Grellan
Encyclopedia
Saint Grellan is an Irish
saint
and patron saint
of the Kelly
and Donnellan clan
s and of the parish of Ballinasloe, in County Galway
, Ireland
.
The Life of St. Grellan, Grellan lived during the 5th century time of Saint Patrick
. Grellan was assigned a site to build a church at Achadh Fionnabhrach, by Duach Gallach, a King of Connacht
. Duach Gallach granted Grellan the site to build his church after Grellan brought back to life by baptism Duach Gallach's stillborn son, Eoghan Sriabh.
Achadh Fionnabhrach has been ever since called Craobh Ghrealláin (Irish
for 'the branch of Grellan'), named after the branch which king Duach and St. Patrick presented to St. Grellan, in token of possession. The king also ordered that seven garments should be given from every chieftain's wife as a tribute to the young cleric.
After this Grellan proceeded to the upper third of Connacht and continued to traverse the country but he eventually settled and established a church at Cill Cluaine (or Kilclooney, near present-day Ballinasloe) in Magh Seincheineoil
, a territory occupied by the Firbolg and led by Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
.
tribe of Colla da Chrioch from the Kingdom of Oriel, led the semi-legendary figure Maine Mór
who was accompanied by his father, Eochaidh Ferdaghiall, and his two sons Breasal mac Maine Mór
and Amhalgaidh. His battalions descended on the territory and plundered the country. Acting as an intermediary, Grellan negotiated a peace between the parties. To consummate the peace, Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
organised a feast to which Amlaff was invited but subsequently taken hostage.
Amlaff was now the bargaining power the Firbolgs held over the Gaels. While in captivity however, Amlaff managed offend a Firbolg official through a romantic entanglement with his wife. Amlaff was killed, and with him died the Firbolg’s leverage against the Gaels. With the Gaels expecting a truce, Cian decided to catch them off guard with a surprise attack.
From the door of his church, Grellan became aware of the build-up of the Firbolg's weapons. As he was the guarantee between the two factions, this development put him in a precarious situation. Legend states that he prayed to God, who caused the Firbolgs to be swallowed into the earth at the bog of Magh Liach during battle with the Gaels.
Grellan subsequently granted the territory to Maine Mór and his people. The area became known as Uí Maine. The Uí Maine paid tribute to Grellan, who became the patron saint of the clan
s and families who descended from Maine Mór, including the Ó Ceallaigh (O'Kelly), Ó Madadhan (Madden
), Ó Neachtáin (Naughton
), Ó Domhnalláin (Donnellan
), Ó Maolalaidh (Lally/Mullally
) and Ó Fallamháin (Fallon
) families.
Gaelic football
club is named after Grellan, as is St Grellan's Terrace, a public housing estate, in Ballinasloe. St Grellan's Boys' National School, now Scoil an Chroí Naofa, was also named in his honour. Also in Ballinasloe, Grellan's Well is located in the townland
of Tobergrellan (meaning Grellan's Well).
Although rare, Grellan is a boy's first name.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
and patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the Kelly
Kelly (name)
Kelly is a surname in the English language. The name has numerous origins. In some cases it is derived from toponyms located in Wales, Scotland and England, in other cases it is derived from patronyms in the Irish language.-Etymology:...
and Donnellan clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s and of the parish of Ballinasloe, in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Early life
According to the hagiographyHagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
The Life of St. Grellan, Grellan lived during the 5th century time of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
. Grellan was assigned a site to build a church at Achadh Fionnabhrach, by Duach Gallach, a King of Connacht
Kings of Connacht
The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the cóiced of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being named after The Connachta.The old name for the province was Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Ptolemy's map of c. 150 AD...
. Duach Gallach granted Grellan the site to build his church after Grellan brought back to life by baptism Duach Gallach's stillborn son, Eoghan Sriabh.
Achadh Fionnabhrach has been ever since called Craobh Ghrealláin (Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
for 'the branch of Grellan'), named after the branch which king Duach and St. Patrick presented to St. Grellan, in token of possession. The king also ordered that seven garments should be given from every chieftain's wife as a tribute to the young cleric.
After this Grellan proceeded to the upper third of Connacht and continued to traverse the country but he eventually settled and established a church at Cill Cluaine (or Kilclooney, near present-day Ballinasloe) in Magh Seincheineoil
Senchineoil
The Senchineoil was the name of the pre-Gaelic inhabitants of what is now central and east County Galway and south County Roscommon.-Overview:...
