Saint Brónach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Majorshrine | Kilbroney (Irish:Cell Brónche) |
| Feast | 2 April |
SaintBrónach (sometimesanglicised toBronagh) was a 6th-century holy woman from Ireland, the reputed founder and patron saint ofCell Brónche ("church of Brónach"), now Kilbroney, inCounty Down,Northern Ireland.[1]
A disciple ofSaint Patrick, she built a refuge for sailors who were shipwrecked in Carlingford Lough. The ringing of Bronach’s bell warned of a rising storm on the dangerous waters of the Lough. About 150 years ago a storm brought down a large old oak tree in the Kilbroney churchyard, and in its branches was found a 10th-century bell. The bell is now in the local church in Rostrevor.[2]
Lying in Glenn Sechis, a mountain valley in County Down (nearRostrevor), Cell Brónche lay at some distance from the major political centres of the region.[1] It may have been anunnery in origin, but later came to serve as a pastoral church manned by nuns as well as one or several priests.[1] It was chosen as the parish church of Glenn Sechis.[1] Ahigh cross which survives among the ruins of Cell Brónche attests to the importance of her church.[1] It is made ofMournegranite and stands over the traditional site of her grave in the old cemetery. It is part of the "Saint Patrick’s Trail".[2] The building suffered damage during the1641 Rebellion, as well as inCromwellian times.
There is a stained glass window depicting Bronach in All Saints Church, Ballymena.[3]
According to the genealogies of the saints, she is the mother of SaintMo Chóe ofNendrum and herself a daughter ofMíliucc maccu Buain.[1]
In the Irish martyrologies (O'Clery,Martyrology of Tallaght, note added toFélire Óengusso), her feast day is 2 April.[1][4]