Saint Lappan of County Carlow
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Saint Lappan or possibly Saint Lappan of Clúain-Aithgin,[1]Aithghein[2] is an early Irish saint primarily associated with the former medieval church of Kilmolappoge[3][4][5] (Irish: Cill Molapóg[3]) that was established in the 8th c.[6] in the townland, Donore, nearby present day Bagenalstown, County Carlow, Ireland. His feast day is November 3.[1][2][4][7]
Kilmolappoge church within the Annals of the Four Masters
Little is known of Saint Lappan's life as most information relating to him exists only within martyrologies, the mild documentation of the Kilmolappoge church site he likely founded featured within the Annals of the Four Masters as hi Cill Molappoc, in 1401,[3][8] and later known documentation of what remains of the medieval church and a former holy well south of the church site known as Tobar-Molappog (Saint Lappan’s holy well).[4][5][7][9][10] According to parish history, is it believed that Kilmolappoge operated from the 8 - 12 c.[6]
The site of Kilmolappoge Church, although largely devoid of standing archaeological features following a test excavation in May 2000, is preserved in local memory through its designation as the "church meadow" with nothing known about the church from locals.[9]
Although there is documentation of Saint Lappan in martyrologies with a feast day of November 3 known to the area of Donore as evidenced by the former church and holy well,[4][7] he is listed in both the Martyrology of Donegal and Gorman as Saint Lappan of Clúain-Aithgin or Aithghain. [1][2]
In the Annals of the Four Masters, an entry exists under the date 1041 recounting a military engagement at Cill-Molappoc (Kilmolappoge) It details a "preying excursion" by the Uí Ceinnsealaigh into Uí Bairrche. The incursion was met by Murchadh, son of Dunlaing, who pursued and defeated the Uí Ceinnsealaigh forces at Cill-Molappoc, resulting in a "great slaughter" that included Domhnall Reamhar, the heir to the lordship of Uí Ceinnsialaigh.[8]