, a territory occupied by the Firbolg and led by Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg, last King of the Senchineoil of Magh Senchineoil, now in County Galway.-Background:Cian is identified as the king of Magh Senchineol, home to the Senchineoil people, who were said to be of Fir Bolg origin, a population group from Irish mythology. It was asserted by T. F...
.
Intervention in Fir Bolg-Colla da Chrioch battle
The area was invaded by the GaelicGaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
tribe of Colla da Chrioch from the Kingdom of Oriel, led the semi-legendary figure Maine Mór
Máine Mór
-Biography:Máine Mór descended from Colla da Chrioch of Oirghialla/Oriel, which became overpopulated. Máine Mór, his father Eochaidh Ferdaghiall and his two sons Breasal and Amhlaibh, travelled to Connacht to seek new lands...
who was accompanied by his father, Eochaidh Ferdaghiall, and his two sons Breasal mac Maine Mór
Breasal mac Maine Mór
Breasal mac Maine Mór, 2nd king of Uí Maine, fl. 4th-century/5th-century.John O'Donovan remarked that "Bresal, son of Maine, thirty years, when he died a natural death, which the poem states was surprising, as he had been much engaged in wars." He participated in the war that led to the foundation...
and Amhalgaidh. His battalions descended on the territory and plundered the country. Acting as an intermediary, Grellan negotiated a peace between the parties. To consummate the peace, Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg, last King of the Senchineoil of Magh Senchineoil, now in County Galway.-Background:Cian is identified as the king of Magh Senchineol, home to the Senchineoil people, who were said to be of Fir Bolg origin, a population group from Irish mythology. It was asserted by T. F...
organised a feast to which Amlaff was invited but subsequently taken hostage.
Amlaff was now the bargaining power the Firbolgs held over the Gaels. While in captivity however, Amlaff managed offend a Firbolg official through a romantic entanglement with his wife. Amlaff was killed, and with him died the Firbolg’s leverage against the Gaels. With the Gaels expecting a truce, Cian decided to catch them off guard with a surprise attack.
From the door of his church, Grellan became aware of the build-up of the Firbolg's weapons. As he was the guarantee between the two factions, this development put him in a precarious situation. Legend states that he prayed to God, who caused the Firbolgs to be swallowed into the earth at the bog of Magh Liach during battle with the Gaels.
Grellan subsequently granted the territory to Maine Mór and his people. The area became known as Uí Maine. The Uí Maine paid tribute to Grellan, who became the patron saint of the clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s and families who descended from Maine Mór, including the Ó Ceallaigh (O'Kelly), Ó Madadhan (Madden
Madden
Madden may refer to:People* Madudan mac Gadhra Mór ancestor of the Madden family of County Galway* Benji and Joel Madden of the pop-punk band Good Charlotte* Bill Madden , columnist for the New York Daily News...
), Ó Neachtáin (Naughton
Naughton
Naughton is an Irish gaelic surname derived from the name Ó Neachtain meaning 'descendent of the waters'. A Sept of the Dal gCais of the same stock as Quinn and Hartigan where located in Inchiquin Barony, Co. Clare....
), Ó Domhnalláin (Donnellan
Donnellan
Donnellan is an Irish surname and refers to the clan name Ó Domhnalláin.At least two unrealated families of the name existed in Gaelic Ireland. One in south-east Ulster, another in south-east Connacht in the kingdom of Ui Maine....
), Ó Maolalaidh (Lally/Mullally
Mullally
Mullally may refer to:* Alan Mullally , cricketer* Evelyn Mullally, academic* Frederic Mullally , journalist, public relations executive and novelist* John Mullally , politician...
) and Ó Fallamháin (Fallon
Fallon
- Locations :France* Fallon, Haute-Saône, a communeUnited States*Fallon, California*Fallon, Montana*Fallon County, Montana*Fallon, Nevada*Fallon Station, Nevada*Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada*Fallon Indian Reservation, Nevada*Fallon, Roanoke, Virginia...
) families.
Crozier
St. Grellan’s Crozier, or Bachall Grealláin was given to the Uí Maine with the territory, and was thenceforth borne in their standard on the battlefield. This crozier was in existence up to the early 19th century.Use of name in modern times
St Grellan'sSt Grellan's GFC
St Grellan's Gaelic Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club is named after Grellan, as is St Grellan's Terrace, a public housing estate, in Ballinasloe. St Grellan's Boys' National School, now Scoil an Chroí Naofa, was also named in his honour. Also in Ballinasloe, Grellan's Well is located in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Tobergrellan (meaning Grellan's Well).
Although rare, Grellan is a boy's first name.