Saint Kieran, Seir Kieran Church, Bell Hill
Saint Kieran
Évêque d'Ossory (✝ v. 530)
ou Ciaran.
Sacré évêque d'Ossory, il fut le fondateur du monastère de Saighar en Irlande, ce qui nous empêche de le confondre avec le saint Kieran de Cornouailles.
À Saighir dans la région d'Ossory
en Irlande, vers l'an 530, saint Kieran, évêque et abbé.
Martyrologe romain
Saint Kieran
Also
known as
- Kieran
of Saighir
- Kieran
of Seirkeiran
- Kieran
the Elder
- Kieran
Saighir
- Kieran
mac Luaigne
- Ceran….
- Chierano….
- Ciarán….
- Ciarano….
- Ciaranus….
- Kenerin….
- Kerrier….
- Kevin….
- Kieren….
- Kiernan….
- Kieron….
- Kyran….
- Queran….
- Queranus….
- First-born of the Saints of Ireland
- 5 March
- 6 January as one of the Twelve Apostles
of Ireland
Profile
Convert to Christianity. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy. Ordained by Saint Patrick. First Bishop of Ossory, Ireland. Founder of
Saighir monastery. Sometimes confused
with Saint Piran of Cornwall. Several healing wells
were named for Kieran.
Born
- Corca-Laighde (modern
Cape Clear), Ireland
- c.530 of natural causes
Name Means
- Little
Dark One
- Dark
Prince
- Dark
Haired One
St. Kieran Patron Saint of Ossory
According to the lives of
the Irish Saints, St. Kieran was the first Bishop and founder of the Diocese of
Ossory.
No one can claim with
certainty the year of his birth, but in all probability, it was close to the
end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th century.
What is known with
certainty is that the saint was born in Cape Clear, Ireland in South west Cork,
known then as Corca-Laighde, marked with the remains of the ruins of an ancient
church and graveyard of Kill-Kiaran, close to the shore now known as
Tra-Chiaráin, St. Kieran's Strand.
After receiving the
faith, either from missionaries or from the neighbours who traded extensively
with the French, St. Kieran left his native home at the age of thirty and set
out for Rome.
He is said to have remained
in Rome for twenty years and was apparently ordained a Bishop. On his homeward
journey, he met St. Patrick who instructed Kieran to travel until he came to a
well where he should found a monastery. Patrick gave him a bell, which was not
to ring until such a time as Kieran reached the correct well.
Having travelled long
journeys, he at last reached a well called Uaran, where he built his monastery
known as Saighir-Kiaran, which is in Co. Ofally.
From there he moved to
Fertagh, near Johnstown.here was another well and one day he sent his
housekeeper to bring home spring water.When she did not return he searched
everwhere for her.He found her bones near the well. When he arranged the bones
in order she came to life again!!This same story is recalled in reference to
the Church in Templeorum!
He had many
adventures,meeting all sorts of characters who stole what he had.He is said to
have prophetised that certain places would never again be without rouges and
liars till the end of time.
With so many disagreeable
people, he continued until he reached once more Seir-Kieran where he found
peace and solitude. His monastery flourished and he ordained many holy men to
the priesthood. He was not content to preach to the native Irish but also spent
time in Cornwall, Brittany, Wales and Scotland. The name St. Kieran is still
remembered in many of these places.
Wells, rocks, churches,
monasteries, have all been called after him. St. Patrick and St. Kieran met
many times. In particular, they met at the Rock of Cashel when Patrick started
his mission in Munster.
St. Kieran of Saighir was born in Ireland, possibly on Cape Clear
Island. Historians disagree on his date of birth, although most sources place
him in the fifth or sixth century. His father’s name was Laighne, and his
mother was Liadain. At that time, the Irish were non-Christians. Many legends
exist concerning the events of Kieran’s life. One says that when his mother was
pregnant with Kieran, she had a dream that a star fell from heaven and came to
rest on her. People said this meant the baby she carried would have a special
purpose.
When Kieran was a child, he was kind and gentle. He loved animals, and
they trusted him. Several of the stories about St. Kieran tell of his ability
to tame wild animals, and he is often shown with a badger, a doe, and a fox.
Kieran wanted to learn more about God, so when he was thirty years old
he went to Rome, the center of Christianity. He spent several years there,
studying. Kieran was baptized a Christian and later ordained a priest. Legends
disagree about whether Kieran was ordained a bishop in Rome or later in
Ireland. Many stories say that St. Patrick met with Kieran in Rome and
commissioned him to return to Ireland and build a monastery. He is known as one
of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. One legend tells of St. Patrick giving
Kieran a bell that rang for the first time when he reached the sight of a holy
well in Saighir, and there he built his church. This became renowned as a
sacred place, and many of the ancient Kings of Ossory were buried there.
Legend tells that Kieran had hoped to live a life of solitude, and upon
his return to Ossary he dwelt in a cave where he spent much of his time in
prayer. As the story goes, he befriended the animals who come to him when they
were sick or hurt. People began to hear of his powers of healing. He ministered
to the people and soon had a following. Kieran built a monastery in Ossary, and
the town of Saighir grew up around it. Kieran served the people as Bishop of
Ossory until his death. Kieran is the first person born in Ireland to be
canonized a saint.
The ruins of the original church, the well round the fountain, and other
holy sites related to St. Kieran can be seen today in Saighir, Ossory, Ireland.
In Ireland, his name is spelled Ciaran, pronounced “Kigh-ran” of “Sigh-gear.”
He is also called St. Kieran the Elder, to distinguish from Saint Kieran of
Clonmacnoise.
The Feast of St. Kieran is celebrated on March 5.
Life of S. Kieran of
Saighir.
Beatissimus episcopus Ciaranus sanctorum
Hibernia primogenitus i.e. bishop Kieran of
Saighir was the first saint born in Ireland; and was of Leinster’s eastern
portion, which is called Ossory. In that time the Irish all were non-christians
and gentiles. Laighne was his father’s name and he was of the nobles of Ossory;
his mother’s name was Liadain, and she was of the southern part of Munster,
being indeed [to be more precise] of the Corca-laighde by race.
Before she conceived Kieran in her womb his mother had a dream: as it were a
star that fell into her mouth; which dream she related to the magicians and to
the knowledgeable ones of the time, and they said to her: “thou wilt bear a son
whose fame and whose virtues shall to the world’s latter end be great [i.e.
notorious].” Afterwards that holy son Kieran was born; and where he was
[actually] brought forth and nursed was in Corca-laighde, on the island which
is called Cléire. Verily God chose him in his mother’s womb.
