Moninne
Saint Moninne was an early Irish female saint who founded religious communities in Ireland and Scotland. She is known for establishing a nunnery at Killeavy and for her association with Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid. Her feast day is celebrated on July 6th.
Key Facts
- ›Moninne was born around 435 in the Donaghmore area of County Down.
- ›She founded a community of eight virgins and a widow with a baby at Slieve Gullion.
- ›Moninne founded a nunnery in Faughart, County Louth, and took her sisters to the island of Begerin to be guided by St. Ibar.
- ›She is said to have been veiled by Saint Patrick and brought up by St. Brigid of Kildare.
- ›Moninne died around 517 and was buried at Killeavy.
- ›Her feast day is 6 July, and her well is marked by a large white cross.
Modwenna, Darerca, Blinne, Moninna
About Moninne
Saint Moninne (Modwenna)
Saint Moninne, also known as Modwenna, was a significant early Irish female saint who lived in the 5th and 6th centuries. Her life and veneration are rooted in the early Christian history of Ireland, particularly in the region of Ulster.
Life and Historical Context
Born around 435 in the Donaghmore area of County Down, Moninne was the daughter of Machta, a king, and Comwi or Coman. Tradition holds that she was baptized and confirmed by Saint Patrick, who prophesied her lasting remembrance. She was also said to have been veiled by Saint Patrick. Her name, Moninne, has several variations, including Darerca and Blinne, with Moninna interpreted in Irish as "My Ninna" or "My Daughter." A legend attributes the name to her miraculous cure of a dumb man who uttered "Ninna Ninna" upon regaining his speech.
Moninne is believed to have been raised by Saint Brigid of Kildare. She later founded several convents in Scotland and England, as well as a nunnery in Faughart, County Louth. Seeking a more secluded life, Moninne moved with her sisters westward to the island of Begerin, where they received guidance in monastic life from Saint Ibar. The community eventually returned to the north of Ireland, establishing themselves first at Faughart and then at Killeavy, a location meaning "church of the mountain."
At Killeavy, Moninne founded a nunnery that initially comprised eight virgins and a widow with a baby boy named Luger. The sisters lovingly raised Luger, who later became a bishop. Moninne died around 517 and was buried at Killeavy.
Veneration and Legacy
Saint Moninne's feast day is observed on 6 July. Her supposed grave at Killeavy is marked by a large granite stone, which was a site for prayers during the annual "Pattern" celebrations. Pilgrims would then proceed to her Holy Well on the slopes of Slieve Gullion. The Pattern Day celebrations were eventually banned due to persecution of the Catholic faith, leading to the Holy Well being forgotten until its rediscovery in 1880. The Pattern was revived in 1928 and continued until at least 1934. Saint Moninne's Well is now marked by a large white cross, and the inscription on the well reads "Tobhar Naoimh Blathnaidh." The Gaelic Athletic Association club founded in Killeavy in 1888 is named Killeavy St Moninna's GAC, indicating a continued local devotion.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Saint Moninne?
Saint Moninne, also known as Modwenna, was an early Irish female saint. She is credited with founding religious communities and living an eremitical life.
Where did Saint Moninne found her communities?
She founded a community at Slieve Gullion in what became County Armagh. She also founded a nunnery in Faughart, County Louth, and communities in Scotland and England.
What is Saint Moninne's feast day?
Saint Moninne's feast day is celebrated on 6 July. This day was historically marked by a 'Pattern' celebration.
What is Saint Moninne's well known for?
Saint Moninne's Well is located further up the slopes of Slieve Gullion and is marked by a large white cross. It is a site of pilgrimage, particularly on her feast day.
What are some of Saint Moninne's alternative names?
Moninne is also known by names such as Modwenna, Darerca, Blinne, and Moninna. The name Moninna is said to mean 'My Ninna' or 'My Daughter' in Irish.
Related Saints
Brigid of Kildare
Brigid of Kildare, also known as Brigid of Ireland, is a revered patroness saint and one of Ireland's three national saints. She is historically recognized as an abbess who founded the significant abbey of Kildare and several other convents. Brigid is celebrated for her numerous miracles and is patroness of many, including poetry, learning, healing, and blacksmithing, with a perpetual fire kept burning in her honor at Kildare for centuries.
Fanchea
Saint Fanchea of Rossory was an Irish saint known for her spiritual influence, particularly in persuading her warrior brother, Saint Enda of Arran, to renounce his warlike ways and embrace monastic life. She is remembered for her piety, her role in establishing the Rossory Monastery, and her miraculous passage across the water.
Íte of Killeedy
Íte of Killeedy, also known as Ita, was an early Irish nun and patron saint of Killeedy, renowned as the "foster mother of the saints of Erin." She is celebrated for her saintly qualities, wisdom, purity, and her dedication to a consecrated life, rejecting prestigious marriage for religious devotion. Ita is primarily remembered for founding a community of nuns at Killeedy and for her spiritual guidance, notably to Saint Brendan.