Of the stock of one of the earliest families to arrive with the Norman invasion in the 1170s, Séathrún Céitinn was born c. 1570 in the parish of Tubrid, between Clogheen and Cahir, Co. Tipperary, close to the old Keating patrimony of Shanrahan. Ordained for the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, he obtained a Doctorate of Divinity. He is known to have studied in Bordeaux. Returning to his native diocese he gave a sermon on immorality thereby offending one Elinor Laffan, who, appealing to her friend the Earl of Thomond, caused Céitinn to flee for his life. His time on the run was spent gathering materials for his history of Ireland, Forus Feasa ar Éirinn. Neither this nor his religious works Eochairsciath an Aifrinn and Trí biorghaoithe an bháished during his lifetime, but they achieved immense popularity in the manuscript tradition as did his poetry in which he was also accomplished. He died towards the middle of the seventeenth century. A plaque, dated 1644, in the gable of Tubrid Church asks for prayers for Céitinn and Fr Eugene Duffy (also a poet) who built the church.
