Madan

Madan is remembered in a chapel at Freswick and perhaps at Bowermadden. He and Colum/Colman were popular in Aberdeenshire.

See Cat p. 35.

Maelrubha (b. 3 Jan 642)

Maelrubha, ( Sagairt Ruadh , the red priest) was born in Derry in 642 and came to Applecross in 671. He was a contemporary of Adamnon. There are many variations on his name, including ones that could be mistaken for Mary, for example Maree. Many dedications exist, including Urquhart, Forres, Fordyce, Keith, Contin, Arisaig, Gairloch, Loch Maree, Portree, Lochcarron, Lairg, Durness, Farr. His main base was in Applecross, where he was the abbot of a monastery for 50 years. There was a legend that he was killed by Vikings in Glen Urquhart. This has been discounted and the current belief is that he was killed by Vikings/Danes at Skail, Farr where he had a cell. (One source gives Bettyhill.)

See Towill p. 148, MacQuarrie p. 160, Cat p. 34, Woodside p. 42.

Note: there is a heritage centre in Applecross (opposite Clachan Church) that has information on the saint. Latest scholarship suggests that he was killed by Danes, probably at Teampull, about nine miles up Strathnaver from Farr, where he had a cell. He was buried near the cell and the place is marked by a standing stone with a rough cross carved on it.

Magnus (d. 1117)

The life of St Magnus is well documented as he was the joint earl of Orkney, murdered by his cousin and commemorated by his nephew, who had the cathedral in Kirkwall built in his memory. His remains, and those of his nephew, are buried in the pillars of the cathedral. He is commemorated at Banniskirk by Watten, Shebster and Spittal. Banniskirk may be a corruption of his name. His fair was formerly held at Watten-Wester in Caithness around the time of his feast on 16th April, known in the Middle Ages as Magnusmas. There is also a link with Dunbeath as records show that there had been plans to create a trading burgh at Inver called Magnusburgh. There are no other known dedications to Magnus in Scotland. There are a few in England, the main one being at Southwark Bridge, London.

The canonisation process for Magnus has been studied in detail. The main point of interest to us is that the record of cures attributed to Magnus include far fewer Orkney and Caithness names than Shetland ones. The Shetland people were sufficiently removed from the centre of power of the Earldom that they did not have to worry about the sensibilities of Earl Paul, whose father had murdered Magnus. So there are many more dedications to Magnus on Shetland than in Caithness. 

See Towill p. 155, Cat p. 37 and 81, Woodside p. 85, Ecc Hist p. 39 and 60, Inv no. 89.

Inventory: chapel and hospital at Spittal some 250 yards NW of the farm of Spittal Mains.

Malie/Mairie (d. 617/618)

Remembered in the church of Kilmalie, formerly the parish church of Golspie and in a well, Tobar Malaig below Melvich, Farr. This is probably Mairie, one of the martyrs of Eigg, for Mairie naturally develops into Malie in accordance with Gaelic euphony.

See Cat p. 33

Notes: but could this actually be Maelrubha, who had links with Farr? On the other hand, Tobar Malaig is very similar to Mallaig, the modern port for ferries going to the island of Eigg.

Martin of Tours

Towill: the name linked with Ninian, 

Martin

Martin of Tours (4th Century) is linked with Ninian, who is said to have had a devotion to the saint. Modern scholars dismiss the theory that Ninian met Martin while travelling to Rome. There may have been another Martin as the sites at Ulbster and Farr both had carved stones but of different styles. A Martin is associated with Donan on Eigg but is not listed as one of the martyrs. The site of St Martin’s chapel in an old graveyard to the S of Mains of Ulbster is occupied by a mausoleum, dated 1700. The site at Farr is Tobar Martain near Grumbeg burial place.

See Cat p. 34, Ecc Hist p. 33 and 60, Inv no. 596.

Mary (1st century)

Dedications to Mary, the mother of Jesus, multiplied after the 12th century, sometimes replacing older ones. Kilmory is common but may sometimes be a corruption of e.g. Maelrubha. Sites include the church and well of Crosskirk, Reay (some sources refer to Lybster, Reay which is not to be confused with the village of Lybster on the East coast but refers to the area just South of Crosskirk Bay); at Marykirk, Duncansbay; a well and burial place at Scouthal, Watten and at Marykirk of Sibster, Wick. The baptismal font from the Sibster chapel is at Stirkoke House. For long after the Reformation, people would visit this chapel on the first Sunday after the new moon. The Marymas Fair, held in Dunnet in August, suggests a dedication to her in the area.

See Towill p. 170, Cat p. 37, Inv no 39, 55, 338 and 594. Ecc Hist p. 39 and 55.

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Inventory: 338 – on the west side of Crosskirk Bay is the ruined chapel of St Mary’s. Is the oldest ecclesiastical structure in Caithness. May date from the 12th century. Some sources say it was dedicated to St Peter. Close by is St Mary’s well. 

St Mary’s chapel ½ mile south of Sibster House on low ground near Wick river. Called Marykirk.

Eccl Hist: St Mary’s is the most interesting ruin in the parish. Others speak of a dedication to Peter. 12th century. St Mary’s well. Door similar in structure to chapels at Weir, Linton in Shapinsay, Uyea in Shetland and some early oratories in Ireland. Doorway may have had animal hide curtain.

To the west of Wick, directly to the south of Sibster and almost opposite where the Burn of Haster joins the Wick River, stood a chapel dedicated to St Mary. 

Modan/Medan (c. 6th century)

There seem to have been two Modans, one associated with Loch Etive, Falkirk and Roseneath and the other being a companion of Drostan in Caithness. At Freswick, stood St Modan’s or Madden’s chapel, not far from chapels dedicated to St Drostan at Ackergill and Brabster. Devotional practices linked to St Modan’s chapel continued into the 19th century. 

Modan was a common family name of the Earls of Caithness in the 11th century.

See Towill p. 155, Cat p. 37 and 81, Woodside p. 33, Ecc Hist p. 49 and 333.

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333 on the north side of the house (Freswick) a burn or brook runs into the sea, over which is a bridge of one arch over against the gate. At the further end whereof is a lately erected chapel with a vault for burying, in the place where a popish chapel stood.

Moluag (d. 592)

Moluag was a contemporary of Columba. He founded a community on Lismore and is credited with founding the community at Rosemarkie.

See Towill p. 187, Woodside p. 31.