In the medieval genealogies of Irish saints there is a record of more than a dozen St Ronans. It seems very likely that St. Ronan of Aghalurcher was the son of St. Ninnidh, son of Aodh, who came originally from an area in east Mayo close to Mannin Lodge and was a descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Ronan is portrayed as a royal personage, the father of the celebrated Fermanagh saint named Lasir. His daughters were Fiunche who has been identified as St Fanchea of Rossorry and also St Dympna.

 

Other sources claim that St. Ronan was the son of Aedh Dubh or ‘Hugh the Black’, King of Ergal, the ‘Oirghilla’ (Oriel) of the Four Masters. It is further claimed that Ronan was connected with – or at least a namesake of – the fathers of two of the leading churchmen of his age, Tomian of Armagh and Adamnan, the abbot of Iona. It is claimed that St Ronan of Aghalurcher died before the date 635 and according to tradition was buried in his own church. His feast day is said to be on 23 December but listed in other places as 11 January.

 

The townland of Kilronan lies a short distance to the east of Aghalurcher. There is also a spring well called St. Ronan’s Well, a short distance north-west of the church of Aghalurcher.