When Ireland then had [first and vaguely] heard Christ’s name the disposition
of Christian devotion had its first origin in Kieran; his parents and every
other one marvelling at the extent to which all his deeds were virtuous. He was
mild in his nature, and of converse sweet; his qualities were attended with
prosperity, his counsel was instruction, and so with all else that appertained
to a saintly man.
One day that he was in Cléire there it was that, he being at the time
but a young child, he made a beginning of his miracles; for in the air right
over him a kite came soaring and, swooping down before his face, lifted a
little bird that sat upon her nest. Compassion for the little bird took Kieran,
and he deemed it an ill thing to see it in such plight; thereupon the kite
turned back and in front of Kieran deposited the bird half dead, sore hurt; but
Kieran bade it rise and be whole. The bird arose, and by God’s favour went
whole upon its nest again.
A score and ten years now before ever he was baptised Kieran spent in Ireland
in sanctity and in perfection both of body and of soul, the Irish being as we
have said gentiles. But the Holy Spirit being come to dwell in His servant, in
Kieran, he for that length [of time] lived in devotion and in perfect ways;
then he heard a report that the Christian piety was in Rome and, leaving
Ireland, went thither, where he was instructed in the Catholic faith. For
twenty years he was there: reading the Holy Scripture, collecting his books and
learning the rule of the Church; so that when the Roman people saw our Kieran’s
wisdom and cunning, his devotion and his faith, he was ordained into the
Church. Afterwards he reached Ireland again; but upon the way from Italy
Patrick (primate of Ireland) had met him, and when they (God’s people) saw each
other they made much rejoicing and had great gladness. Now at that time Patrick
was not a bishop, but was made one later on.
Celestinus it was that made a bishop of him and then sent him to preach to the
Irish; for albeit before Patrick there were saints in Ireland, yet for him God
reserved her magistracy and primacy until he came; nor till his advent did
their kings or their lords believe by any other’s means.
Said Patrick to Kieran: “precede me into Ireland; and in the marching of her
northern with her southern part, in her central point, thou shalt find a well.
At such well (the name of which is uardn) build thou a monastery; there shall
thine honour abide for ever and thy resurrection be.” Kieran answered and
said: “impart to me the spot where the well is.” Patrick said to him:
“the Lord will be with thee : go thou but straight before thee take to thee
[first] my little bell, which until thou reach the well that we have mentioned
shall be speechless; but when thou attainest to it the little bell will with a
clear melodious voice speak out: so shalt thou know the well, and at the end of
nine years and a score I will follow thee to that place.”
They blessed and kissed each other, and Kieran went his way to Ireland; but
Patrick tarried in Italy. Kieran’s bell was without uttering until he came to
the place where was the well of which Patrick spoke: Uarán namely; for when
Kieran was come - into Ireland God guided him to that well, which when he had
reached, straightway the little bell spoke with a bright clear voice: barcán
Ciaráin ‘tis called, and for a token is now in Kieran’s parish and in
his see; throughout the territories round about ‘tis carried to be sworn upon
[in covenants] between kings, for a sanction that they shall keep their troth.
Moreover it is borne about to all peoples in general to procure for the
successors to - Kieran’s monastery all that of which they may stand in need.
Where it was made was with Germanus the bishop, Patrick’s master, who also gave
it to Patrick.
Touching that well of which we have spoken: the very spot in which it is is in
the mearing betwixt two parts of Ireland, Mun ster being the southernmost part
and..., the northern; howbeit in Munster actually the country is which men call
Ely. In that place Kieran began to dwell as a hermit (for at that time it was
all encircled with vast woods) and for a commencement went - about to build a
little cell of flimsy workmanship (there it was that [later] he founded a
monastery and metropolis which all in general now call Saighir Chiaráin). When
first Kieran came hither he sat him down under a tree’s shade; but from the
other side of the trunk rose a wild boar of great fury which, when he saw
Kieran, fled and then turned again as a tame servitor to him, - he being by God
rendered gentle. Which boar was the first disciple and the first monk that
Kieran had there; and moreover went to the wood to pull wattles and thatch with
his teeth by way of helping on the cell (human being there was none at that
time with Kieran, for it was alone and away from his disciples - that he came
on that eremiteship). And out of every airt in which they were of the
wilderness irrational animals came to Kieran: a fox namely, a brock, a wolf,
and a doe; which were tame to him, and as monks humbled themselves to his
teaching and did all that he enjoined them.
But of a day that the fox (which was gross of appetite, crafty, and full of
malice) came to Kieran’s brogues he e’en stole them and, shunning the
community, made for his own cave of old and there lusted to have devoured the
brogues. Which thing being shewn to Kieran he sent another monk of the monks of
his familia (the brock to wit) to fetch the fox and to bring him to the same
spot [where all were]. To the fox’s earth the brock went accordingly, and
caught him in very act to eat the brogues themselves (their lugs and thongs he
had consumed already). The brock was instant on him that he should come with
him to the monastery; at eventide they reached Kieran, and the brogues with
them. Kieran said to the fox: “brother, wherefore hast thou done this thievery
which was not becoming for a monk to perpetrate? seeing thou neededst not to
have committed any such; for we have in common water that is void of all
offence, meat too we have [of the same]. But and if thy nature constrained thee
to deem it for thy benefit that thou shouldst eat flesh, out of the very bark
that is on these trees round about thee God would have made such for thee.” Of
Kieran then the fox besought remission of his sins and that he would lay on him
a penance; so it was done, nor till he had leave of Kieran did the fox eat
meat; and from that time forth he was righteous as were all the rest.
Afterwards his own disciples came to Kieran, with many more; - then he began to
build a stately monastery, and henceforth those animals in their own condition
abode still with Kieran, for they diverted him. Now grew the Christian faith in
Ireland [insomuch that] before Patrick’s advent thither there were three - most
saintly bishops: as Ailbe of Imlech iubhair, bishop Braus, with Declan in his
land and country, in the Decies of Munster; while of his own country too, of
Ossory, Kieran the holy turned - many men to the Catholic faith.
It was after this that from Pope Celestinus the glorious Arch bishop Patrick
came into Ireland; from whom all that land was filled with the Christian faith
and baptism.
