The Alumnus of Collumcille (Gilla Collum)
The attached 7th century map illustrates monastic sites of Ireland (marked with red squares), that were part of the alumnus of columcille, whose primary centre of learning was situated at that time in Iona Scotland.
Irish monastics from Derry, Kells, Swords and Durrow once trained in thier ecclesiastic roles, were rotated to Iona, Oban and Dunkeld both for advanced religious instruction and also as monastic caretakers (laity):
In the diverse Irish annals and charter section of the "Book of Kells", we find verification our Irish Mullen & Mc ancestors were in addition to being warrior chieftains of the Luighne and Gaileanga territories (for the full list of transcribed entries, click on the tab Maoláin-Morgallion), also active members of a monastic order referred to as the "Alumnus of Columcille" which in the era of our surname evolution (10th to 12th century), had attained status of "Primacy of the Columban league of churches" , established 9th century in Ceanannus=Kells Brega (modern day barony of Upper Kells Meath), replacing Iona, as the principal centre of learning and leadership.
The decision to transfer the order by the Bishop Cellach (anglicized Kelley/Kellogg) from Iona in Scotland to Ceanannus (Kells) Meath along with the relics of "Columcille", came as a result of constant Viking attacks and their permanent presence in the sacred monastic site of Iona (source U=Annals of Ulster)
U807.4 Building of the new monastery of Colum Cille at Cenannas.
U814.9 Cellach, abbot of Í, when the building of the church of Cenannas was finished, resigned the office of superior, and Diarmait, fosterling of Daigre, was appointed in his place.
Evidence of our surname and that specific family descended from Maolain d.1018 being part of this monastic order is verified in irish annal entries, and also with Lynan Mac Maolain recorded in this famous Book of Kells (UCC CORK EXTRACTS) as laity:
Difficult to read as a result of script style and fading after a thousand years, the original hand written entry location in the book itself, can be found in one very visible word O'Laecaib (translates to Laity in Irish), a reference to the ecclesiastic status of Lynan in the monastic order of Collumcille.
The Gaelic script is also a verification that native Irish using Gaelic versus Latin in their documents pre norman invasion.
Tribal contributions of families of the Gaileanga Mora to service in monastic sites such as Clonmacnoise and the St Ciaran site of Bealach Duin (Keim monastic site Castlekeeran), are found in the irish annals, including specific entries connecting the family Maelan/Mac Maelan to Ceanannus=Kells:
M1030.23 Flann Ua Flainn, lord of Gaileanga, died penitently at Ceanannus.
U1034.9 Maicnia ua hUchtáin, lector of Cenannas, was drowned coming from Scotland, and Colum Cille's fan (cuilebad) and three relics of Patrick and thirty men were lost as well.
U1050.3 Maelán, lector of Cenannas, and the most learned of all the Irish, a distinguished sage, died.
U1051.4 Laidcnén son of Maelán, king of Gailenga, went with his queen, i.e., the daughter of the Got, to Rome on his pilgrimage and died.
U1051.4 Laidhgnen m. Maelain, ri Gaileng, cum sua regina, .i. ingen In Guit, do dul dia ailithri do Roim & a ec.
T1065.5 Leochan son of Mac Maoláin, king of the Gailenga, was slain by Conchobhar Ó Maolseachlainn.
U1076.3 Murchadh son of Flann ua Mael Sechlainn, king of Temair for three nights, was killed in the belltower of Cenannas by the grandson of Maelán, king of Gailenga.
LC1077.2 Mac mic Maoláin .i. rí Gaileng, do marbadh lá Máil Sechlain, lá rí Temrach. U1077.2 the grandson of Maelán, king of Gailenga, was killed by Mael Sechlainn, king of Temair.
Some transcripted analysis appears to suggest Amblaibh Mac Maolain 1076AD was the intruder. Fuller investigation of annal entries referencing the role and intentions of Murchad MaelSeachlain at that time, reveal he was invading a space not tributary to him, part of an attempt by him to claim the titled lordship of Brega (Tara Meath) for himself. Local historians in Kells highlight this reality in the plaque located at the site:
Kells would remain the primacy of the alumnus (the main centre of religious instruction and education) with branch cells located in Swords Meath, Durrow Laois, and Moone=Maen Columcille Kildare. These sites generated students and monastic appointments from the time of Cellach's move in 807, until the 1158 synod of Brí meic Thaidc in Co. Meath (351years later).
That synod established the authority of the abbot of Derry, Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin over the Columban federation. The Columban monastic site of Kells in Leinster was then declared free of taxation and would decline in importance as the primacy moved to Derry. The last recorded Abbot for Ceanannus=Kells, was Conchubar Mac Maolain 1162 AD (source O’Reilly regrant pedigree submission).
