Forgotten Moore saint remembered on her feast day

An recent Mass shone a light on a forgotten saint from Moore parish, St Caireac Dergain of Clonburren, whose feast day falls on February 9 last.

In their trilogy of books chronicling the history of Moore and Creagh, local historians Padraic and Xandra Kilduff researched the little-known sixth century saint who founded Clonburren nunnery and devoted a chapter to her life and memory in volume one.

It is said that for over 1,500 years the people of Moore, and particularly, the people of Clonburren, prayed to, venerated and remembered Saint Caireac Dergain, who founded what is believed to have been one of the most important convents in Early Christian Ireland.

Her brother was the influential Saint Enda of Aran and it was there that she said to have died on February 9, 577.

In a bid to further highlight her story, the local couple revived her feast day recently with a special Mass in her honour celebrated by local parish priest Fr Michael Molloy, with the backing of local choirs, school children and young musicians. Xandra Kilduff produced a leaflet on St Caireac Dergain's life specially for the occasion, while her husband Padraic, who is also a talented artist, painted a beautiful image of St Caireac Dergain of Clonburren which was displayed during the Mass in St Mary's Church, Moore.

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Saint Caireac Dergain of Clonburren, Moore

By Xandra Kilduff - M.A Medieval Studies Moore History Group

Saint CaIreac Dergain, also known as Careaca and Chinreacha came to the area a young woman with a mission to fulfil, to convert or re-enforce Christianity in the minds and hearts of the people.

A Princess of Airgealla one of the three kingdoms of Ulster, her father was Conal Dearg and her mother Briga was the grand-daughter of Ronan King of Ferrard in Co Louth .

She had three sisters Fanchia of Rossiher, Lochina and Darina, wife of the King of Cashel. All four girls became Celtic Saints just like their brothers the great Saint Enda of Aran and Saint Libeus.

They were reared in Rath Mor, near Clogher in Tyrone, and were of the tribe of Colla da Crioch just like Maine Mor King of Ui Maine.

It was agreed that the present King would allow her the lands of Clonburren (Cluain Boreann) to build her Abbey and as was tradition in these circumstances granted the manpower and finances to build in the fort of Clonburren.

Water and fuel were plentiful and the Abbey became a school for the daughters of the wealthy, many whom joined the order.

They were also bound by the Brehon laws of hospitality and when St Ciaran, who had been a student of St Caireac’s brother, the great St Enda of Aran, built his monastery in Clonmacnoise in 549 AD the area had an Abbey and a Monastery to minister to their religious needs.

The nuns and novices spent their days embroidering alter cloths and wall hangings which they often gifted to visiting bishops.

Holy water was used to bless the houses, the sheep, their food and themselves. They also taught the daughters of Kings, including Rincinn, the niece of King Carbre Crom.

The sisters grew many healing herbs and went amongst the sick and prayed with the dying and welcomed strangers and those who walked the togher to Clonmacnoise on pilgrimage .

Caireac, because of her long red hair and beauty attracted admirers, all who were sent away because she had given herself to God and would rather be a humble nun in heaven than a Queen on earth.

It's said the son of the King of Thomond sent a man to spy on her and confirm her beauty and sweet nature, and while watching her through the keyhole of the church while she prayed, her pet crane who never left her side picked his eye out.

Visiting Saint Enda on the Aran islands she founded and built two churches and a nunnery on Inishmeain, where she died and was buried.

The two Churches of Caireac Dergan in Dun Conchobar were mentioned by Canon Colgan, the historian in 1645.

Petrie, the famous archaeologist, in 1821 visited the Islands and wrote of her tomb having a nearby waterfall and a pillar with the design of a cross within a circle on the stone and a holy well alongside.

Aengus of Culdee in his Martyrology of O’Gorman called her 'the Holy woman Caireac the Godly'. Her death was recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters as the 9th of February 577 AD.

For further detailed reading on Saint Caireac Dergain see volume one of 'Moore and Creagh A History of the Half Barony of Moycarn' Chapters 2 and 3 by Xandra and Padraic Kilduff.