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Click on photo to see enlarged view.
Background:
Pictured above is "One of the most precious relics of an Irish martyr, this Rosary in amber and silver which was used by Abbot Gelasius Cullenan, is now enshrined in Mount St. Joseph's Abbey, Roscrea."
An Irish Cistercian Martyr named Glaisne O'Cullenan? Is this possible?
I first read about Glaisne O'Cullenan in Edward MacLysaght's resume of the Cullinan(e)
surname (see surname origins). It stated that this Cistercian
Abbot was martyred. Normally, a genealogist would focus on family history dating back to
the 1800s, and few with success prior to that, but this was one passage I thought would be
worth pursuing.
Much to my surprise, there was already a great deal of research available on the life of Gelasius O'Cullenan. What I found was a very comprehensive study on his life, his faith and his family, and I have included this in the Manuscripts Section of
this website. The manuscript describes his education, his travels, his work and his community. In addition, the manuscript describes his arrest, his torture and the facts surrounding his eventual martyrdom. (See Gelasius
O'Cullenan O.Cist., Martyr--Abbot of Boyle).
Source:
The Irish Family, July 22, 1994, p. 9.
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