Bees have been around for a very long time. Millions of years in fact and are referenced in some of the worlds most ancient texts. Is it really any wonder then that there is so much mythology surrounding bees or, given their sweet golden produce, is it any wonder that they have been worshipped throughout time immemorial? We will be looking at some of the ancient history of these beautiful creatures in future posts but today we will be finding out about the patron saint of bees. There are a few patron saints of beekeepers, we'll look at these in another post but the patron saint of bees (and beekeepers) is a little known saint who hails from Ireland.
St Gobnait was born in county Clare around the 5th / 6th Century. Fleeing from a feud she escaped to Innis Oirr (Aran Isles). Then in visitation from an angel she was told that this was not to be her home and instead she should seek the place of her resurrection which she would know by the sign of nine grazing white deer. She found the nine deer grazing by the river Sullane in Baile Bhúirne (Ballyvourney), County Cork and it is here that she founded her convent with the help of St Abban. She became the Abbess and her primary work was tending the sick and beekeeping. She is said to have developed a deep affinity with bees and is thought to have used the medicinal properties of honey in her healing work.
There are many legends of how she would use bees to swarm and attack local invaders who were attempting to steal the cattle. One particular report states how she used the bees to attack English soldiers who were planning to carry off the livestock. Under Gobnaits instruction to the bees;
'...they started to sting the soldiers until they were left without an eye or a nose and they were forced to leave the stuff behind them'.
Chaomhánach, E. ”The Bee, its Keeper and Produce, in Irish and other Folk Traditions’
To this day pilgrims still journey to St Gobnait's shrine in Ballyvourney. Her feast day is celebrated on 11th February.
By Jayne Webb
Comments