Ciarán of Saighir
Encyclopedia
Saint Ciarán mac Luaigne or Ciarán of Saigir (later anglicised to Kieran, Kyaranus in Latin) was an early Irish bishop and patron saint of Ossory
, who was supposed to have flourished in the second half of the 5th century. He is also referred to as Ciarán the Elder (sen) in order to distinguish him from Ciarán of Clonmacnoise
. He has been erroneously identified with the Saint Piran
who is venerated in Cornwall, Wales and Brittany.
Bishop Ciarán of Saigir is often referred to as the "first saint born in Ireland." He was regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
.
The saint is sometimes referred to as one of four bishops to have preceded Saint Patrick
in Ireland. This is unlikely, though he may have been his contemporary. He was the founder of Saigir (Seir-Kieran) in what is now County Offaly
and is the patron of the Diocese of Ossory. His date of death is not certain but is believed to have been in 530 and from natural causes. His feast day
is 5 March.
, while the longer one is found in the Codex Kilkenniensis. The latter was rendered into Irish and a second Irish Life was produced after the Protestant Reformation
. The latter, though the latest of the four, is thought to draw on the oldest traditions when it deals sympathetically with the Osraige.
.
Cape Clear Island south west of County Cork
is regarded as his birthplace and it is said that a church was built by him on the Island.
Ciarán's biography is full of obscurities. It is commonly said, however, that he left Ireland before the arrival of St. Patrick. Already a Christian, and of royal Osraige blood, he had determined to study for the Church; hence, he secured an education at Tours and Rome.
but soon disciples were attracted to him and a large monastery grew up round his cell, which became the chosen burial place for the Kings of Ossory. His mother Liadain is said to have gone to Saigir with a group of women who devoted their lives to the service of God and the members of her son's community.
A tradition shared by all four Lives describes Ciarán as a wild man wearing skins, whose first pupils are animals in the forest.
, Declán of Ardmore
and Abbán
, Ciarán is credited with a pre-Patrician career in Munster, though the Lives hardly refer to these putative contemporaries. He is said to have met Patrick in Italy and made allegiance to him.
When St. Patrick arrived in Ireland, Ciarán gave him his glad assistance. Some writers say that Ciarán was then already a bishop, having been ordained while on the continent. It seems more likely, however, that he was one of the twelve men that Patrick, on his arrival, consecrated as helpers. He became the first bishop of Ossory
.
Ossory
The Irish geographical name Ossory can refer to:* Kingdom of Osraige* Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory* Church of Ireland diocese of the Bishop of Ossory* A prophet of the Omnian religion in Terry Pratchett's Discworld...
, who was supposed to have flourished in the second half of the 5th century. He is also referred to as Ciarán the Elder (sen) in order to distinguish him from Ciarán of Clonmacnoise
Ciarán of Clonmacnoise
Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the early Irish monastic saints and Irish bishop. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Younger to distinguish him from Saint Ciarán of Saighir. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland....
. He has been erroneously identified with the Saint Piran
Saint Piran
Saint Piran or Perran is an early 6th century Cornish abbot and saint, supposedly of Irish origin....
who is venerated in Cornwall, Wales and Brittany.
Bishop Ciarán of Saigir is often referred to as the "first saint born in Ireland." He was regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
Twelve Apostles of Ireland
The Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird , now Clonard in County Meath.-Dá apstol décc na hÉrenn:The twelve saints are grouped together as such in the text Dá...
.
The saint is sometimes referred to as one of four bishops to have preceded Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
in Ireland. This is unlikely, though he may have been his contemporary. He was the founder of Saigir (Seir-Kieran) in what is now County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
and is the patron of the Diocese of Ossory. His date of death is not certain but is believed to have been in 530 and from natural causes. His feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is 5 March.
Sources
Various medieval traditions about the saint are recorded in a number of hagiographic works: two Lives in Latin, both of uncertain date, and two Lives in Irish. The shortest Latin Life is preserved in the Codex SalmanticensisCodex Salmanticensis
The Codex Salmanticensis is a medieval Irish manuscript containing an extensive collection of Irish saints' Lives, now in the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels...
, while the longer one is found in the Codex Kilkenniensis. The latter was rendered into Irish and a second Irish Life was produced after the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. The latter, though the latest of the four, is thought to draw on the oldest traditions when it deals sympathetically with the Osraige.
