(MA-RUI, MOLROY, ERREW, SUMMARYRUFF, also SAGART-RUADH)
Maelrubha-the Red Cleric, founded Aporcrosan (Armagh) in 672 in what was then Pictish territory, and was the monastery's first abbot, dying on 21 April 722 in his eightieth year. The deaths of several of his successors as abbot are recorded in the Irish Annals into the early ninth century. Craebh Ruad (the Red Branch) was a reference to an area in and around modern county Down. Applecross's name is an anglicisation of the Pictish name Aporcrosan or Apurchrosan; 'confluence of the [river] Crossan'. Historically, the settlement is linked with St. Máelrubai (Old Irish form) or Maelrubha, who came to Britain in 671 from the major Irish monastery of Bangor, County Down, situated on the southern side of Belfast Lough.
Mael Ruiss or Mael Roiss are the same as Mael Rubha, meaning servant or lad of Ruba or Ros, next in importance to Column Cille of the Scottish-Irish Church. Born 640, he became the Abbot of Bangor in Ulster. In 671, he crossed to Alba, founded the monastery of Applecross in 673, and died there in 722 at the age of eighty. Slain by Norsemen at Urquhart, near Conon Bridge. "Ruba" might in fact be a reference to Latin "rubus", meaning 'red'. Mael Rubha is refered to as "the red priest". So his name may reflect his dedication to the people of Ross. It is very possible that Ross Shire is so-named because of the abundance of Old "Red" Sandstone - not because it is a promitory or woodland. St. Maelrubha, drew attention to the subject, and identified the site of this small island.
The early Pictish monastery was located around the site of the later parish church (built 1817). A large, unfinished cross-slab standing in the churchyard and three extremely finely carved fragments of another preserved within the church are evidence of the early monastery. The surrounding district is known as a' Chomraich 'the sanctuary' in Gaelic. Its boundaries were once marked by crosses. There are many churches dedicated to Maelrubha on Skye and throughout northern Scotland, the saint's name sometimes taking distorted forms (eg. 'Rufus' at Keith in Banffshire). Loch Maree and its holy island of Eilean Ma-Ruibhe (site of an early church and holy well) are both named after the saint. The area around Applecross is believed to be one of the earliest settled parts of Scotland. The coastal settlement of Sand, just to the north of Applecross.
Evidence that Maolrubha extended his mission into Trottemish is shown by the presence of his name on the ancient chapel at Sartle. By the shores of Ardmore Bay are the ruins of Trumpan Church, or Kilconan Church as it was once known. Apart from Kilmore and Isle Ornsay Sleat has little in the way of association with the early church. One can only surmise that the advances of the Celtic missionaries were somehow resisted, possibly because of their Pictish associations. Pictish travel established monasteries such as Bangor, Applecross in Rosshire, Loch Maree, Sutherland, Banffshire, Deer in Aberdeenshire.