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St. Ruadhan

Historical Article from The Catholic Encyclopedia

Catholic Encyclopedia

Historical Context

This article preserves the historical wording and context of the printed encyclopedia. Dates, statistics, terminology, disciplinary descriptions, and civic or ecclesiastical circumstances may reflect the period in which the article was published.

Article Text

One of the twelve “Apostles of Erin”; died at the monastery of Lorrha, County Tipperary, Ireland, 5 April, 584. Ruadhan studied under Saint Finian of Clonard. His embassy to King Dermot at Tara, in 556, is worked into a romance known as the “Cursing of Tara”, but the ardri continued to reside at Tara till his death (564). The legend as to Tara’s halls having been deserted after 564 is of comparatively late origin, and is contradicted by the fact that a Feis was held at Tara in 697. St. Ruadhan founded the monastery of Lorrha. His bell is preserved in the British Museum; St. Ruadhan’s feast is kept on the anniversary of his death.

Sources

O’HANLON, Lives of the Irish Saints, IV (Dublin, s.d.); HEALY, Ireland’s Ancient Schools and Scholars (4th ed., Dublin, 1902); UA CLERIGH, History of Ireland (London, 1908).

Source Record

Author
Grattan-Flood, William
Publication
The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1912.
Nihil Obstat
Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., Censor.
Imprimatur
Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.