St. Fiacc's
Hall. Chapel Street. Graiguecullen
-
The entrance to the
old St. Fiacc's church from Maryborough Street.
Source: John J Bradley Facebook |
- St. Fiacc's
Hall. Chapel Street. Graiguecullen.
- Image taken by Mr W Muldowney 2006
|
This building was originally the RC Church.
Saint Fiacc was a poet, chief bishop of
Leinster, and founder of two churches. His father, MacDara, was
prince of the Hy-Bairrche in the country around Carlow. His
mother was sister of Dubhtach, the chief bard and brehon of
Erin, the first of Patrick's converts at Tara, and the apostle's
lifelong friend. Fiacc was a pupil to his uncle in the bardic
profession and soon embraced the Faith. Subsequently, when
Patrick came to Leinster, he sojourned at Dubhtach's house in
Hy-Kinsellagh and selected Fiacc, on Dubhtach's recommendation,
to be consecrated bishop for the converts of Leinster. Fiacc was
then a widower; his wife had recently died, leaving him one son
named Fiacre. Patrick gave him an alphabet written with his own
hand, and Fiacc acquired with marvellous rapidity the learning
necessary for the episcopal order.
Patrick consecrated him, and in after
time appointed him chief bishop of the province. Fiacc founded
the church of Domnach-Fiech, east of the Barrow. Dr. Healy
identifies its site at Kylebeg. To this church Patrick presented
sacred vestments, a bell, the Pauline Epistles and pastoral
staff.
After many years of austere life in
this place, Fiacc was led by angelic command to remove to the
west of the Barrow, for there "he would find the place of his
resurrection". The legends state that he was directed to build
his oratory where he should meet a hind, his refectory where he
should find a boar. He consulted Patrick, the latter fixed the
site of his new church at Sletty -"the highland" - a mile and a
half northwest of Carlow. Here while built a large monastery,
which he ruled as abbot while at the same time he governed the
surrounding country as bishop. His annual Lenten retreat to the
cave of Drum-Coblai and the rigours of his Lenten fast, on five
barley loaves mixed with ashes, are mentioned in his life by
Jocelyn of Furness.
He suffered for many years from a
painful disease and Patrick, commiserating his infirmity, sent
him a chariot and a pair of horses to help him in the visitation
of the diocese. He lived to a very old age; sixty of his pious
disciples were gathered to their rest before him. His festival
ha been always observed on the 12th of October. He was buried in
his own church at Sletty, his son Fiacre, whom Patrick had
ordained priest, occupying the same grave. They are mentioned in
several calendars as jointly revered in certain churches.
St. Fiacc is the reputed author of the
metrical life of St. Patrick in Irish, a document of undoubted
antiquity and of prime importance as the earliest biography of
the saint that has come down to us. A hymn on St. Brigid, "Audite
virginis laudes", has been sometimes attributed to him, but on
insufficient grounds.
This article incorporates text from the
public domain
Catholic Encyclopaedia.