To Kieran came once a young woman: he made of her a Christian and a veritable
servant to God, and near to the monastery built for her a small but honourable
cell; about her he assembled other saintly maidens, and of these was the most
exquisite virgin whose name was Bruinneck: daughter of a noble lord of Munster.
By Kieran’s mother she was beloved dearly and zealously; she was under
Liadain’s special care, and profitable in all her ways. But when the chief of
Hy-Fiachrach heard the fame of this girl’s beauty that we have mentioned, with
great bands of kerne he came and carried her away forcibly; his name was Díma,
and with him in his castle she was for a long time; indeed she slept by him,
and he held her dear exceedingly. Kieran came to Díma to require the girl of
him, but DIma consented not to dismiss her; he said further that by no means
would he suffer her to depart from him unless that a stork’s voice it were that
on the morrow woke him (it was time of winter then and great snow was fallen;
but on the spot where Kieran was with his disciples fell no whit of the same).
On the morrow’s morn then (although the thing were against nature) on every
housetop that was in the precinct a stork uttered; which when Díma heard,
speedily he sought Kieran, on his knees he fell before him, and let the young
woman go. She was pregnant then, which was not good in Kieran’s sight;
therefore upon her body he signed the Holy Cross, and her burden vanished quite
away; then he led her to her own cell which [now] is called Cill Liadain.
In love for the woman Díma was entangled hugely however, and repented him that
he had dismissed her. He returned to carry her away again, but God wrought
conformably to the will of three: of Kieran, of his mother, and of the woman’s
self; so that when he came to the town Bruinnech died. Díma took it ill, and
said to Kieran: “wherefore hast thou slain my wedded wife that before me never
knew a man, for as a lawful spouse I bound her to me? thy habitation therefore
shall not be in this place, but I will expel thee out of it.” Kieran answered:
“not of thyself are the powers by which thou mightest do that or any other
thing; but God it is that hath given thee faculty, as it were an earthly
shadow, for so long as it may please Him. Therefore my place I will not leave
for thee but, whether it like thee or like thee not, will still be in it.” Dima
when he heard it departed with great anger, and against Kieran uttered threats;
but in revenge of his injustice distress of God fell on him, insomuch that when
he came to his castle he found it and all as many buildings as surrounded it on
fire. Now a favourite [little] son that he had was forgotten in the house and
he asleep in Díma’s bed; but his nurse, when she perceived that for man it was
not possible to rescue him from the flames, cried with a loud voice: “beloved
babe, I make thee over to Kieran of Saighir, and to his safeguard do consign
thee!" whereat the flames being fallen and the prernises cooled down, the
child was found whole as though but asleep. When Díma saw it he came where
Kieran was (and the bishop called Aedh with him); from Kieran he accepted a
sore penance and dedicated to him his two Sons: Donough (the son that the Saint
had himself saved from the fire) and another one, with their seed and posterity
after them, [with] both monastery and revenue, and with burial place. Then to
his own place Díma returned again, with joy and with Kieran’s benediction. As
for this latter it grieved him that his charge was so quickly gone from the
world, and he knew that thenceforth Díma would no more do him violence; where
the young woman’s body was thither he went therefore, atld in her behalf made
prayers to God so that she rose From death and for a long time after that lived
on.
Of another day the steward that Kieran had in order to the monastery’s work [of
construction] came to him saying: “we lack swine.” Kieran made answer: “even as
God giveth us every Dther thing so too will He furnish swine.” Sure enough on
the morrow there came to the workmen an exceeding great sow and along with her
of little pigs a dozen, from which in the sequel proceeded many porkers.
Of Kieran upon yet another day the self-same man sought sheep. Kieran said:
“the One that gave us swine will give us sheep;" and the steward being
gone out saw on the green a score and eight white sheep that ate grass. Then he
took them away, and of them came many sheep.
A certain man of power that was in that country :-and to Kieran he brought his
dead son to be made alive again (Laeghaire was the boy’s name). Kieran having
prayed to his Lord, the lad - rose up from death and lived long after; in
gratitude for which that man bestowed on Kieran and on his representative for
ever the land that is called Ráth-feráin.
It was after this that Patrick the Preacher came into Ireland, and to the king
of Munster: to Angus son of Nadfraech, who believed in God and in Patrick; and
Patrick baptised him. In that time came one of the seed of Duach, of the
country of Ossory, and of set purpose killed Patrick’s horse; by the king’s
people he was seized and without delay set in fetters, that he might be put to
death. Howbeit in his behalf his friends besought Kieran, who came to the king
and in lieu of the other gave him wealth of gold and of silver, so procuring
[the prisonerl to be enlarged free to his own country. But Kieran being gone
the - treasure went to nothing, whereby anger took the king and he summoned
Kieran. He enquired of him why for the culprit that he held he had given him
empty riches (mock substance that is to say); Kieran answered and said: “all
riches whatsoever, ‘tis but of nought they come and into nought must go.” Again
anger took the king, and he threatened Kieran; but from God vengeance came on
the king, for on the instant his sight was taken from him and in the presence
of all that were present he fell to the earth. Then came Carthach (that was
pupil to Kieran and related to the king) and besought Kieran for him; [in the
end] by prayer of Carthach and of many more it came to pass that for the king
Kieran relighted his eyes and he rose up whole (now to many it had seemed as
though the king were dead, and it were his resurrection that Kieran had
effected thus), and being risen conferred many alms on Kieran, and to God gave
thanks.
Some good harpers that Angus the king had at that time--they were melodious as
they sang poems and played their harps. Of a day that they walked through
Muskerry in the province of Munster, there they were slain by some that were
enemies to them; their bodies were hidden in a loch adjoining to the open
ground in which they were killed, and their harps were slung in a tree on the
loch’s shore. Now this [i.e. the harpers’ absence] misliked Angus, and he took
it ill that he knew not what was befallen them; but he was aware that Kieran
was full of the Holy Spirit’s virtue, and he came to him in order to learn that
which had happened to the harpers: for (seeing that he had embraced the faith
of Christ) he would not seek it of his magician. What Kieran said to him was:
“thine harpers are slain privily, and their bodies hidden in a loch hard by the
spot where they were killed; their harps moreover hang in a tree on the loch’s
shore.” The king besought Kieran that he would go with him to the loch in order
that he might find the bodies to have them raised; to the loch they went, and
for three days Kieran fasted in order that it should be possible to raise the
bodies: which three days’ fast being accomplished the loch’s water ebbed
to an extent such that they were no longer hidden at all. They were lifted and
brought into the presence of Kieran, who made prayer to God so that before all
men the dead rose as though they had but slept: their number was eight, and the
length of time that they had been in the loch an entire month. Out of the tree
they (as Kieran instructed them) took to them their harps, and in presence of
the king, of Kieran, and of all the rest in general, played delicious melody:
in which music was delightfulness such that great number of the multitude fell
asleep to it; and glory was given to God and to Kieran (as for the loch in
which they had been drowned, from that time forth water gathers not there; only
that for a commemoration of that miracle it still is called loch na
gcruitiredh, i.e. ‘Loch of the Harpers’). Then Kieran, after the king’s and the
harpers’ benediction had, returned - to his own metropolis.
