(MA-RUI, MOLROY, ERREW, SUMMARYRUFF, also SAGART-RUADH)
Maelrubha was descended from Niall, King of Ireland, on the side of his father Elganach. Cormac Cas, the eponymous ancestor of Clann Cormaic of Naas and Fermanagh, is assigned two sons, named Elganach and Aed, in the genealogies. The most prominent group among them went under the name of Muinter Pheodachain, a sobriquet which they derived from Peodachan, grandson of Elganach. From Dalcassion Munster, the race of Cas, the sixth in descent from Cormac Cas, is son of Oilioll Olum, King of Munster in the 3rd century. The Sil Chormaic had held the richest land in the River Slaney basin in County Wexford and Kildare up to the 5th century, prior to being usurped by the Mac Murchadha (Mac Murrough) sept by the middle of the 11th century. The area included the MacMurrough royal demesne around Ferns, as well as the barony of Scarawalsh. In early texts there is mention of the four Aradhs, descended from Feartlachtga, son of Feargus.
Maelrubha's rnother, Subtan, was a niece of Saint Comgall of Bangor. Maelrubha, also the Patron Saint of Glenderry was born in the area of Derry and was educated at Bangor. The name ’Bangor’ is derived from the Irish "Beannchar". The Annals of Ulster tell us that the monastery of Bangor among the Copeland Isles was founded by Saint Comgall in approximately 555 and was where the Antiphonarium Benchorense was written. When he was thirty, he sailed from Ireland to Scotland with a group of monks and founded about half-a dozen churches then settled at Abercrossan (Applecross), in the west of Ross. His feast is celebrated on the 21st of April, and due to a typographical error centuries ago, St. Maelrubha's day is also celebrated on August 25. Maol Rubha's name has given rise to numerous corruptions... for example in Keith, he was referred to as "St Rufus", and in other parts of Scotland, his name was variously rendered as "Maree" (as in the Loch), "Summereve" (i.e., St Maol Rubha) etc. St. Maol Ruibhe. The Latin Church was brought to Canterbury by St. Augustine and his forty Benedictine Monks in 597 A.D. In the same yeare Saint Columba, the Celtic Monk, died. Saul, about two miles from Downpatrick, was the site of St. Patrick s first church in Ireland, and it was his place of burial. Bangor Abbey, also in Co. Down.
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| Maelrubha declared the surrounding area a Sanctuary, and even today, Applecross is known as A'Chomraich - the Sanctuary. For fifty nine years, Maelrubha established his monastery and, using Applecross as his base, spread the gospel from Applecross to Lochcarron and into Easter Ross. Unfortunately, nearly every trace of Maelrubha's settlement in Applecross has long disappeared. On the site, now stands Clachan Church. The small cell to the east of the church belongs to the fifteenth century. |  |
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On the island of Maelrubha in Loch Maree, the sacred oak tree of Mhor-Ri was studded with nails to which ribbons were tied. This suggests that the location of the island in the shadow of a sacred hill is indeed important. The direct link between the Great King and a sacred hill is reminiscent of the Irish residence of the “High King” on the sacred hill of Tara, in central Ireland. The sacred nature of the Icelandic Helgafell is apparent: it is a conical hill, and hence linked with the sacred centre. Tradition says that he was in the habit of crossing from Appercrossan to that ancient burying place that is ever since called Ashaig Maol Ruaidha, St. Maree's ferry. The reach of sea before the hamlet, separating Raasay and Rona islands from the mainland, is known as Applecross Sound. One of the reasons why the island, Isle Maree or Eilean Ma’ Ruibhe, might have been deemed sacred is something frequent visitors notice: there are few birds on the isle, even though many live on neighbouring islands. It is forbidden to dig on the island and folklore still says that nothing can be removed from the island, as it will bring bad luck. The idea that nothing is allowed to be taken from the island extends in public consciousness and is observed by the ghillies. When wood is cut, so that trees do not fall inside the circle, the wood is never removed from the island. |
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In the old days a beautiful tree grew near this church-yard. And the story is well known of the bell that was suspended on it by St. Maree. Every Lord's Day it tolled of its own accord the hour of service. It seems that Ashaig at that time was the centre of a large population, which later on somehow dwindled away. And then Cill a Chro became the central meeting place for the Parish. The old Ashaig church was left to fall into ruins. The bell was taken down from the tree by some practical modernist and hung at the new Parish Church. A well dedicated to the saint Tobar Maolruidh is near Alt Ashaig on the shore.
There are churches called Cill ma' Ruibhe (or variations of the name) in Skye (in the Aird of Strath, on Loch Eynort in Minginish, and at Sartle in Trotternish), at Maarung in Harris, and in Arisaig, Muckairn, Craignish, Islay (Cill Mha' Rubha Kilarvow) Kintyre and Amuiree. In the east, the old burial-ground of the MacKenzies of Coul at Strathpeffer is Press Ma'Ruibhe, Maol Rubha's Corpse. Near Paithnick three miles north-east of Keith, Banffshire, was a piece of land called "Sanct Malrubus stryp." Amulree in the Sma'Glen is Ath Maol Ruibhe, Maol Rubha's Ford. And the parish church of Kinnell in Angus was granted an endowment in 1509 in the name of Virgin Mary, Saints Peter and Paul, and St. Mairubius the Confessor. In Berneray, Harris is Aird Ma Ruibhe, Maol Rubha's Headland. Maol Runha's name is still used by many folk in Skye and Harris as a very mild sort of oath. Close to the shore at Breakish in Strath, Skye is Ashig, short for Aiseag Maol Ruibhe: Aiseag Maol Ruibhe, aite iomallach an domhain "Maol Rubha's Ferry, a place on the brink of the world." This is where the saint landed from Applecross. With him he brought a bell which he hung in a tree growing out of the rock face above the gently-flowing Ashig River near Oitir Aisig, Ashig Sandspit. The bell remained there for centuries. It was silent all week until Sunday morning, when it rang as a thomadamh tamh, of its own accord, and continued to mark the hours of service all through the day until sunset.