Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Colman of Cloyne
COLMAN of Cloyne, Saint (522–600), was the son of Lenin, who, according to his pedigree in the 'Book of Leinster,' was ninth in descent from Mogh Nuadat, king of Munster, A.D. 166. His birthday is stated in the 'Martyrology of Tamlacht' to have been 15 Oct., and the year, which is not exactly ascertained, is believed to have been 522 (Lanigan). He was brought up in heathenism and adopted the profession of bard, which required a special education. There were several degrees of rank in it, and to reach the highest twelve years of study were necessary. On completing his education he was attached to the court of the king of Cashel, and his duties there may be inferred from the following ancient description of the order generally: 'They were historians as well as poets; it was their duty to record the deeds of the kings, chieftains, and heroes; to describe their battles and victories; to register the genealogies and privileges of noble families, together with the bounds and limits of their lands and territories.' He was engaged in these important duties until somewhere about the forty-eighth year of his age. In 570 a dispute as to the succession to the throne of Cashel (or Munster) took place between two relatives, Aodh-dubh and Aodh-caomh (Hugh the dark and Hugh the handsome). To prevent the usual recourse to war, a meeting was arranged between the rival candidates, at which St. Brendan of Clonfert [q. v.] was present with the son of Lenin, and by their influence a compromise was effected, by which Aedh-caomh was acknowledged as king, and in due course was inaugurated with much ceremony. He was the first Christian king of Cashel, and though the son of Lenin was the official bard the chief place in the proceedings was taken by St. Brendan, apparently because it was appropriate that a Christian ecclesiastic should instal a Christian king. During the proceedings circumstances led to the discovery of the shrine of Ailbhe of Emly, which had been stolen, but had fallen into a lake, the thieves having been drowned, probably when crossing it. The son of Lenin was one of those who found it, and then Brendan said it was not right that the hands which had held this sacred relic should be defiled henceforth (i.e. by heathen observances); hence it was that the son of Lenin offered himself to God and Brendan, and Brendan blessed him and changed his name.'
The adoption of Christianity, however, made it necessary for him to resign his office, and as this implied the loss of his livelihood he acquainted the king with his difficulties, who granted him in perpetuity a remission of the tribute or rent which was due from his lands to the kings of Cashel, conferring the same favour on St. Brendan also. The name given to him by St. Brendan on his reception into the Christian church was Colman, which is the diminutive of Colum, the equivalent of the Latin columbus, a dove. No less than two hundred and nine saints named Colman are enumerated in the 'Book of Leinster,' to the immense perplexity of the student of history. On becoming a Christian Colman went to the school of St. Jarlath of Tuam to acquaint himself more fully with Christian doctrine; after this the next notice we meet with of him is as engaged in preaching to the heathen population in the east of the county of Cork. He is described as then a 'religious and holy presbyter, who afterwards became a famous bishop.' Here a family connected with the reigning prince of the Deise, in the present county of Waterford, came under his influence, and becoming Christians presented their child for baptism. Colman baptised him and named him Declan, ordering at the same time that 'he should be carefully reared, and when he reached his seventh year given in charge to a Christian teacher if one could be found.' This was the well-known St. Declan [q. v.]
Colman is stated by Dr. O'Donovan to have been present at the great assembly of Drumceat, which took place in 590; but the passage to which he refers from a poem of Colman quoted in the account of the assembly does not assert that he was present. Of the further incidents which occurred between this period and his death, which took place on 24 Nov. 600, ten years after, we have no documentary evidence; but the connection of many places in the counties of Cork and Limerick with his name at this day proves the reality of his labours. His earliest settlement appears to have been at Cloyne, cluain uamba, the lawn of the cave. The cathedral and round tower are situated on a small limestone eminence in the midst of the valley, surrounded by rich meadows. In the rock is the cave extending in various branches underground to a great distance, from which the town derives its name. Here it is supposed Colman took up his abode as a place of security, and the ruins of his primitive oratory, known as Colman's Chapel, were still to be seen in 1813. In the north of the county is the small parish of Kilmaclenine (cill-mac-Lenin), the church of the son of Lenin, which was the property of the see of Cloyne down to the sixteenth century. Here about 1228 a colony of English settlers was introduced by the bishop of Cloyne, but the village was eventually destroyed and the inhabitants driven away by the natives. Colman belonged to the second order of Irish saints, who observed Easter according to the Irish usage, had the Irish tonsure, but used various masses or liturgies, some of which were derived from the British church. Five of Colman's sisters formed a small community in accordance with the practice of the old Irish church; this was known as 'the daughters of Lenin,' and their church, cill-inghen Lenin, has given its name to the well-known Killiney Hill, near Kingstown, where its ruins may still be seen. His day is 24 Nov., at which the 'Calendar of Oengus' describes him as 'Mac Lenini the Vehement,' and St. Brendan in a poem quoted in the 'Book of Munster' refers to him as follows:—
Colman of Cluain uamha
A height golden excellent prosperous:
Sun-bright is our pleasant poet
Pleasant royal pure.
[Book of Munster in MS. 23 E. 26, pp. 36, 37, Royal Irish Academy; Lanigan's Eccles. Hist. ii. 213; Todd's St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, p. 136; Martyrology of Donegal, p. 69; Book of Leinster, facsimile, pp. 366, 637; Vita S. Declani, cap. i. Acta Sanct. Boll. tom. v. Julii,p. 594; Cormac's Glossary, ed. Whitley Stokes, p. 11; Brady's Clerical and Parochial Records of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, ii. 165; Annals of the Four Masters, i. 340.]