Ultan of Ardbraccan | |
|---|---|
| Bishop and Abbot of Ardbraccan Venerable | |
| Died | c. 657 |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | 4 September |
| Patronage | children, paediatricians |
Ultan of Ardbraccan (diedc. 657)[1] also known asUltan the Scribe, was an Irish monk and Abbot-Bishop ofArdbraccan during the 7th century. He isvenerated as a saint in theCatholic Church, with hisfeast day being celebrated on 4 September.[2]
Tradition has said he was an uncle ofBrigid of Kildare; however, this is not chronologically possible.[3] He collected a life of her for his pupil, St.Broccán Clóen of Rostuirc, inOssory. TheIrish Annals describe St. Ultan as of theroyal race of O'Connor. Ultan was a disciple and kinsman ofSt. Declan, who made him bishop of Ardbraccan.[4] He succeeded St. Breccan as Abbot-Bishop of Ardbraccan around 570.[5]
Ultan founded a school, educating and feeding its poor students, and was noted for his work in collecting the writings ofSt. Brigid andilluminating them. One of his students wasTírechán. He was also known for his beautiful hymns. His Latin hymn, commencing "Christus in nostra insula", is incorporated in the Solesmes Chant books.[5]
In theFélire Óengusso, he is mentioned as "the great sinless prince in whom the little ones are flourishing: the children play greatly round Ultan of Ardbraccan." The annotation explains that theYellow Plague attacked adults more than children and described the piteous scenes of human suffering witnessed during its continuance. Everywhere through the country numbers of little children, whose mothers and fathers had been carried off, were left helpless and starving. Ultan collected all the orphan babes he could find, and brought them to his monastery. In one of the accounts, we are told that he often had as many as 150.[6] He is said to have invented a method of feeding his young charges by "procuring a number of cows' teats, which he filled with milk".[4]
Having preached theGospel in Ardbraccan, he went to theAran Islands after a short stay inCounty Meath.[7] Ultan died on one of the Aran Islands, where his tomb slab was discovered.[8] He died on 4 September sometime in the650s.[5] TheAnnals of Clonmacnoise placed St. Ultan's death in 653.[7]
He may also have been a bishop of the Desi of Meath.[9] Much mention of him is made in the Martyrology of Aengus. He is also connected withKillanny andLouth, both of which are inCounty Louth.
Ultan's Holy Well was originally within the Celtic Monastery, and later within theAnglo-Norman bishop's grounds.[7]
He is now regarded as the patron saint ofpaediatricians; a well known children's hospital and a special school inNavan being named after him.[8]
The church at UpperKillinkere takes its name from St. Ultan, patron of children, whoseabbey was established atArdbraccan betweenKells andNavan in the 6th century. He is reputed to have travelled to Killinkere and founded the first Christian church in the area.[10]
The establishment ofSaint Ultan's Children's Hospital was the result of the activity of a group of female doctors and activists, includingMadeleine ffrench-Mullen andKathleen Lynn, who were deeply concerned at the high level ofinfant mortality inDublin, and the rise of infantsyphilis in the wake of theFirst World War. The hospital opened at 37 Charlemont Street onAscension Thursday, 29 May 1919. St. Ultan's closed in 1984 and merged with theNational Children's Hospital.[11]