On yet another day as the king’s (Angus’s) steward walked through the land that
is called Múscraighe tíre there came in his way a herd of swine, and he bade
his people kill a hog of them; they killed and took it into the nearest wood to
eat it. [Which while they did] certain that were their enemies happening on
them slew the steward and a score of his people on the bank of the river that
is called Brosnach. When Kieran was certified of this, by his pupil Carthach
(that was brother to Angus the king, or it may be his grandson) and by others
he was entreated that they might go fetch the bodies of that company, so that
wild beasts should not devour them. They having reached the bodies then, Kieran
saw that such number as he had with him sufficed not to carry them to the
church; with a loud voice therefore he said: “in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ rise wretched people! come with me!" they rose straightway (the hog
also with them), and a certain holy man that had Eochaid to his name, and was
of that same country, returned to his house; but they that were raised up [and
had not previously been holy men] were from that time pious monks with Kieran.
Yet another day Kieran walked, and in his way there was by chance a brake on
which was great abundance of blackberries; and from his seer’s quality he
comprehended that [for some purpose] these would be needed yet He provided them
with a covering therefore, that the winter’s cold should not touch them; and it
was his intent that, though to a year’s end they were there, they should be
none the worse, if not indeed all the better. It was after this that by a certain
chief of his people (Concraidh king of Ossory: he was the chief in question) a
feast was prepared for the king, for Angus; to consume which feast the king
came, and his queen, and with them a great multitude, the season being then
just after Easter. At this banquet the queen fell in love with Concraidh and
(for he was comely of form exceedingly) besought him to respond to her; but
Concraidh refused this thing. In order that after the king she might remain
with Concraidh in the town the queen resorted now to a feigned sickness, and
said that if she might have blackberries to eat she would be whole (for she
never thought that at that season it were feasible to get blackberries). On
account of the king, Concraidh for his part feared to have her in the town; he
went therefore to where his own peculiar patron Kieran was, to whom he shewed
each particular that we have mentioned (now every spot in Ossory belongs to
Kieran’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction). Kieran when he had heard the matter said
“blackberries she shall have,” and so went to the brake upon which in the
foregoing autumn he had left blackberries under cover; of which he brought back
a vessel full and by Concraidk sent them to the queen. She ate them and was
whole, for on the spot she cared no whit more for him; it was the taste of
honey moreover that the queen and every one that ate them found in those
blackberries. She perceived then that it was a miracle had been performed on
her by Kieran, wherefore she came and humbled herself to him and craved forgiveness;
Kieran gave her remission and his blessing too, but said: “from the death that
is pronounced for thee I may not save thee: for in the one day thyself and
Angus must find death in battle; but God will have mercy on you” (this was
Eithne Uathack daughter of Enna Cinnselach’s son Crimthann; Patrick foretold so
much for them, and Kieran too on this occasion, and it was true: for by
Muirchertach mac Erca and Illann son of Dúnlang king of Leinster, and by Conn’s
Half, Angus and that queen fell in the battle of Cill-osnad on Moy-Fea of
Offaley (sic); the day on which that battle was delivered being the eighth of
the Ides of October, when the Lord’s Age was thirteen years and fourscore and
four hundred years. Patrick’s demise in the same year).
Yet another day Patrick and Angus son of Nadfraech with a great multitude came
to Saighir (where Kieran was), and eight oxen were slaughtered for them besides
other meat [provided]. Said some one or other to Kieran: “for yon so great
multitude of people where is the profit in what meat is here?" Kieran
answered: “He that in the wilderness did with a little bread and fish satisfy
many thousands may well effect that to yonder numbers this small portion of
meat shall be satiety.” He blessed his own well, and turned it to wine; and of
God’s grace and Kieran’s it came that, so long as ever all such throngs as were
present there desired it, they had their sufficiency of meat and of wine.
Yet another time came the king of Tara with a strong force to take the men of
Munster’s pledges. Olioll king of Cashel would not submit to him, but made a
great gathering to oppose him; and close to Kieran’s metropolis they met Kieran
would fain have made peace between them; they would not have it [i.e. his
mediation] of him, and from God he procured that which of proud human folk he
had not gained: for in the face of Munster as they marched to the battle a
mighty wood sprang up, while to bar Conn’s Half the Brosnach’s stream swelled
over her banks so that not one dared take it. When they saw that miracle fear
seized them: the king, seeing the current which formerly was passable for his
hosts rise against them now, turned away from that stream and departed to his
own country; and that night Munster lay in the vicinity of Kieran’s metropolis.
He sent to the king a beef and a pig ready cooked; with which meat the whole
army was replete, and they left fragments. By these various miracles God’s name
and Kieran’s were magnified.
Of another time great bands of marauders came out of other countries into
the marches of Munster, to do pillage and to kill people; but a good man of
Munster whose name was Lonan overtook them, and the outlaws turned to flight.
When they saw that they might not by any means escape, they prayed Kieran to
save them out of that extremity; and when Lonan and his people would have taken
and killed them, a thunderbolt fell betwixt them and the robbers. Great fear
took Lonan and his men, so that beyond that point they followed them not, but
reverted to their own dwelling-place; and the bandits recognised that they were
Kieran’s miracles which had succoured them. They repaired to him therefore and
told him their story; and the course on which they resolved was to don
religious habits, and thenceforth to serve God and Kieran; this was performed
by them, and until they died they continued under Kieran’s hand in good works
and in piety.
Yet another day came a thief (whose name was Cairbre) of Leinster’s province,
and stole an extraordinary good cow that Kieran’s monks had; but as he made for
Slievebloom a mist and a darkness came down upon him so that the way was no
longer patent to him, and he falling into a river was drowned. The cow turned
and to Kieran and to the monks came back again.
