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St Finnian’s History |
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St Luke’s History |
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St Margaret’s History |
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Mystery and legend abound in the story of Finnian but there are some things of which we can be reasonably sure. He was born at the end of the fifth century in Ireland, and died, depending on which source you believe, in 576, 579 or 589. He came from Ulster, and studied under St. Colman of Dromore. The site of this school has been excavated, and the Belfast Museum contains pens, slates and other equipment, tangible remains of Finnian's schooldays. Legend has it that his teacher was restrained by the Holy Spirit from giving the young Finnian the cane; or it might have been a sudden rheumatic attack, caused by the damp of the monastery. T he responsibility of continuing to educate such a boy was too much for Colman, and he sent Finnian to the Magnum Monasterium, The Candida Casa, founded by St. Ninian, at Whithorn. While he was there he received a severe rebuke from his tutor Mugint over a rather unsavoury incident concerning a girl student, Drustic. There are several versions of the story in the old manuscripts, but it would appear that she was much in love with Finnian, and almost blackmailed him into going into her room to sleep with her. He however wasn't interested, and sent a friend instead, but when the girl became pregnant the storm broke, and all in the plot incurred Mugint's wrath. Finnian's scholarship was renowned and it is said he stayed at Candida Casa for twenty years, as a tutor and travelled widely throughout Scotland. A bout 540 he returned to Ireland, and founded his own monastery at Moville. Legend has it that he first went to Rome, returning with a copy of St. Jerome's vulgate. It is said, but contested by some, that here came a young novice from Derry, Columba, to be taught by Finnian, creating a link from Ninian to the founder of Iona. Here, so legend has it, Columba surreptitiously copied some of the Psalter from the prized Jerome vulgate, which sparked a quarrel between the two men. What remains of that copy, in its eleventh century casket is in the National Museum Dublin and used to be carried into battle by the O'Donnells. The many Scottish place names that commemorate Finnian may arise from his travels whilst at Whithorn. 
St Luke’s history to be written 
St Margaret’s history to be written |
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