Saint Macartan

Macartan of Clogher
St. McCartan's Cathedral, Clogher
Abbot and Bishop
Died	506 Clogher
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism
Feast	March 24

Saint Mac Cairthinn, also Macartan, belongs to a very early generation of Christian saints in Ireland, and is recognized as the first presiding Bishop of Clogher, from 454 to his death in 506. He is known as Saint Patrick's "Threin Fhir", or "Strong Man", his name being a play on "strong-back" for his dedication and faithfulness to the cause of the young Irish Church. His feast day is March 24.

St. Macartan grew up in the southern part of Ireland, somewhere in Munster. Before his conversion to Christianity by Patrick the future saint was known by the name Aidus/Aedh, the son of Caerthen,(son of the Rowan Tree). The identity of his father is uncertain, but is sometimes associated with a Dalcassian prince of Thomond or with the Uí Maine of Connaught. Hence the Anglicized later name to come down to us is "Macartan". Some sources claim that he was uncle to Saint Brigid.

Hearing of Patrick's teaching, Aidus traveled from his home to hear him preach in Armagh, leaving behind his wife and child. He first met Patrick at Drumlease, near Dromahair, County Leitrim. Here Macartan was baptized and soon became one of Patrick's official missionary staff. He was spoken of as Patrick's "champion" or "strong man". We are told that when the great Apostle was worn out by his work that Macartan supported his faltering steps over rough roads, marshes and rivers by carrying him. Macartan was initially ordained to the role of presbyter (priest) while Patrick was still living, possible by Patrick himself.

He was the "staff of Patrick" in the Irish patron saint's declining years. On one occasion after carrying Patrick over a river, an exhausted Macartan expressed a wish that he might be relieved from further travel and allowed settle down in charge of some church close-by his beloved master where he could spend the evening of his life in peace. Patrick, full of sympathy for his faithful companion and friend, agreed that he should establish a monastery in Clogher, and finish out his life there. A monastery was established near the ancient royal fort of Rathmore on the outskirts of the town and one of Ireland's oldest bishoprics was established. To commemorate the occasion Patrick gave Macartan his staff and a number of precious relics contained in a shrine known to tradition as the Domhnach Airgid.

The Domhnach Airgid (the Silver church) was made to enclose a manuscript that consists of fragments of 39 sheets of the Gospels, written in the distinctively Irish lettering of the eighth or ninth century. On the cover of the Domhnach Airgid is one of the earliest surviving metalwork images of St. Patrick. Traditionally, the book was claimed to be that given by St Patrick himself to his companion St Macartan, making it an object of great veneration. Around 1350, the abbot of Clones, John O Carbry, commissioned a substantial remodelling of the Domhnach Airgid. The figure of St. Patrick is thought to be at the lower right of the cover. In the lower left St. Patrick may be handing the Domhnach Airgid to St. Macartan. The Domhnach Airgid can be seen in the National Museum of Ireland.