Understanding the monastic link of Kells Meath to Scotland (known then as Alba) and Columcille:
While Colum Cille's paternal line was of the northern (Derry) Ui Neil, extracts from the Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee (Celi De) verify both his monastic education and his mother were of Leinster origin:
"Eithne, daughter of Dimma mac Noe, son of Eocaid, son of Cairbre, son of Ailill son of Breccan, son Fiacc, son of Daire Barrach (see Maelan pedigree link Rawlinson B502) son of Celi Di Cathair Mor was Collum Cille' s mother.
Descendant sons of the southern Ui Neill (Conchubar MaelSechlain) were also of his paternal lineage as verified in the book of Kells.
Learned monastics of the Alumnus of Columcille in Meath, were part of a rotational appointments managing eclesiastic sites in Alba (Scotland). Their origins form part of historical research and the evolution of related surnames families there.
Mhaolain Scotland:
Mac Mhaolain (MacMillan) Scotland give as their progenitor, a Ghille Mhaol/Ghillacrist, son of Cormac. This is based on entries found written in the “Book of Deer”, another ancient document moved by Celi Di monastics from Iona to Dunkeld during the same time frame Cellach was relocating the educational primacy of Collumcille to Kells.
Unfortunately, viking raids that had brought Cellach to Kells continued, and his successor. the Kells Abbot Diarmait appears to have made an unsuccessful effort to resurrect the Iona/Alba links:
M816.7 Diarmait, Abbot of Ia Coluim Cille, went to Alba.
U829.3 Diarmait, abbot of Í, went to Scotland with the halidoms of Colum Cille.
U831.1 Diarmait came back to Ireland with the halidoms of Colum Cille.
U849.7 Indrechtach, abbot of Í, came to Ireland with the halidoms of Colum Cille.
M1062 Gillachrist Ua Maeldoraidh, successor of Colum-Cille both in Ireland and Alba died. (Gillachrist grandson of Muldory).
Extract "history of Dunkeld":
Kenneth I of Scotland (Cináed mac Ailpín) (843–58) is reputed to have brought relics of St Columba from Iona in the year 849, in order to preserve them, from Viking raids, building a new church to replace the existing structures, which may have been constructed as a simple group of wattle huts. The relics were divided in Kenneth's time between Dunkeld and the Columban monastery at Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland, to preserve them from Viking raids. The dedication of the later medieval cathedral was to St Columba.
The “Book of Deer” one of the items moved to Dunkeld, contained details of land transfers and gifts to the church recorded for a period spanning over 150 years (1000-1150AD). Two specific entries in Latin, are sited as evidence by the "Clan MacMillan" of their surname origin.
No exact dates are attached to the individuals named, but Scot antiquarians estimate the entries in the book as circa 1131-1132, with the actual events somewhat earlier. The Reverand Somerled McMillan clan historian in his earlier research, identified two individuals as born and educated in Ireland, which based on the time estimate , would=Kells:
1st: Gillachrist son of Cormac, recorded as a witness; and
2nd" Malcoluim"(Malcolm) mac (son of) Molina suggested also to be a son of Cormac (latin text below):
Gartnait mac Cannech & Ete ingen Gille-Míchél do-ratsat Pet Mec-Cobrig ri coscerad eclasi Críst & Petir abstoil, & do Colum Cille & do Drostán, sér ó na h-ulib dolodib, co n-a nascad do Cormac escob Dúni Callenn, in n-ocmad bliadin rígi Dauíd. Testibus istis:—Nectan escob Abberdeon, & Léot ab Brecini, & Mael-Domnig mac Mec-Bead, & Algune mac Arcill, & Ruadrí mormar Marr, & Matadín brithem, & Gille-Críst mac Cormaic, & Mal-Petir mac Domnaill, & Domongart fer léginn Turbruad, & Gille-Colaim mac Muredig, & Dubni mac Mal-Colaim.
Donnchad mac Mec-Bead mec Hidid do-rat Acchad Madchor do Críst acus do Drostán & do Choluim Cille in sore go brád. Mal-Féchín & Comgell & Gille-Críst mac Finguni i nn-a fienasi in testus, & Mal-Coluim mac Molíni. Cormac mac Cennédig do-rat gonige Scáli Merlec. Comgell mac Caennaig, taesec Clande Canan, do-rat do Críst & do Drostán & do Choluim Cille gonige in gorthe mór i gginn in fris is nesu d'Aldín Alenn, ó Dubuci go Lurchari, etar sliab & achad, i ssaeri ó théssach cu bráth; & a bennacht ar cach hén chomallfas ar és cu bráth, & a mallact ar cach én ticfa ris.
