Saints

Nessán of Mungret, saint in the Irish tradition, appears in sources as living at the time of St Patrick (qv), but no dates can be assigned to his life. The New Testament meaning of deacon – the title usually assigned…

Palladius (d. p. 432), sent by Pope Celestine to the Irish as their first bishop, remains an elusive figure. He is first attested in the authoritative ‘Chronicon’ (contemporary from 434 to 455) of Prosper of Aquitaine, a pious layman closely involved with the theological…

Patrick ( Patricius, Pátraic, Pádraig) (c. 420–490?), patron saint of Ireland, was born into a Christian family of fifth-century Roman Britain, son of Calpornius, decurio and deacon, and grandson of Potitus, a priest. Nothing is known of his mother. Chronology and…

Ruadán (d. 584), abbot of Lorrha and saint in the Irish tradition, was son of Fergus Bern, son of Dera Dub of the Uí Duach in Osraige, and a descendant of the kings of Munster. Many aspects of the traditions relating to him are quite unhistorical. His Latin and Irish Lives make him…

Rumold (Rombaud) (d. 775?), saint and missionary, was (according to tradition) born in Ireland, son of a king of Leinster called David. His mother's name is given as Caecilia, daughter of the king of Sicily. Having spent some years under the tutelage of one Gualafer, archbishop of…

Samthann (d. 739), saint and abbess of Cluain Brónaig (Clonbroney, Co. Longford), was the daughter of Diamrán of the Ulster Dál Fiatach and of his wife Columba, who is not otherwise known. Unlike many other Irish saints, a historical person can be discerned under the layered…

Sanctán (6th cent.), bishop, church founder, and saint in the Irish tradition, had (according to the hagiographers) British origins. His father is given as Samuel Cennísel, his personal name appearing suitably British. His mother, on the other hand, is named as Deichter daughter of…

Secundinus (Sechnall) (d. c.447), missionary bishop in Ireland, was sent, according to some annalistic sources (AI; AU), with Auxilius (qv) and Iserninus (qv), in…

Ségéne (fl. 623–52), 5th abbot of Iona, was son of Fiachna and nephew of Laisrén, 3rd abbot, and successor in the abbacy to Fergno Brit (qv). He was a kinsman of Colum…

Senán (fl. 6th/7th cent.), abbot of Inis Cathaig (Scattery Island, near Kilrush, Co. Clare), and saint in the Irish tradition, was (according to the genealogies) son of Gerrcenn, son of Dubthach of the Corco Baiscinn, who inhabited an area north of the Shannon estuary. His…

Sinchell (d. 549), founder and first abbot of Cell Achaid (Killeigh, Co. Offaly) and saint in the Irish tradition, is traced to the Uí Labrada lineage of the early Leinster dynasty of Dál Chormaic. His father was perhaps Cenfhinnán grandson of Cruach, eighth in descent from the…

Suairlech ind Eidnén (d. 870), bishop and abbot of Clonard, was accepted by later hagiographers as a saint in the Irish tradition. He first came to prominence in 851, when he attended the rígdál (royal meeting) at Armagh, convened by the Clann Cholmáin king of Tara,…

Suibne (d. 657) of the moccu Urthri was 6th abbot of Iona in succession to Ségéne (qv). Although his tribal affiliation is indicated by his family name, nothing is otherwise known of his genealogy, and he was apparently the first abbot of Iona…

Tigernach (d. c.549), abbot and bishop of Cluain Auiss (Clones, Co. Monaghan), was (according to an imperfect copy of his Life in the ‘Codex Salmanticensis’) son of Cairbre, a Leinsterman, and Darfraích, daughter of Eochaid, king of Airgialla, with whom he was reared. It…

Tólae (d. 738), bishop of Clonard and a saint in the Irish tradition, is traced by an annotator of the Martyrology of Óengus (qv) (fl. c.830) to Dál Fiatach, although later sources are unanimous in assigning him to the…

Trea (6th cent.?), foundress and first abbess of Ard Trea and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the Uí Meic Caírthinn dynasty of Airgialla. Hagiographical sources name her father as the son of Caírthenn, a descendant of Colla Uais (Colla…

Ua Tuathail, Lorcán (O'Toole, Laurence) (c.1128–1180), archbishop of Dublin and saint, belonged to the north Leinster dynasty of Uí Muiredaig, and was son of Muirchertach Ua Tuathail (qv), king of northern Leinster,…