Yet another day Kieran sent to his nurse, to Cuinche, a team of oxen (they
having no man with them) to plough for her. Whenever the oxen were come to her
she knew that it was Kieran had sent them to her to plough: now it was a long
way between Kieran and Cuinche’s monastery i.e. Ros-bennachoir, for this is in
the sea’s neighbourhood, in the eastern part of Ireland. Those oxen ploughed of
themselves and (the time of ploughing ended) returned to Kieran, there being no
one with them. It was Kieran’s use upon every Christmas eve (after from his own
hand administering communion to his familia in Saigizir) to resort to his
nurse’s monastery, to Ros-bennachoir and from his own hand again to give her
too the communion of Christ’s Body; on which same night then he would return to
his own convent. And the manner after which we understand that it was God that
did this is [by considering] how he wrought with Abacus in bringing him from
India (his own country) to Chaldæa and back to India again in but a brief space
of the day. S. Cuinche’s great stone (on which she practised to pray to and to
supplicate her Lord) stood on the sea’s shore a space from the monastery: its
name is Carraig Chuinche now, round about which the sears waves would
oftentimes come up. Kieran one day mounted upon this: stone and it floated on
the sea; then, when Kieran so willed it, came back to its place. Nor was this
wonderful, for it is written: mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis (Ps. cxxxv.) i.e.
“God is marvellous in his saints.”
The pupil whom we have said that Kieran had, Carthach namely: he and a virgin
of Liadain’s familia fell immoderately in love with each other and conceived a
contaminated intention of sinning; they appointed a place of meeting where they
should be at their ease to court, and attended the same; but when they would
have embraced, a thunderbolt fell between them so that - hardly they escaped
unconsumed. Great fear took them, and for the magnitude of their terror they
uttered not a single word; they returned back [from their assignation] but the
virgin was stricken blind, and till the time of her death was so: nor was it an
inequitable judgment that the woman who had blinded her mind even to [the pitch
of committing] sin should have her eyes blinded of corporal [i.e. physical]
light. Carthach for his part submitted to the penance imposed on him, and went
on a pilgrimage. Whence also Kieran’s sanctity is manifest; for God would not
that those two virgins should sin that were in the saint’s keeping, seeing that
in safeguarding of his flock he was a most zealous pastor.
To Kieran came two that were brethren to each other (Odhran and Medhran their
names were, of Múscraighe-thíre and of the town called Letrach): and when these
reached Saighir the one man (it was Zk[ea!hran) longed to abide with Kieran;
but Odhran said: “not thus thou promisedst, my brother,” and told Kieran not to
keep back his brother from him. Kieran answered: “God shall judge betwixt us
whose he shall be: in his hand let him take this taper, let him blow on it with
his breath, and if the taper kindle let him remain with me; if it light not,
let him go with thee.” The taper was given him in his hand, he blew on it with
his breath, and straightway it lighted; therefore in great sanctity and in good
works Medhran till his death’s day abode with Kieran. To Odhran Kieran said: “I
tell thee, Odhran, that though thou range the whole world, yet ‘tis in thine
own town, in Letrach, thou shalt die; return therefore and in that same pass
thy time, for ‘tis from thee that it shall have its name for ever.” Through
Kieran’s words Odhran returned to his own town, where he made an honourable
monastery; his virtues and his sanctity were great, and after performance of
miracles in number (as is read in his own life) he went to Heaven. Thus then
Kieran’s words were verified, for Letrach Odhrain it is which serves that place
for a name.
Awoman called Etill walked one day and chanced to be thrown down, so that her
bones were broken and she died; at three days’ end Kieran brought her to life
again and she conceded to him the land on which she had the fall: léirn Etille
[i.e. ‘Etill’s Leap’] is its name. Moreover she gave thanks to God and to Kieran.
Aretainer of the king’s people, Cennfaela by name: he slew Cronan that
was a friend to Kieran; the saint revived him (and at the seventh day’s end it
was he did it) in the name of Christ He then [Cronan] being in the presence of
all the rest whole again, Kieran said: “he that killed thee (Cennfaela namely)
shall be slain, and in the castle which is called Rath... of Ely (?) his body
shall be burned.”
Yet another day the king of Munster (Olioll) addressed Kieran with surly words,
and departed from him in great wrath; but it was no long time before the king
was stricken dumb, so that for eight days he was speechless. He came to Kieran
and prostrated himself before him; he accused himself of his unlawful deeds
[which he had committed] and craved forgiveness; and Kieran, when he perceived
that the king felt true penitence, blessed his tongue so that at once and with
plain clear utterance he spoke, then, after Kieran’s blessing received, went
away whole to his house and magnified God’s name and the saint’s.
One night Kieran and a pilgrim named Germanus that was with him entered into a
stream of cold water, in which when they had now been for a long time Germanus
said: “Kieran, I may no longer hold out in the water.” Kieran made the sign of
the Holy Cross upon the water, whereby he turned it to be ternperate and of
bathing heat; and there they were praising God.
Kieran said: “to-morrow, Germanus, a beloved guest will come to us: Carthach
namely, the king of Munster’s son and mine own pupil, whom for a sin that he
lusted to commit [and] had not God and I hindered him [would have committed] I
sent on a pilgrimage: [I hindered him I say] for I would not that he should
have ruined [or ‘thrown away’] all his hitherto devotion and his labour. He
having obtained remission of his sins, and being cleansed of his fault, returns
even now; thou therefore take of this fish that surrounds thee, so that it
shall be ready against my beloved son.” As Kieran had bidden him, so Germanus
caught a great fish; and on the morrow (as also Kieran had said) Carthach came.
