Sunday 11 May 2014

Saint Laeghair Lobhar, May 11


At May 11 there is a commemoration of one of a number of 'leper' saints commemorated on the Irish calendars. Saint Laeghair or Lughaire is not as well known as Saint Finian Lobhair, who is commemorated on March 16, and all that Canon O'Hanlon can bring us is a summary of the evidence from the calendars:
St. Laeghair Lobhar, or Lughaire, the Leper.
A notice of Laeghair Lobhar is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 11th of May and, immediately preceding it, there is an entry, Luguir, Infirmitas. We cannot doubt, that there has been some error of transcription, or misplacement, here, and not met with in the original document. The Bollandists copy from the Tallagh Martyrology, Lugarius in Fir. et Leogarius Lovar seu leprosus, as if they were distinct persons.  At the 16th of March, when treating about St. Finan the Leper, Colgan indicates, in a note, that Lugarius Lobhar, i.e., leprosus, had a feast, on the 11th of May. We cannot find anything more distinctive regarding him. For this day, a festival in honour  of Lughaire, a Leper, is set down, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal.


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