Maolán was an early Christian bishop in Connacht, whose feast day is given as 25 December. He is the reputed founder of a church at Tullaghmelan in County Tipperary.[1]
Saint Maolan (or Maelan) | |
|---|---|
| Born | unknown |
| Died | ? |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 25 December |
| Patronage | Tullaghmelan, County Tipperary |
His name is listed in the Martyrology of O'Gorman under 25 December and he is described as 'Great Maelan, void of weakness.'[2] An ancient stone carving of a bishop's head at Tullaghmelan is believed to be St. Maolan.[3]
He is commemorated in the placnames Cill Easpaig Mhaoláin (the church of Bishop Maolán) or Killaspugmoylan, parish of Kilconickny, Loughrea) and Cill Mhaoláin (the church of Maolán) or Kilmoylan, a parish four miles south of Tuam. It is likely that one or more saints with this name have become conflated as there were at least 6 saints commemorated in medieval Ireland named Maolan/Maelan.[4]
See also
References
- Early Ecclesiastical Settlement Names of County Galway, Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, in Galway:History and Society, 1996, pp. 802–03.