| Rugadh Adamhnán i nDún na nGall sa bhlian 627AD. *Saint Eunan* a b'fhearr aithne air agus tá an t-Ard Eagláis Caitliceach i Leitir Ceanann ainmnithe ina dhiadh. Chuaigh Adamhnán le saol na manach ar Oiléan Í faoi threoradh an Ab Seghine, ag glacadh gairm an Aba nuair a d'fhág sé sa bhlian 679. Tá clú ar Adamhnán siocar an bheathaisnéis a scríobh sé ar Naomh Cholmcille, agus mar gur thaobhaigh se leis an mhódh Rómhanach chun dáta na Cásca a aimsiú. Sa bhlian 686 chuaigh sé go Northumbria, chun cuir ina lui ar a iarscoiláire, an Rí Alfrith, seasca príosiúnach Gaelacha a gabhadh le linn réime an Rí Egfrith (670-685) Northumbria, a scaoileadh saor. Sa bhlian 692 ghlac Adamhnán páirt i Synod na nGael mar phriomh Ab ar mhainistéirí Í in Éirinn san am. Ag an am sin, agus arís sa bhlian 697, rinne sé iarracht cuir in iúil do na manaigh Gaelacha uilig, féilire na Róimhe a leanúint, ach chuaigh a mhanistreacha féin ina éadan. Ba é a chuir an dlí Cáin Adamhnáin í riocht, a thug cosaint agus stadús speisialta do mhná, paistí agus an Chléir, chun deimhniu go mbeadh tearmann acu ar fud na h-Eireann, sa dóigh agus nach mbeadh orthu páirt a ghlacadh sa chogadh. Fuair Adamnán bás ar Oiléan Í sa bhlian 704 AD. Tá cuimhne air go háirithe in Éireann agus in Alban. Tugadh a thaisí ó oiléan Í go hÉireann sa bhlian 727 AD, áit a ndearna na Lochlannaígh iad a thruailliú sna blianta 830 agus 1030. Tá lá féile Naomh Adamhnán ar an 23ú lá de Mhí Meán Fómhair. |
 St. Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny |
Adamhnán was born in Donegal in 627AD. He is also known as St.Eunan after whom the Catholic Cathedral in Letterkenny is named. Adamhnán became a monk at Iona under Abbot Seghine whom he succeeded in 679AD. Adamhnán is chiefly remembered for his biography of Saint Colmcille and as a follower of the Roman method of calculating the date of Easter. In 686 he went to Northumbria to persuade his former pupil, King Aldfrith, to release sixty Irish prisoners who had been captured during the reign of King Egfrith (670-685) of Northumbria. In 692 Adamhnán took part in the Irish Synod as the senior Abbot of Iona's monasteries in Ireland. Then, and again in 697, he tried to persuade the Irish monks to adhere to the Roman calender but his own monasteries objected. He was also responsible for the Law of Adamhnán (Cain Adomhnáin) which protected women, boys and clerics by exempting them from partaking in war and insisting that they be given special status thus defining sanctuary all over Ireland. Adamhnán died on Iona in 704AD. He is chiefly remembered in Ireland and Scotland. His relics were brought from Iona to Ireland in 727AD where they were desecrated by Vikings in 830AD and 1030AD. St. Eunan's Feast day is the 23rd of September. © |