Samthann's Reply

When I read how Samthann of Clonbroney responded to Maelruan, the up-coming star of Tallaght Monastery,  I had to see the place where she lived.

The story is recorded in the 8th century manuscript, ‘The Monastery of Tallaght’, Maelruan’s base. Here is a transliteration.

There was a monk in Munster in the time of Samthann who carried greetings from her to the ‘Sons of Life’ (Celi De followers) in the country. Once she called him to carry a message and bound him not to change the wording in any way.

‘Say to Maelruan,’ she said, ‘that I have the greatest respect for him among the “clerics of the Desert” (ie in the Desert Fathers and Mothers’ tradition) and ask him whether he accepts women as soul–friends.’

(A soul-friend or anam cara in the Celtic tradition is a religious companion who understands you completely, supports your spiritual growth and accepts you as you are.)

The monk took the message to Maelruan and when he heard Samthann’s high opinion of him he felt honoured. When asked whether he would accept Samthann’s soul-friendship, he replied, ‘Tell her I would seek counsel from her’.   

The messenger told this to Samthann and she said, ‘Indeed, something will come of that youth’. But then she drew her brooch out of her mantle and stuck it into her cheek. No blood came out. Finally a drop of water came out. She put it on her nail and said, ‘As long as there is this much liquid in his body let him bestow no friendship nor confidence upon womankind.’

This reply must have given Maelruan a jolt because the story is recorded in the Book of Tallaght. He went on to become a leader of the Celi De movement keeping the spirit of the Desert Fathers & Mothers alive in Ireland.   

What I found when visiting Clonbroney was disappointing. The community there had existed from St Patrick’s time. According to the 9^th century ‘Tripartite Life’, at Granard St Patrick ‘blessed the veil’ of the two sisters who set up the community at Clonbroney, probably the first for women in Ireland.

Over two centuries later Samthann was a member and so highly regarded that her ‘Life’ was recorded in Latin late in the 8^th century.  

Today there is nothing in Clonbroney to remind us of its founders or Samthann. The only hints of their presence are in a road sign and Samthann’s name on the local national school.

I wonder if the school’s pupils know about Samthann’s message to Maelruan and what they would make of it.

Despite its history and significance this very Irish site is the most neglected I have seen in Ireland.