Family background and early career
The martyrologies, notably the Félire Óengusso, and medieval Irish genealogies identify Ciarán's father as Lugna (also Laighne), a nobleman of the Osraige, and his mother as Liadán, of the Corcu LoígdeCorcu Loígde
The Corcu Loígde , meaning Gens of the Calf Goddess, also called the Síl Lugdach meic Itha, were a kingdom centered in West County Cork who descended from the proto-historical rulers of Munster, the Dáirine, of whom they were the principal royal sept...
.
Cape Clear Island south west of County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
is regarded as his birthplace and it is said that a church was built by him on the Island.
Ciarán's biography is full of obscurities. It is commonly said, however, that he left Ireland before the arrival of St. Patrick. Already a Christian, and of royal Osraige blood, he had determined to study for the Church; hence, he secured an education at Tours and Rome.
Foundation of Saigir
On his return from France, he built himself a little cell in the woods of Upper Ossory. He settled as a hermit at Saigir near to the Slieve Bloom MountainsSlieve Bloom Mountains
Situated close to the geographical centre of Ireland The Slieve Bloom Mountains rise from the central plain of Ireland to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards...
but soon disciples were attracted to him and a large monastery grew up round his cell, which became the chosen burial place for the Kings of Ossory. His mother Liadain is said to have gone to Saigir with a group of women who devoted their lives to the service of God and the members of her son's community.
A tradition shared by all four Lives describes Ciarán as a wild man wearing skins, whose first pupils are animals in the forest.
Pre-Patrician
Like the saints Ailbe of EmlyAilbe of Emly
Saint Ailbe was a sixth-century Irish bishop.He is sometimes claimed as one of the pre-Patrician Saints, with Ciaran, Declan, and Ibar, but the annals note his death in 528 . A tradition held that he went to Rome and was ordained bishop by the Pope...
, Declán of Ardmore
Declán of Ardmore
Declán mac Eircc , Declanus in Latin sources, was an early Irish saint of the Déisi Muman, who was remembered for having converted the Déisi in the late 5th century and for having founded the monastery of Ardmore in what is now Co. Waterford. The principal source for his life and cult is a Latin...
and Abbán
Abbán
Abbán moccu Corbmaic , also Eibbán or Moabba, is a saint in Irish tradition. He was associated, first and foremost, with Mag Arnaide and with Cell Abbáin...
, Ciarán is credited with a pre-Patrician career in Munster, though the Lives hardly refer to these putative contemporaries. He is said to have met Patrick in Italy and made allegiance to him.
When St. Patrick arrived in Ireland, Ciarán gave him his glad assistance. Some writers say that Ciarán was then already a bishop, having been ordained while on the continent. It seems more likely, however, that he was one of the twelve men that Patrick, on his arrival, consecrated as helpers. He became the first bishop of Ossory
Bishopric of Ossory
The Diocese of Ossory is a diocese in Ireland in the Ossory region, established in the year AD 549. Its territory corresponds to the medieval Kingdom of Ossory...
.
Miracles
Legends attribute remarkable miracles to Ciarán. The Justice went to Athlone, with the intention of sending his brothers to Limerick, Waterford, and Wexford, that he himself might reside in Dublin and Athlone (alternately); but it happened, through the miracles of God, St. Peter, and St. Ciarán, that some of the stones of the castle of Athlone fell upon his head, and killed on the spot Richard Tuite, with his priest and some of his people, along with him. As to Cathal Carragh, King of Connaught, he assembled his forces, and marched against this army, and arrived at Guirtin Cuil Luachra, in the vicinity of the monastery. They remained confronting each other for a week, during which daily skirmishes took place between them. At the end of this time Cathal Carragh went forth to view a contest; but a body of his people being violently driven towards him, he became involved in the crowd, and was killed. This happened through the miracles of God and St. Ciarán. It is claimed that he restored to life several of those who had died, and there are charming tales of his relations with the animal kingdom.Primary sources
- Irish Life of Ciarán of Saigir, ed. and tr. Standish Hayes O'Grady, "Life of S. Kieran of Saighir." In Silva Gadelica. 1892. Translation transcribed to html by Mary Jones.
Secondary sources
..- Johnston, Elva. "Munster, saints of (act. c.450–c.700)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, Sept 2004, online edition May 200. Accessed: 14 Dec 2008..