St. Ronan
(Feast Day 22nd May)
Ronan is an Irish boy s name which translated means little seal .
It is said that there are at least twelve Irish Saints called Ronan, commentated in the Martyrology of Donegal .
The list includes:
St Ronan of Ulster (died 11th January 535)
St Ronan, first Abbot of Drumshallon/Dromiskin, Co. Louth (died 18th November 665)
St Ronan of Lismore (Feast Day 9th Feb)
St Ronan, the Silent. He preached throughout Devon/Cornwall and in Brittany, France
St Ronan of Iona (Feast Day 18th August).
Our School is named after St. Ronan of Magheralin (Lann Ronain Fhinn). The first clue to Ronan can be found in the 9th Century Martyrology of Oengus which record his death as 22nd May 637AD, as follows:
The soul of Ronan the Fair went to the starry heaven
The Calendar of the Saints of Ireland list his Feast Day as May 22nd.
Whilst the ancient manuscript known as The Book of Lecan, locates Ronan's community at Corco Rusen, in Magh Rath, the exact site of the early church is unknown. A clue to the possible location of Ronan s foundation is contained in the Cath Muighe Rath, where it is recorded that Suibhne, grandson of the King of Dal Araidhe was so outraged at the liberties taken by Ronan, settling a Christian monastery in his territory, that he slew several members of the community on the day of the Battle of Moira. Ronan was so outraged at this act, that he cursed Suibhne who, at the height of combat with his enemy, Congal Clane, was afflicted with such madness that he fled the battle field and sought refuge in the bile buada , the Sacred Tree of Moira.
The monastic settlement of Ronan, would have been typical of the period. The community being established upon level ground, near a river. The enclosure would have been bounded by a high bank of earth and stone.
St. Ronan's Well
When Ronan and his small band of followers aimed their Christian mission to the local people, paganism was still deeply entranced into their minds. Many people still believed in the power of the holy well. In order to put an end to the pagan belief system, wells were blessed and rededicated. In Magheralin, the well of St Ronan can still be found in a field in Ballymagin, close to the Moira Road.