Yet another time by a certain king named Furbaidhe Kieran of Clonmacnoise was
taken and set in bonds: the cause being that of the king’s treasure, which was
in Kieran’s custody, the saint (for he was full of pity) bestowed great portion
on the poor of God. Where Kieran was [in prison] thither the king came one day,
and through jocoseness said: “if I got four bald cows, red-bodied, with white
heads on them, I would enlarge thee.” He answered: “God is able for that same;
but let me out to seek them, and if I find them not I will myself return again
to be at thy disposal.” His bonds were loosened then and he came to Saighir,
where the other Kieran was, to whom he told this matter; at which time both the
Brendans were with Kieran, and to them all it was a gladdening that Kieran of
Cluain was come. Said the other Kieran to his man of trust: “what shall these
saints have to eat to-night?" the man of trust rejoined that, saving flesh
alone, he had no meat Kieran said: “with speed make ready that thou hast” The
flesh then being boiled, Kieran blessed it and in the others’ presence changed
it at his discretion to oil, to fish, to pottage, and to various meats; while
by God’s grace it came to pass that for the meal of those saints whom we have
mentioned all the vessels of the house were filled up with fine wine. There was
within there a monk (mac Congair he was) to whom it was distasteful to eat meat
with the saints, and he said that he would not use the meats that were made out
of the flesh. Kieran pronounced: “thou shalt e’en eat flesh in Lent, and on the
day in which thou shalt eat it thine enemies shall slay thee; thy head also shall
be taken from thee, and thou shalt not possess the kingdom of God; and thy life
thou shalt spend disastrously, for thy monk’s habit thou shalt lay aside.” Now
Kieran’s words came true, for close to Saighir of Kieran he was killed.
Then those four saints (two Kierans and two Brendans) made an alliance between
themselves and between their successors after them. Kieran of Cluain, after
leave taken of those other saints and their blessings had, turned to go his
way, lacking all knowledge where were the kine which the king demanded of him.
Kieran of Saighir came a piece of the way with him to convey him, and either
gave the other farewell benediction. Said Kieran of Cluaitt: “by my blessing’s
efficacity be there for ever in thy town riches, and much treasure, and
cattle;" Kieran of Saighir said: “by virtue of my blessing be there in thy
place for ever wealth both of wisdom and of piety.” When then they were come to
the ford that is called Ath-salach, upon the river’s bank they got four bald
and white-headed cows. Kieran of Cluain said: “seest thou how God hath given us
the cows which the king required of us?” They parted from each other then,
having first rendered thanks and praise to God, and having in token of peace
and of grace given and received blessing and osculations; Kieran the elder
returned back to Saighir and the other Kieran went to Cluain. He sent the kine
to the king, who marvelled how it could be that cows such as they had been
found; but Kieran being now discharged of his promise they vanished away to
nothing, so that from that time to this no account whatsoever of them has been
had. Whereupon the king was aware that that which he had done to Kieran was
unrighteous.
In the monastery of Clonmacnoise was a child whose name was Crithid: that in
good works was no more than a fool; but in bad works of maliciousness, right
noxious. He came to Saighir and for a while was there with Kieran the elder,
who had enjoined that till a year’s end a certain holy fire which at the
previous Eastertide he had consecrated must not be quenched within the
monastery, but be nourished and safeguarded there; yet at the Devil’s
instigation the child of whom we spoke came, and of set purpose quenched the
fire. Kieran said: “know ye that the accursed child whom men call Grithid of
Cluain hath quenched the sacred fire that we had? vengeance shall come on him
for this, and he will die to-morrow.” Which also was verified for on the morrow
the wolves killed him on the lands abroad, and there he was left [uneaten].
Kieran said “up to Easter shall be no fire in the church unless God put it
there.” But Kieran of Cluain heard that the child was perished so, and speedily
he came to Saighir where he was received with much honour. The monastery wanted
all fire however; for it was from the aforesaid holy flame that every night
they kindled others there, and Kieran had pronounced that (unless God sent such
from Heaven) there should not until Eastertime be fire in it. But to the town
on that day came [as we have said] guests Kieran of Cluain and his company, who
were much oppressed with cold, for it was snowy weather then. Kieran the elder
went out and with vehement prayer stretched forth his hand to God; into his
breast fell then a fiery mass, round about which he wrapped his mantle’s skirt and
took it into the house where the guests were. Who being now warmed, supper was
made ready for them; but when they were set to eat it Kieran of Cluain declared
that till he should have restitution of the child he would not eat meat Kieran
the elder said: “we know that such is thy journey’s purpose, and God will grant
us that he come back alive to us; eat thy meat then, for that child is on his
way to us.” Even as Kieran said the word the child came, whom when they saw
they rendered thanks to God and to his sanctity. They ate their meal; and
Kieran of Cluain, having received Kieran the elder’s blessing, departed taking
his child with him.
Yet another day: one of Kieran’s own brethren came and unguardedly, not of
purpose, quenched the fire again; he did penance and had absolution. That same
day Ruadhan of Lothra came to the town on a visit to Kieran, and in the
monastery was no fire for the period of the guests’ stay. Kieran went therefore
to a great stone that was near him and blessed it; forthwith the stone took
fire, and in that condition he carried it to the house in which the guests
were. Which when Ruadhan with his disciples saw, to God and to Kieran they gave
glory and laudation.
The brother whom we mentioned, Báithin: he spilt a vessel of milk that he had
carrying it; but Kieran made the sign of the cross on the utensil and it was
full again. Fear before their master, before Kieran, fell on the brother that
had spilt the milk and on some others of the brethren; after which many were
confirmed in the faith and in good works.
Kieran prayed to his Lord one day: an angel came and shewed him that the season
of his death was [comprised] within but a short space. In the angel’s presence
he craved of God petitions three, and these he had of the angel even as he
desired them, for they had been promised to him by God: the first petition of
them was that, whosoever should be buried in his metropolis, in his
burial-ground, the gates of Hell should not be shut on him after the
Judgment-day; the second petition was that, whosoever should shew honour to his
day, lack of the world’s wealth should not afflict him, and that on the
yonderside he should have Heaven; the third petition was that the tribe of
which he was and to which he was patron, they of Ossory namely, never should by
any extern tribe such as might come unlawfully to take their country be worsted
in battle, neither themselves go to make unjust conquest in any other land.
This holy one of whom we have spoken, Kieran of Saighir: in every place he was
full of humility, and to his death’s date loved to hear, to read, and to learn
[i.e. study] the Scripture. It is related too that he (with the saints of
Ireland his contemporaries) was with Finnian of Clonirard, and entered that
school at an advanced age, where he attained to great theology; so that on him
(as on the others) was bestowed the designation of ‘Finnian’s pupil.’ He being
now grown ancient, being of great wisdom also, instructed perfectly (as we have
said), and an honourable bishop, nevertheless (for love of humility and of
knowledge) was contented to learn still, while from him [at the same time]
others derived instruction. Moreover, from his ‘young age’ [i.e. from
childhood] Kieran never drank apght by which he might be drunken, never wrapped
himself in downy or in soft raiment, never partook of a banquet, never slept
his fill, nor for love of carousing and of good company rushed off anywhither.
