Brónach
Saint Brónach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Majorshrine | Kilbroney (Irish:Cell Brónche) |
| Feast | 2 April |
SaintBrónach(sometimesanglicisedtoBronagh) was a 6th-century holy woman from Ireland, the reputed founder and patron saint ofCell Brónche( "church of Brónach" ), now Kilbroney, inCounty Down,Northern Ireland.[1]
Life
[edit]A disciple ofSaint Patrick,she built a refuge for sailors who were shipwrecked in Carlingford Lough. The ringing of Bronach’s bell warned of a rising storm on the dangerous waters of the Lough. About 150 years ago a storm brought down a large old oak tree in the Kilbroney churchyard, and in its branches was found a 10th-century bell. The bell is now in the local church in Rostrevor.[2]
Lying in Glenn Sechis, a mountain valley in County Down (nearRostrevor), Cell Brónche lay at some distance from the major political centres of the region.[1]It may have been anunneryin origin, but later came to serve as a pastoral church manned by nuns as well as one or several priests.[1]It was chosen as the parish church of Glenn Sechis.[1]Ahigh crosswhich survives among the ruins of Cell Brónche attests to the importance of her church.[1]It is made ofMournegraniteand stands over the traditional site of her grave in the old cemetery. It is part of the "Saint Patrick’s Trail".[2]The building suffered damage during the1641 Rebellion,as well as inCromwelliantimes.
There is a stained glass window depicting Bronach in All Saints Church, Ballymena.[3]
According to the genealogies of the saints, she is the mother of SaintMo ChóeofNendrumand herself a daughter ofMíliucc maccu Buain.[1]
In the Irish martyrologies (O'Clery,Martyrology of Tallaght,note added toFélire Óengusso), her feast day is 2 April.[1][4]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgCharles-Edwards, "Ulster, saints of (act. c.400–c.650) "
- ^ab""St. Bronach", Discover Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board ".Archived fromthe originalon 19 May 2014.Retrieved19 May2014.
- ^Waterson, Breda. "The beautiful stained glass windows of All Saints' Church", Parish of Kirkinriola
- ^"Brónachvirgo,from Glenn Sechis ". Note toFélire Óengusso,2 April.
- Charles-Edwards, T. M. (January 2007) [Sept 2004]."Ulster, saints of (act. c.400–c.650) ".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50136.Retrieved14 December2008.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
Primary sources
[edit]- Óengus of Tallaght(1905).Stokes, Whitley(ed.).The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee.Henry Bradshaw Society. Vol. 29. London.
Further reading
[edit]- Ó Riain, Pádraig(1989). "Sanctity and politics in Connachtc.1100: the case of St Fursa ".Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies.17:1–14.
External links
[edit]- Kilbroney High-cross,Megalithic Ireland
- "The Irish Way: St Bronach's Land", clip from BBC History