Modomnoc

Modomnoc's name is likely to have been Dominic{{Cite book|last=Colganum|first=Ioannem|author-link=John Colgan|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jarTiRlbr0IC&pg=PA831|volume=Tomus Primus|title=Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae|chapter=Qui est Chronologicus|date=1645|publisher=Everardum de Witte|page=831|language=la|location=Leuven}} or Donogh, as the words "my", ("mo") "little" and "dear" were added to Irish saint's names; hence Domnóc's name is often rendered mo Domnóc or Modomnóc. He left Ireland to practice priesthood and crossed the sea to Wales to study under St. David at Menevia.[http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Modomnoc.html Haggerty, Bridget, "The Bees Who would not be Left Behind", Irish Culture and Customs]

One of the best known stories regarding Saint Modomnoc concerns his work as a beekeeper. Bees were kept both for their honey and the production of wax. He was never stung. When the time came for him to return to Ireland, three times the bees followed in great swarm and settled on the mast.{{Cite web |url=http://www.balbrigganhistory.net/historicalarticles-saint%20molaga.html |title=Walsh, Jim, "Saint Molaga of Bremore", Balbriggan & District Historical Society |access-date=2013-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716005730/http://www.balbrigganhistory.net/historicalarticles-saint%20molaga.html |archive-date=2012-07-16 |url-status=dead }}

{{cquote|In a little boat, from the east, over the pure-colored sea, my Domnoc brought the gifted race of Ireland's bees. ~ Félire Óengusso{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/martyrologyoeng01stokgoog#page/n118/mode/2up|title=The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee: Félire Óengusso Céli dé| year=1905 |publisher=Harrison and Sons}}}}

Modomnoc's talking to his bees is in keeping with an Irish folklore custom of ‘Telling the Bees’ which ensures that the bees not feel any offence due to exclusion from family affairs and so will remain with the hive. It was believed that if one didn't tell the bees of a wedding, a birth, or a death they would take offence and leave.[http://www.ucd.ie/pages/99/articles/chaomh.pdf Chaomhánach, Eimear, "The Bee, its Keeper and Produce, in Irish and other Folk Traditions", University College Dublin] This same custom forms the basis of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem, "Telling the Bees".[http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/telling-the-bees/ Whittier, John Greenleaf, "Telling the Bees"]

Upon returning home he continued his religious services at Tybroughney. He is said to have been honoured with the episcopal dignity, about the middle of the 6th century.[http://www.southwestcorkbees.com/2012/01/bees-in-medieval-ireland.html "Bees in Medieval Ireland', South West Cork Bee-Keepers' Association][http://www.bartleby.com/210/2/136.html Butler, Alban. "St. Modomnoc, or Dominick, of Ossory, Bishop and Confessor", The Lives of the Saints, Volume II, 1866] {{PD-notice}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/77526.htm HOLY FATHER MODOMNOC OF OSSORY, PATRON SAINT OF BEES Commemorated: February 13/26]
• [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5148 St. Modomnoc - Catholic Online]
• [http://www.ucd.ie/pages/99/articles/chaomh.pdf Chaomhánach, Eimear, "The Bee, its Keeper and Produce, in Irish and other Folk Traditions", University College Dublin]
• [https://www.amazon.com/The-Saint-Bees-Dessi-Jackson/dp/1623954878 "A Saint and His Bees" by Dessi Jackson]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.irishtourist.com/details/timoleague-abbey.shtml |title=Timoleague Abbey |website=www.irishtourist.com |accessdate=20 September 2016}}

{{Pre-Reformation Bishops of Ossory}}

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Category:6th-century Irish Christian clergy

Category:Irish beekeepers

Category:6th-century Christian saints

Category:Medieval Irish saints