And his own tribe, the tribe of Ossory (forby many other men) he converted to
the faith. Many times he was visited by angels; he ordained great number of
bishops, of priests, and of other orders of the Church. The angel instructed
him also of a venerable well by which much various disease and infirmity is
healed: its name is tobar Cicirain [i.e. ‘Tubberkieran’ or ‘Kieran’s Well’].
Thirty years Kieran, passed in zealous service to God before his baptism. Then
when by age and by sickness he was now become infirm, the days of his death
drew near to him; and out of every quarter where they were he summoned to him his
people and his parishioners, and blessed them. He enjoined on them to keep
God’s commandments, and on the third of the nones of March he, being surrounded
by choirs of saints, with Christ’s peace received the sacraments of the Church.
He dismissed his spirit and, by God’s leave, in the one night with him a score
and ten bishops that he had himself ordained went likewise to the Kingdom of
God.
Here is an end of the Life of Kieran: written by Maurice O’Conor,
ship-carpenter, in Cork.
SOURCE:
Silva Gadelica (I-XXXI). ed. Standish Hayes O'Grady. Reprint of the 1892 ed. New York, Lemma
Pub. Corp., 1970.
SAINT KIERAN OF SAIGHIR
Commemorated March 5/18
Kieran
may have been a disciple of St. Finian of Clonard under whom he may have
studied. In his youth Kieran spent some time in continental Europe where he was
ordained a priest. He probably studied in Gaul (at Tours) and Rome. On his
return to Ireland, according to tradition, St. Patrick, the enlightener of the
emerald isle, consecrated him the first Bishop of Ossory, where he preached the
Gospels and has been venerated from time immemorial. Later the saint settled in
the forests of the kingdom of Ossory where he lived in a tiny cell as a true
anchorite in Saighir near the Slieve Bloom mountains. According to his
biographer, St. Patrick gave him a bell saying that this bell would only ring
on the spot where by the will of God Kieran would eventually found a great
spiritual center—and this spot was Saighir.
By a spring, the ascetic built a
cell of wattle and thin branches smeared with mud, and the roof was of grass
and leaves. His diet consisted only of herbs and barley bread once a day, and
he drank only water. Some years passed. With time numerous disciples started
flocking to the ascetic who became famous for his miracles. And Kieran founded
the large monastery of Saighir on the site of his hermitage—not far from Birr
in present-day county Offaly—and became its first abbot. Many future saints
lived in this monastery, which became a center of learning and preaching.
The place where the monastery was
situated—Saighir—most probably means “the fountain of Kieran”. The holy man
taught his brethren and led all those under his care to spiritual perfection,
setting them a good example in his life. Some while later the saint’s mother
Liadan, together with many other pious women, moved to live a holy and God-pleasing
life near her son’s monastery. One early source states that Kieran himself
founded a community for women close to his main abbey. The monastery of St.
Kieran at Saighir also became the place of burial of the kings of Ossory in
Ireland. The veneration of St. Kieran was so strong that a perpetual fire was
maintained in Saighir Abbey in his memory for many years after his repose.
St.
Kieran was a celebrated ascetic. Sometime during his life he lived as a hermit
on the island of Cape Clear in Munster Province (now in County Cork), spending
all his time in unceasing prayer. There are also stories relating his life in a
cave. St. Kieran is listed among “the Twelve Apostles of Ireland”; that is, the
saints who studied at Clonard Monastery, though it is impossible to prove that
all of them were in fact monks there. Kieran in his spiritual labors imitated
the feats of the Desert Fathers and especially St. John the Baptist, and, like many of them,
he wore animal skins and slept on the ground. Angels were his companions and
helpers from childhood throughout his life. His biographers said that the saint
lived a life of prayer, fasting and abstinence, and that he overcame the devil
and made friends with those who dwell in heaven.
Traditions
relating the close communication of Kieran with wild animals abound. When he
lived in a hermitage surrounded by forests, wolves, deer and other mammals,
particularly those which were sick or hurt, used to come to him, feeling his
holiness and asking him to cure them: and he healed every animal. According to
his life, a fox, a wolf and a badger helped the saint and served him and his
monks in monastic labors: to cut trees, to take the wood to the monastery and build
small cells. Once the fox dared to disobey the abbot: it stole his boots and
ran away to its hole in the forest. On Kieran’s command the wolf and the badger
found the fox and led it to the man of God. He rebuked the fox, ordered it to
do a penance by fasting for a certain time, and when the animal had done this,
he allowed it to stay at his monastery and work on.
Among
the miracles performed by this saint of God we should mention raising several
people from the dead through his intercessions. As a boy the saint once saw a
hawk seizing a defenseless baby bird from its nest. Little Kieran felt pity for
the nestling, prayed for it, and the bird of prey suddenly fell down and laid
the baby on the ground at his feet. The nestling looked almost lifeless: Kieran
prayed again, and the bird was restored to health. There lived a holy abbess
named Cuach many miles away from St. Kieran’s Monastery. She had been his nurse
in his childhood. And it was noticed that the holy abbot Kieran miraculously
visited his former nurse every year on Christmas night and gave her communion;
after that he speedily returned to his brethren to celebrate in some miraculous
way. One of his contemporaries suggested that each time Kieran was carried to
and from his nurse’s convent by angels, like the holy prophet Habakkuk, whom an
angel by the grace of God lifted by his hair and took him “by air” to Babylon
to give food to the prophet Daniel in the lions’ den.
Once the saint blessed a holy well
so that it had the flavor of wine and honey. From that time on all who drank
from this well felt filled.
One day a venerable abbot paid a
visit to Kieran’s monastery. The brethren invited him to dinner. But it was
extremely cold in the abbey that day. St. Kieran prayed to God for at least a
little heat, and a fireball descended and the fire sufficed to heat up the
refectory with the abbot, the guest and all the monks. One day St. Patrick came
to St. Kieran’s monastery and some nobles with him. But there was a shortage of
food at the abbey. Kieran prayed and the supplies of food miraculously
multiplied at once. Another legend relates that a war broke out between two
kingdoms in Ireland. The opposing parties met near a brook close to Kieran’s
monastery. The saint showed himself to be a peacemaker: he went out and tried
to persuade each party not to fight; but they were stubborn. Then he started
praying, and the brook became so swollen that it turned into a wide river so
that the armies could not fight with each other at all. Only then, following
this miracle did they come to their senses and decide to stop the war.
