Damhnade
# Damhnade

Saint Damhnade was an Irish virgin who was known for working miracles. She is sometimes confused with Saint Dymphna. Her feast day is 13 June. Very little else is known of her.

## Monks of Ramsgate's account

The monks of St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate wrote in their Book of Saints (1921),

   DAMHNADE (St.) V. (June 13)
   (Date uncertain) An Irish Virgin famed for miracles and greatly venerated in Cavan, Fermanagh, etc. Colgan identifies her with Saint Dympna, the Martyr of Gael in Belgium, but he can scarcely be right, as neither can be Ængus, who makes her out to have been sister to Saint Fursey. Nothing is really known of her life or date.

## Butler's account

The hagiographer Alban Butler wrote in his Lives of the Irish Saints (1823),

   JUNE 13
   Damhnade, V.
   The eminent spirit of sanctity which the glorious Saint Patrick bequeathed as it were to a great number of heroic imitators of his virtue, was most conspicuous in the wonderful life of this holy virgin, famed in Ireland for an extraordinary gift of miracles. She is honoured with singular devotion as titular saint of the counties of Fermanagh, Cavan, and others.

## O'Hanlon's research

John O'Hanlon (1821–1905) in his Lives of the Irish Saints (1875) discusses Saint Damnat or Damhnat, Virgin, of Sliabh Betha (fifth or sixth century). He notes that the Irish Calendar of the Irish Ordnance Survey says St. Damhnat's festival is on the 13th of June, the Martyrology of Donegal has Damhnat, virgin of Sliabh Betha celebrated on 13 June, and Alban Butler has St. Damhnade on the same date.

