St Goban

St. Goban, St. Gobban, or St. Gobhan is the name of various Saints of early Christian Ireland. However the ecclesiastic integrity and merit of the Saint(s) is often debased by confusing, composite attempted biographies. However, by applying objectivity (philosophy) to the analysis of references in pertinent hagiography and eminent biographies we can reach a constructive conclusion; that the number of references to a St. Gobban far outweighs those of a St. Goban.[1][2][3] and that the references to St.Gobban link this saint to St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin plus Killamery:Cell Lamraidhe and identify this saint as Gobban Find mac Lugdach [4] alternatively anglicized as St. Gobhan.

The Biographical References

1) "Monasticon Hibernicum Or the Monastical History of Ireland". (John Stevens:1722) cites five references to St.Gobban and 1 reference to St. Goban.

2) "An ecclesiastical history of Ireland". (John Lanigan:1829) cites eight references to St.Gobban and one reference to St.Goban.

3) "Journal of the Royal Antiquaries of Ireland". (1861) cites one reference to St.Gobban and none for a St.Goban.

Analysis of the references overwhelming cite a St. Gobban associated with:

a) Old Leighlin:seanleithglinn County Carlow.

b) Killamery:Cell Lamraidhe County Kilkenny.

c) Seagoe:teg-da-goba'. County Armagh.

The Martyrology of Oengus

"The Martyrology of Oengus" states “of Gobban of Cell Lamraide in Hui Cathrenn in the west of Ossory, a thousand monks it had, as experts say and of them was Gobban." Also from the now lost Annals of Cloneagh-"A.D. 639. St. Gobban, who founded the monastery of Old Leighlin, and afterwards resigned it to St. Laserian, retiring in 632 to Killamery in Ossory,(Kingdom of Ossory) died this year and was interred at Clonenagh. His feast was observed on 6 December. Gobban's feast, a shout of thousands, with a train of great martyrdom, angelic wall, abbot of virginity, lucid descendant of Lane."[5]

Gobanus - Gobban-Goba

The distinguished Irish Church historian John Lanigan states - "Gobanus – Goba of Teg da-goba – Seagoe, on the bank of the Bann in Iveagh of Ulidia (also) St. Gobanus of Killamery, near the mountain called Slievenaman."[6] Lanigan clearly states that he believes the Gobanus(Latin) - St.Gobban of Killamery is the same historical person as St. Gobhan of Seagoe, who is identified as Gobban Find mac Lugdach.

Gobans without attribution

That there existed in the early history of Ireland another St. Goban / Gobban is undeniable. The Kinsale area of County Cork lays claim to a St. Goban / Gobban as does County Antrim; however without proper research and attribution any attempt to properly identify may only add confusion and detract from known facts.

References
  1. John Stevens; Herman Moll (1722). Monasticon Hibernicum. Or, The Monastical History of Ireland: Containing, I. All the Abbeys, Priories, Nunneries, and Other Regular Communities which Were in that Kingdom. II. The Time When, and the Titles Under Which, They Were Founded. III. The Name and Quality of Their Founders. IV. The Provinces, Counties, Cities Or Towns in which They Were Seated. V. The Several Regular Orders to which They Belong'd, and the Most Remarkable Circumstances Relating to Their Foundation and Suppression. VI. Historical and Critical Observations, and Draughts of Their Several Habits, with a Map of Ireland. William Mears at the Lamb without Temple-Bar.
  2. John Lanigan (1829). An ecclesiastical history of Ireland, from the first introduction of Christianity to the beginning of the thirteenth century. Printed for J. Cumming. pp. 94–.
  3. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1861). Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. pp. 360–.
  4. Óengus of Tallaght (1905). Stokes, Whitley (ed.). The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee. Henry Bradshaw Society. 29. London. p. 256.
  5. The Culdee Oengus; Whitley Stokes (January 2010). The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee. General Books LLC. ISBN 978-1-152-40445-8.
  6. Acta Sanctoriam Hiberniae, 750b


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