Declan (Déclán)

Declan (Déclán) (fl. 5th/early 6th cent.) of Ardmore, saint in the Irish tradition, bishop and patron of the Déisi of East Munster. The martyrologies and genealogies give inconsistent information about him, but according to tradition he was born in Drumroe, near Cappoquin. It is said that he studied in Rome, where the pope consecrated him bishop, and that on his journey home he met St Patrick (qv), who was not yet bishop, on his way to Rome.

Hagiographers number Declan among the pre-Patrician founders of churches along with Ciarán (qv) of Saigir, Ibar (qv) of Begerin Island, and Ailbe (qv) of Emly. As the leader of a group of pre-Patrician saints, he is said to have negotiated an agreement with Patrick concerning precedence and spheres of missionary activity. His Latin Life, which dates to c.1200, contains much legendary and imaginary material, though it may preserve some genuine tradition. It describes him as a contemporary of Patrick, but it also brings him anachronistically into contact with much later personages, such as his supposed disciple Ultán (qv) (d. 655/7) of Ardbraccan, and St David of Wales (c.520–89/601), whom he is said to have visited.

Declan's principal religious foundation was at Ard Mór (Ardmore). He later visited the original homeland of his people the Déisi in Mide (Meath), where he was cordially received by the king of Tara and given land on which to found ‘a monastery of canons’, known as Cill Décláin (Kilegland, Ashbourne, Co. Meath). His cult survived in Waterford till recent times and still survives in many church dedications. He is commemorated in the Irish martyrologies on 24 July. His foundation at Ardmore is still marked by ecclesiastical ruins, including an early stone oratory, a small stone church, and a splendid round tower of later date. The episcopal church and diocese of Ardmore survived till the thirteenth century.