Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rumold
RUMOLD, in Irish Ruthmael (d. 775?), bishop of Mechlin, born in Ireland, was consecrated a bishop, and laboured some time in Ireland early in the eighth century. He has been incorrectly called bishop of Dublin. There were no dioceses in Ireland at that time, but he may have been a bishop in Dublin, that is in one of the monasteries which were in Dublin or its vicinity in that age. For though the Danish city was of later origin, yet Ath Cliath, as it was and still is called by the native Irish, is mentioned in the seventh century by Adamnan and others.
Becoming dissatisfied with the results of his ministry in Ireland, Rumold resolved to go abroad, where his countrymen were then much valued. Crossing over to Britain in a coracle or skin-boat, ‘after the manner of his nation,’ he passed to Gaul, and ‘wherever he went he was always speaking of Jesus, and instructing the people about God and life everlasting.’ Crossing the Alps, he visited Rome, and saw with wonder the city ‘whither all the demons of the world used to congregate.’ Returning through France, he settled at Mechlin, near the Scheldt. The chieftain Ado and his wife, who were then in authority there, were grieved at being childless, and requested his prayers on their behalf. In answer to his prayers a child was born to them, who was named Libertus. The boy some years after, having fallen into the sea and been drowned, is said to have been restored to life by Rumold. Ado offered him a sum of money for this service, but he declined it, and said he would be content with some waste land. This Ado gladly bestowed on him, and here he formed a settlement from which ultimately grew the city of Mechlin. In due time he set about the erection of a church dedicated to St. Stephen the first martyr, but some of his workmen killed him by a blow on the head; his death is said to have taken place on 24 June 775 (Dict. Chr. Biogr.) Rumold's day is given as 1 July in the Martyrology of Donegal and by the Bollandists, although it is 3 July in the Roman Breviary.
[Boll. Act. Sanct. Julii tom. i. pp. 169 seq. containing a life by Theodore Abbot of Trudo (A.D. 1100); Lanigan's Eccl. Hist. iii. 198–200; Breviarium Romanum Dublinii, 1846, Pars Æstiva, Supplementum, pp. ccxx, ccxxi; Sarius' Vit. Sanctorum, iii. 24; Hardy's Descr. Cat. I. i. 256–7, ii. 874, 880; Ware's Irish Bishops, ed. Harris; Dict. Christian Biogr.]