Saint Munnu (2)
I was telling you about Munnu, an old Celtic saint. His baptismal name
was Finten. The Abbot of Iona, Baithéne, refused to take Finten as a
monk. St Columba had said to him that Finten would be an abbot, rather
than a monk.
Finten received a blessing from Baithéne and he sailed to Ireland. That
account came from Vita Columbae. It was written by Adamnan, the ninth
abbot of Iona.
There are accounts of Finten from Ireland. When he was a lad, he was
involved in herding. He was leaving his cattle in the forest while he
was learning at a monastery. But the forest was full of wolves.
His father scolded him. ‘Don’t be upset, father,’ said Finten. ‘If you
permit me to be learning, you will not lose any of your cattle.’ Next
day, his father saw two wolves in the forest. They were looking after
the cattle as if they were two droving dogs.
Finten – or Munnu – is remembered in personal names in Scotland. In
olden times, some people adopted the name Gille Mhunnu to show devotion
to him. Thus, the surname Mac Gille Mhunnu appeared. In Anglicised
form, that appears as Makilmone, Mckilmoun, Makmun, McIlmune, Mackilune
and others.
Today, the surnames MacMunn and Munn are common enough. They came from
Mac Mhunnu. You will recall that Finten – or Fiontan – was the saint’s
baptismal name. Thus, the name Gille Fhiontain appeared. From that came
the surnames we have today – MacClinton and McAlinden. I also imagine
that MacClintock – Mac Gill’ Fhionntaig – marks the very same man.
Perhaps McLentick comes from the same root – and that names of this
type were shortened to Lindsay.
Did you notice something [one thing]? The name MacClinton – and Clinton –
remember Finten. Thus, the name of this Gaelic saint is remembered in the
woman who was struggling four months ago for the leadership of the United
States. Perhaps we should be calling her Hillary Nic Gill’ Fhiontain in
Gaelic!
Naomh Munnu (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Mhunnu, seann naomh Ceilteach. B’ e Finten
ainm-baistidh. Dhiùlt Aba Ì, Baithéne, Finten a ghabhail mar mhanach. Bha
Calum Cille air a ràdh ris gum biodh Finten na aba, seach na mhanach.
Fhuair Finten beannachd bho Bhaithéne agus sheòl e a dh’Èirinn. Thàinig an
cunntas sin à Beatha Chaluim Chille. Chaidh a sgrìobhadh le Eònan,
naoidheamh aba Ì.
Tha cunntasan às Èirinn mu Fhinten. Nuair a bha e na ghille, bha e ri
buachailleachd. Bha e a’ fàgail a chruidh anns a’ choille fhad ʼs a bha e
ag ionnsachadh ann am manachainn. Ach bha a’ choille làn
mhadaidhean-allaidh.
Thug athair trod dha. ‘Na gabhaibh dragh, athair,’ thuirt Finten. ‘Ma
leigeas sibh leam a bhith ag ionnsachadh, cha chaill sibh gin dhen chrodh
agaibh.’ Air an làrna-mhàireach, chunnaic athair dà mhadadh-allaidh anns a’
choille. Bha iad a’ coimhead às dèidh a’ chruidh mar a bhiodh dà chù
dròbhaidh!
Tha Finten – no Munnu – air a chuimhneachadh ann an ainmean pearsanta ann
an Alba. Anns an t-seann aimsir, ghabh feadhainn an t-ainm Gille Mhunnu
orra mar urram dha. Mar sin, nochd an t-ainm-cinnidh Mac Gille Mhunnu. Ann
an dreach na Beurla, tha sin a’ nochdadh mar Makilmone, Mckilmoun, Makmun,
McIlmune, Mackilune agus eile.
Anns an latha an-diugh, tha na h-ainmean-cinnidh MacMunn agus Munn cumanta
gu leòr. ʼS ann à Mac Mhunnu a thàinig iad. Bidh sibh a’ cuimhneachadh gum
b’ e Finten – no Fiontan – ainm-baistidh an naoimh. Mar sin, nochd an
t-ainm Gille Fhiontain Às a sin, thàinig na h-ainmean-cinnidh a th’ againn
an-diugh – MacClinton agus McAlinden. Tha dùil cuideachd gu bheil
MacClintock – Mac Gill’ Fhionntaig – a’ comharrachadh an dearbh dhuine. Ma
dh’fhaodte gu bheil McLentick a’ tighinn bhon aon fhreumh – agus gun deach
ainmean dhen t-seòrsa seo a ghiorrachadh gu Lindsay.
An do mhothaich sibh do dh’aon rud? Tha an t-ainm MacClinton – agus Clinton
– a’ cuimhneachadh Finten. Mar sin, tha ainm an naoimh Ghàidhealaich seo
air a chuimhneachadh anns an tè a bha a’ strì o chionn ceithir mìosan
airson ceannas nan Stàitean Aonaichte. ʼS dòcha gur e Hillary Nic Gill’
Fhiontain a bu chòir dhuinn a bhith a’ gabhail oirre ann an Gàidhlig!
