Breasal and Amlaff (also Amhalgaidh). His troops attacked and pillaged the area. As a mediator, Grellan negotiated a peace between the parties. To underpin the peace, Cian of the Firbolg organized a festival to which Amlaff was invited but taken hostage.
Amlaff was now the hostage through which the Firbolgs could exercise power over the Gael. While in captivity, Amlaff managed to piss off a Firbolg leader through a romantic relationship with his wife. Amlaff was killed, and with him died the power of the Firbolgs over the Gael. With the Gael expecting a truce, Cian decided to surprise them with a surprise attack.
From his church gate, Grellan saw the Firbolgs arming. Since he was the guarantor of peace for both parties, developments put him in a precarious position. Legend has it that he prayed to God, who then swallowed the Firbolgs from the ground during the battle with the Gael in the marsh of Magh Liach .
Grellan then assigned the area to Maine Mór and his people. The area became known as the Kingdom of Hy-Many or Uí Maine . From then on, the people called themselves Uí Maine . The Uí Maine paid tribute to Grellan, who became the patron saint of clans and families descended from Maine Mór, including the Ó Ceallaigh (Kelly), Ó Madadhan (Madden), Ó Neachtáin (Naughton), Ó Domhnalláin (Donnellan), Ó Mullally (Lally) and Ó Fallamháin (Fallon).
St. Grellan's Crosier
St. Grellan's Crosier or Bachall Grealláin was handed over to the Uí Maine together with the territory and from then on was carried on the battlefield in their standard. This crosier existed until the early 19th century.
November 10th is his feast day.
literature
- Thomas Olden: Grellan . In: Dictionary of National Biography . Volume 23, New York City / London 1890, p. 108 (English).
- PK Egan: Ballinasloe: A Historical Sketch . Ballinasloe Tóstal Council, 1953.
- John O'Donovan: Tribes and Customs of Hy Many Commonly Called O'Kellys Country . Irish Archaeological Society, 1843.
- Whitley Stokes: The Martyrology of Gorman: Edited From A Manuscript In The Royal Library Brussels 1895.
Individual evidence
- ↑ PK Egan: Ballinasloe: A Historical Sketch , Ballinasloe Tóstal Council, 1953, online at ballinasloe.org, viewed June 15, 2011 (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Grellan |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ghrealláin |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Irish saint |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 4th century or 5th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 5th century |