Saints in Scottish Place-Names

Colmán of Cell Ruad

Other names

Colmán of Kilroot

Introduction

This Colman appears in the Life of Mac Nise and the Life of Ailbe of Emly, both in the Codex Salamanticensis. In the former the young Colman is saved from death by the bishop Mac Nise - Ipse est Colmanus episcopus, qui ecclesiam nomine Kell Ruaid fundavit (Heist 1965, 406, ch. 9). In the latter he is portrayed as a member of Ailbe’s familia – unus de familia ipsius, Colmanus nomine, cellam edificavit que dicitur Cell Roid (Heist 1965, 123 ch. 22). Other saints called Colmán are remembered on his feast day of 16th Oct (Ó Riain, Dictionary, 194).

Associated places

Cell Ruad (Kilroot townland and parish, barony of Belfast Lower, Co. Antrim)

Genealogies

Colman of Kilroot does not appear in the main recensions of CGSH. He appears in CNE as Colman Cilli Ruad (707.96), two away from Colmán Ela at 707.94. In the Book of Ballymote he is, like Colmán Ela and Colmán of Dromore, among the Dál nAraide (BB 168bc50-1; Ó Riain, Dictionary, 194).

Related Saints

Belongs to the group (possible)

Belongs to the group Columb, Colmán, Commán, Mo Cholmóc, Mo Chommóc, Mo Chumma, Columba, Columbanus etc (ns) (certain)

Same as Colmán Ela m. Beogna (possible)

Both associated with Mac Nise; Colmán Ela is connected genealogically to Mac Nise, and comes into the latter’s vita (Heist 1965, 406 ch. 14) while Colmán of Cell Ruad is rescued by the bishop as a young boy (Heist 1965, 406 ch. 9).

Same as Mo Cholmóc m. Conratháin of Dromore (possible)

In his discussion of Oral Lives Ó Riain makes a link between Mocholmoc m. Conratháin (Colmán of Dromore) and Colmán of Kilroot via Ailbe. In Colmán of Dromore's vita he is sent to be educated by Ailbe at Emly (Heist p 358 ch. 4), a fact not mentioned in Ailbe's vita. In Ailbe's vita, however, there is a member of his familia called Colmán who sets up the church of Cell Ruaid (Kilroot) in Lower Belfast, next to diocese of Dromore. ‘It is too much to expect that Ailbe could have been associated with two saints Colmán from the same part of Ulster yet neither source can have been drawing on the other. The assumption must be, then, that there survived in each area an independent recollection of a connection between Ailbe and the northern Colmán which probably took the form of an episode in the local Oral Life.’ O Riain 1982, 153-

Related Personal Names

Name

Colmán (certain)

Feast days

Day of Year

Oct 15

Calendar

Calendar of Adam King

Quote from source

S. Culmane bischop and cofess. in scotland vnder king Conranus. 512.

Notes

Note that this is a day behind his usual feast. It may that this is a commemoration of someone else.

Day of Year

Oct 15

Calendar

Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster

Quote from source

In Scotia Colmanni episcopi. K.

Notes

The K implies that Dempster got this from Adam King. Dempster has, on Oct 16 - the correct day for Colman of Kilroot, 'Comini abbatis. MA.'

Day of Year

Oct 16

Calendar

Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee

Quote from source

Colmán ón Chill Rúaidsin

Notes

Notes in Laud: .i. epscop Cilli Ruaid i nDal Araide. Laud Notes in RB505: Colmán Chilli Rúaid for brú Locha lóig in hÚltaib & epscop hé.

Day of Year

Oct 16

Calendar

Martyrology of Tallaght

Quote from source

Colmain Cilli Ruaid.

Day of Year

Oct 16

Calendar

Martyrology of Gorman

Quote from source

Colmán gloss: epscop Cille Rúaidh i nDal Araidhe, for brú Locha Laigh i n-Ultoibh.

Day of Year

Oct 16

Calendar

The Martyrology of Donegal

Quote from source

Colmán epscop, Cille Ruaidh i nDal Araidhe, for bru Locha Laoigh i nUltoiph

Day of Year

Oct 16

Calendar

Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis

Quote from source

Colmani epi ix l.

Notes

In the main text he is associated with Belhelvie, 11km north of Aberdeen. Note that there are other Colmáns on this day in the Irish record (Ó Riain, Dictionary, 194.

Day of Year

Oct 16

Calendar

Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen

Quote from source

in Scocia Sancti Colmanni episcopi et confessoris

Notes

Note that there are other Colmáns on this day in the Irish record (Ó Riain, Dictionary, 194.

Saint in place-names

Though no place-name referring to this particular saint has been identified, it may be that some of the places dedicated to the non-specific group to which he/she belongs may in fact refer to him/her. Please check the non-specific group.

See: Columb, Colmán, Commán, Mo Cholmóc, Mo Chommóc, Mo Chumma, Columba, Columbanus etc (ns)