Banban the Wise

Banban the Wise, Irish saint, fl. c. mid to late 5th century.

Name

Banban's name is rendered differently in a number of sources. The most common include Banbanus, Banbhanus, Mauranum cognomento Barbanum, alias Banbanum, Banuanus Sapiens. Others include Mabran Barbarus, Methbrain, Methbruin, Mauran, Niabrain, Nia Brain, Nie Brain, Niethbrain, Seannan.

Biography

After destroying the idol Crom Cruach in Magh Slécht, Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland, St.Patrick installed Banban as pastor of the Domnach Mór (Big Church) church which he erected there. This is now the site of the Roman Catholic church in Kilnavart townland and is the oldest Christian site in County Cavan.

Sources

The Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii or Tripartite Life of St.Patrick, page 93 states- "Patrick founded a church in that stead, namely, Domnach Maighe Sleacht, and left therein Mabran [whose cognomen is] Barbarus Patricii, a relative of his and a prophet. And there is Patrick's well, wherein he baptized many. Then Patrick went into the province of Connaught by Snam da En over the Shannon."

Tírechán's Collections in the Book of Armagh states- "Patrick, however, sending Methbrain, a foreign kinsman of Patrick's, to Rath Slecht, who told the wonders of the true God. And Patrick came to the channel of the Shannon."

The Annals of the Four Masters state at 448 - "M448.2, 9- His sister's son was Banban, of fame;"

Flann's poem in The Yellow Book of Lecan states- "Seannan was his brother or cousin of fame"

Said by John Colgan to be a son of St.Patrick’s sister, Richella. However "Barbanus" also means 'a paternal uncle'.

Feast day

His feast-day is either 1st or 9 May. It may or may not be a coincidence that the next saint's name listed at 9 May in the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum is St.Bricín of Tomregan which is also in Magh Slécht.

Others of the name

Banban should not be confused with Colman Banban, Bishop of Leighlin & Kildare who died in 720 AD. His feastday is 26 November.

References

External links