September 28 is the feastday of an island hermit saint of the west, Sinach
Mac Dara. Mac Dara is still used today as a Christian name for Irish males
in the Connemara Gaeltacht area. Below is an account of Saint Mac Dara's
life and some interesting folk traditions associated with him, from
O'Hanlon's Lives of the Irish Saints.
ST. SINACH MAC DARA, OF INIS CRUACH MAC DARA, COUNTY OF GALWAY.
OF this holy anchorite little is positively known, and yet his name and
veneration have survived for many ages. He is much venerated by inhabitants
on the western shores of Galway. He must have flourished at a very early
period, however, and most probably at a time, when his remote position
secluded him from cognizance of our ancient chroniclers. Tradition asserts,
that the name of our Saint's father was Dara ; and Sinach, his own peculiar
name, was placed before Mac Dara, that by which he is now popularly known.
However, the St. Mac Dara of the western coasts should be called Sionnach,
which was his real name. At the 28th of September, Marianus O'Gorman sets
down Sinach in his Festilogy. His commentator has a note appended to his
name which states, that he was from Cruach mac Daro. From other Irish
Martyrologies regarding this saint, we can glean no particulars.
On the south-western shore of a peninsula, anciently called Iorrasainteach,
lies a small Island, presenting to the sea on all sides rocks which are high
and precipitous, except towards the eastern part, where boats can safely
touch. The appearance of this Island from a distance, coupled with its
relation to our saint, gave it the name of Cruach Mac Dara, which when
anglicised means, "The Rick of Mac Dara," or ''The Island of Mac Dara." Near
the landing place on this Island, St. Sinach Mac Dara is supposed to have
built a small stone church, the ruins of which yet remain, and are in a good
state of preservation. Besides this ruin, a circular or rather oval
stone-house, twenty-four feet by eighteen, with walls seven feet in
thickness, is yet to be seen, although in a very dilapidated condition. This
was probably our saint's usual habitation, and the church might have been
chiefly in use, as an oratory. At the distance of 300 feet from this church,
and on its northern side, a square altar, surmounted by a cross, and a holy
well near it, are pointed out to strangers. Both are dedicated to St. Mac
Dara. He seems to have led a secluded life on the Island bearing his name,
and one devoted to the practice of most austere religious rules and duties.
According to a custom, usual in our old Irish churches, the wooden statue of
this saint was preserved in his chapel for many centuries subsequent to his
death-this image being commemorative of the founder and patron, whose
intercession was invoked. However, for special weighty reasons, the
Archbishop of Tuam, Malachy Queely, caused its removal during the time of
his incumbency, and had it buried under the ground. Besides the veneration
paid our saint on this Island, the inhabitants of Moyrus Parish, on the
shore of the opposite mainland, point out the ruins of an old parish church,
which is dedicated to him. There, in the time of Roderick O'Flaherty, [i.e.
the 17th century] "his altar stone, by the name of Leac Sinach," was kept as
a venerable relic... Here, the coast inhabitants, who are principally
fishermen, assemble on the 16th of July each year, to celebrate the festival
of their patron of Moyrus parish. At this date, however, we find no mention
of Sinach Mac Dara, in our Martyrologies. The principal festival of our
saint is noted in the Irish Calendar, as occurring on the 28th day of
September. This day may probably be assigned, as that for his departure.
Many miraculous occurrences are recorded, and some superstitious observances
are said to have been practised in connection with this saint's memory by
recurring to local tradition. One of the latter practices was the collection
of Dunleasg or salt sea-leaf, at low water, by women, in order to obtain the
release of some friend in captivity : this reprieve, however, they expected
should be obtained chiefly through the intercession of our saint. This
practice of gathering Dunleasg has been disused for many years past ;
although old people are yet living, who remember its frequent observance.
In the time of Roderick O' Flaherty, it was customary for all boats, passing
between Mason-head and the Island, to lower their sails three times, in
honour of Mac Dara. In the year 1672, a certain captain of Galway garrison,
passing without the usual mark of reverence, experienced such a violent
gale, that he made a vow of never again sailing by without a proper
obeisance; he was shipwrecked shortly afterwards, and never reached his
destination. One Gill, a fisherman of Galway, during the prevalence of fair
weather before and after the occurrence, was struck dead almost
instantaneously, by a stroke from the mast of his own boat, when it fell on
his head. This accident, like the former, was attributed to that contempt
shown towards our saint by a departure from the time-honoured custom. His
altar-stone, called " Leac Shinac," was said to have been preserved to the
middle of the present century ; but its whereabouts is not now known. The
name Mac Dara is a very common prefix to surnames of many Islanders and
borderers, on the Galway coast, and even boats and hookers belonging to its
fishermen are inscribed with the name, in token of veneration for our saint.
http://brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com/2009/09/lesser-known-irish-saints-sinach-mac.html
http://tinyurl.com/3gt8efz