Óengus of Tallaght facts for kids

Óengus mac Óengobann, also known as Saint Óengus of Tallaght or Óengus the Culdee, was an Irish bishop, reformer, and writer. He lived in the early 800s. He is believed to have written the Félire Óengusso, which is a list of saints, and possibly the Martyrology of Tallaght.

We do not know much about Óengus's early life. Most of what we know comes from his own writings and other old Irish texts.

Early Life and Background

Óengus was the son of Óengoba. Some old stories say he was born in Clonenagh, a place near the town of Mountrath in County Laois, Ireland. He was supposedly raised at a monastery school there, founded by Fintan of Clonenagh. However, Óengus's own writings do not mention this place as being very important.

Life at Tallaght Monastery

It is clear that Óengus became a cleric, which is a religious leader. In his writings, he humbly called himself a "pauper," meaning a poor person. He was an important member of the religious community at Tallaght, which is now in South Dublin.

Máel Ruain was his teacher and mentor at Tallaght. Óengus might have become a bishop, a high-ranking church leader. If so, his influence would have spread to other religious communities connected to Tallaght. Two monasteries in County Limerick and County Laois are even named after him: Dísert Óengusa, meaning "Óengus's Hermitage."

His Important Writings

Óengus was known for his writings, especially his work on lists of saints.

The Félire Óengusso

The most famous work by Óengus is the Félire Óengusso, also called the "Martyrology of Óengus." A martyrology is like a calendar that lists saints and their special feast days. This was the first such calendar written in the everyday language of Ireland, not Latin.

The Félire has 365 poems, one for each day of the year. It also has a long introduction and a conclusion. Later writers added more notes and information about Óengus to the text. Óengus used the Martyrology of Tallaght as his main source. This book listed many Irish saints. He also used other old texts from writers like Jerome and Eusebius of Caesarea.

When Was It Written?

It is hard to know the exact year the Félire was written. Scholars look at the people mentioned in the text to guess the date. Most agree it was written after 797 AD. Some scholars think it was written between 797 and 808 AD. Others believe it was written later, between 828 and 833 AD. There is still some debate among historians about the precise date.

Worldly Power vs. Spiritual Power

In the introduction to the Félire, Óengus shares his thoughts on power. He talks about old Irish strongholds like Tara and Emain Machae. These were once powerful places where kings lived before Christianity came to Ireland. Óengus compares these old, deserted sites to the thriving Christian centers of his time, like Armagh and Clonmacnoise.

He believed that worldly power and glory do not last forever. Spiritual power, however, is strong and lasts. He used the example of his teacher, Máel Ruain, who continued to offer comfort even after his death. This was different from the warrior-kings of his time, whose power ended when they died.

The Martyrology of Tallaght

Some people believe that Óengus also helped create the Martyrology of Tallaght. This book originally came from a place called Lindisfarne, in England. It traveled through other monasteries before arriving at Tallaght. At Tallaght, many Irish saints were added to it.

It seems likely that Óengus was involved because the sources he mentions in his Félire would have been useful for the Martyrology of Tallaght. Also, some saints he claimed to include in his Félire are actually found in the Martyrology of Tallaght, not in his own book.

Death and Legacy

According to the Martyrology of Tallaght, Óengus's feast day, which is the day he died, is March 11. He is said to have died on a Friday in a place called Dísert Bethech, or "The Birchen Hermitage." Based on this, possible death dates include 819, 824, or 830 AD. He was reportedly buried in his birthplace, Clonenagh.

Óengus became a hermit, someone who lives alone for religious reasons. He lived for a time near the Nore River, where he was said to have communicated with angels. Because he loved prayer and being alone, he was called the "Culdee." This name comes from the Irish words Ceile Dé, meaning "Servant of God."

He moved to a more secluded spot, about eight miles from Clonenagh, because he wanted more quiet. This place was named "the Desert of Óengus" or "Dysert-Enos" after him. Here, he built a small chapel. He is also believed to have founded another Dísert Óengusa near Croom around 780 AD.

Even though he wanted to be far from people, his fame grew, and many visitors came to see him. Because of this, Óengus left his hermitage and eventually came to the monastery of Tallaght near Dublin. He joined as a lay brother, keeping his true identity a secret. However, Máel Ruain soon recognized him, and they worked together on the Martyrology of Tallaght.