An additional migration mentioned in the Reverand Somerled earlier research mentioned a Dubgaill Dall mhic gillacoluim mhic gillacrist…Gillamaol, which translates as:
Dougal blind son of gillacoluim son of gillacrist…tonsured, said in Clan Chattan tradition to also have come from Ireland circa 1215AD, taking possession of lands in Glen Loy and Loch Arkaig.
Dubgaill Dall, is speculated by McMillan antiquarians to have been the grandson of Gillachrist mac Cormac and progenitor of Clan McCallum (son of Coluim). The Irish Annals do record a Gillachrist as head of the alumnus of Columcille (Kells & Dunkeld) late 11th century:
The Clan McCallum itself has this to say about their origins:
The origin of the name MacCallum can be traced all the way back to the arrival in Scotland of St Columba from Ireland. Columba was a pupil at a monastic school at Conard Abbey, which is found in modern County Meath. Twelve students who studied there became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Columba was one of these. The Gaelic versions of MacCallum are Mac Chalimus or Maol Chalium. They are translated as devotee or son of Columba. There is no evidence to suggest a blood relationship, so it is generally accepted that the original MacCallum was a close follower of St Columba. Nearly 900 years after the time of St Columba would pass before an official record of the MacCallum’s would exist (=1463AD).
From an Irish perspective, the McCallum version seems more revealing in the sense of identifying a factual origin locale and the diversity of those with a variant of the surname.
MacMillan in their updated origin history, make no mention of Meath, Kells, Morgallion and the annals verified Irish Mac Maolain? They do list a basic forename pedigree for their Mhaolain: GIllachrist, Malcolm, Dugald, unknown, Cainn, MaelMuire etc. Only the Dugald has an arrival date.
Genetics:
If we make the collated assumption Dugald was the son of Gillachrist, who was the son of Cormac, we could speculate a birth estimate as circa 1185 plus/minus. Genetic testing identifies a branching point (last shared SNP) these two Scot Clan families and the Irish families of Kells/ Morgallion (McMullen) in a range of 95% confidence, shared a man born between 893-1243AD, with the most likely distance (mean=average), of circa 1083, This would make the scot clan oral origin estimates very possible, considering an experienced monastic promoted to a higher ecclesiastical position was likely in his late 30's or 40's when the book of deer entry was made (circa 1113-23 the Gillachrist) who sired the later Mac Mhaolain, while his suggested downstream cousin arrived two generations later (the McCollum).
Related families extant in Kells Columcille Meath were employed in various ecclesiastical pursuits up to the time of the Norman invasion, with dispossessed survivors of Clan Mac Maolain relocated to the Brega area of Duleek just north of Dublin One piece of evidence verifying the surname, is specifically identified in the "Breifny Antiquarian Society research records", of the O'Reilly pedigree presented during surrender and regrant submissions of the 16th century. O’Reilly were the conquering lords of Machaire Gailenga=Morgallion, the former territory of Mac Maolain, tributary to O'Connor Connacht Conchubar Mac Maolain Abbot of Kells 1162AD.
Driven out by invading Normans under De Lacy, who first demolished, then rebuilt Ceannanus, Mac Maolain ecclesiastical families still active in Ceanannus aligned with the O'Reilly overlords, migrated to an area under control of the Ui Diarmada (Loch Ce). Two of Conchubar Mac Maolain grandsons, Clarus and Johannes became Archdeacons of Elphin Roscommon, later returning with a group of monastics to an area in Loch Oughter Co Cavan. There they occupied an island townland named Trinity, given to them by the O’Reilly chieftain of east Briefne. In succsesive generations they surface in Cavan and Monaghan eclesiatic documentation. Cavan and Monaghan were part of Connacht until the 1584, when they were transfered by the English to Ulster province. (RC Archdeacon: formerly a senior official who assisted the bishop in non-spiritual matters (like an Executive Assistant. Responsibilities included building and maintenance etc.)
Survivors of Mac Maolain Duleek families extant in what would become the PALE, subsequently aligned with the conquering Norman families Fleming, Cruise, Plunkett and Preston (Viscount Gormanston). In addition to documented eclesiastic roles in churchlands there, some relocated to Lower Kells and Nobber as erenagh families up to the uprising of 1641, which caused confiscations and subsequent relocations.
Detailed information of the Cavan and Kells/Morgallion and Duleek families is reviewed in the section Maolain-Morgallion