According
to tradition, St. Kieran till the end of his life served as Bishop of Ossory
and Abbot of Saighir, tirelessly ministering to the people and working
miracles. Afterwards a whole town grew up around his monastery. St. Kieran of
Saighir should be distinguished from his famous namesake: St. Kieran of
Clonmacnoise, or St. Kieran the Younger, who lived approximately at the same time as
him. Kieran of Saighir reposed in the Lord in about the year 530. By that time
his fame had spread all over Ireland, though he did not seek fame, but cared
only for service to the Lord and people. On the day of his repose many monks
and bishops gathered at his death-bed. Kieran blessed them and asked them to
love each other and the monastery, to keep unity and piety and to remember the
temptations of our common enemy. The saint also asked them to pray for him, and
predicted that the time would come when the faith would be distorted and the
monasteries would be destroyed (indeed that was fulfilled after the
Anglo-Norman Conquest and at the Reformation).
After his demise, the veneration of
St Kieran spread rapidly all over the emerald isle and he has been commemorated
in all its dioceses since ancient times. His monastery became the center of the
Diocese of Ossory for several centuries (consequently the see was transferred
to Aghaboe and later to Kilkenny). Saighir Abbey prospered until the eleventh
century despite several attacks by the Vikings, and after the Norman Conquest
it was occupied by Augustinians in 1170. The Augustinian priory was closed in
the sixteenth century and monastic life here stopped, though the atmosphere of
holiness (even among the ruins) still reigns.
The saint was often depicted with a
fox, a doe or a badger. Today pilgrims can visit the ruins of Saighir
Monastery. The village where the monastic remains are located is called
Clareen, in County Offaly. The stump of the tenth-century monastic round tower
and the base of a Celtic decorated “high cross” can be distinguished there,
along with a holy well (whose water heals headaches) and a “holy tree”
connected with the saint. According to local residents, even water that gathers
in the cross base cures warts, and a stone lying near the tree has marks of the
knees of the saint who supposedly prayed on it! In the nineteenth century a new
Anglican Church (Church of Ireland) in honor of St. Kieran was built there
right near the ruins, and it incorporates some stones from the ancient
structure. Every year on March 5, Catholic believers organize processions to
these holy sites linked with Kieran. Ruins of an ancient church and an early
holy well can be found on Cape Clear Island where the saint lived as a hermit.
It is said that the saint built this church himself. Part of a very early cross
can also be seen there. This isle is virtually the most southerly populated
area in Ireland. Its present population is about 100 people. According to
tradition, St. Kieran was born precisely on this island or near it. There are
ruins of the early medieval St. Kieran’s Church, a holy well and a bush
connected with the saint in the village of Errill in County Laois. Tradition
holds that the saint built a monastery there.
Today he
is the patron-saint of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory in Ireland and is
venerated by many Christians, including Orthodox. Outside Ireland this saint is
venerated in Wales (where, according to a legend, he visited St. Illtud and preached), in
England, Scotland and Brittany.
Holy Father Kieran of Saighir, pray
to God for us!
3/18/2016
SOURCE : http://orthochristian.com/91544.html
San Ciarano (Kieran) Vescovo
Martirologio Romano: A Saighir nella regione dell’Ossory in Irlanda, san
Chierano, vescovo e abate.
La figura di Ciarano,
(gael. Cìarán, irl. Kieran), di Saighir, vescovo di Ossory, chiamato spesso con
l'appellativo di senior per essere distinto dall'omonimo abate di Clonmacnoise,
è avvolta tutta nella leggenda ed è impossibile stabilire con certezza la cronologia
della sua vita.
Secondo alcuni autori, Ciarano farebbe parte della seconda generazione dei
santi irlandesi e sarebbe stato uno dei dodici vescovi che san Patrizio
consacrò al suo arrivo in Irlanda per associarseli nell'opera di
evangelizzazione dell'isola. Tuttavia, una tenace tradizione, non priva di una
certa attendibilità (cf. P. Grosjean, in Anal. Boll., LIX [1941], pp. 265-66),
lo considera come uno dei vescovi impegnati nella diffusione del cristianesimo
in Irlanda prima dell'arrivo di san Patrizio: per questo a Ciarano viene
comunemente attribuito il titolo di «primogenito» dei santi irlandesi e viene
considerato anche il «precursore» di san Patrizio; un annotatore del Félire
Oengusso (ed. W. Stokes, Londra 1905, pp. 86-88) lo chiama addirittura
episcopus episcoporum.
Secondo la leggenda, tramandata nelle numerose Vitae gaeliche e latine,
Ciarano, nato nella regione di Ossory, conosciuto superficialmente il
cristianesimo nella patria ancora pagana, si recò a Roma e vi fu consacrato
vescovo. In Italia egli incontrò anche Patrizio, non ancora elevato
all'episcopato, che lo inviò in Irlanda perché lo precedesse. Ciarano, tornato
in patria, si ritirò nell'Ossory, a Saighir, in una cella solitaria, ove
condusse vita eremitica in compagnia di un cinghiale, una volpe, un tasso, un
lupo, una cerva e un cerbiatto, che vissero con lui in soggezione e
familiarità. A questo proposito, si può notare che le Vitae di Ciarano
inaugurano un nuovo genere nella letteratura agiografica, introducendo
fantasiose e graziose storie di animali dalle quali si ricavano insegnamenti
morali e ascetici.
Presso Ciarano si radunarono in seguito molti discepoli: sorse così a Saighir
un monastero attorno al quale fu costruito un villaggio la cui parrocchia fu
chiamata Sier-Cìarán dal nome del santo. La regione circostante fu
evangelizzata dalla comunità di Ciarano, che, come capo di un monastero,
insignito della dignità episcopale, si rivelò un elemento di primo piano nello
sviluppo dell'organizzazione ecclesiastica dell'Irlanda.
Nell'alto Medioevo Ciarano fu identificato con san Pirano di Cornovaglia, per
cui alcune sue Vitae narrano di viaggi in questa regione e della sua morte in
essa.
Ben presto venerato come santo, in molte parti dell'Irlanda Ciarano è
festeggiato il 5 marzo; al centro del culto a lui tributato fu il monastero di
Saighir, ma numerose chiese gli sono dedicate in tutta l'isola. La diocesi di
Ossory lo considera il suo primo vescovo e lo onora come suo principale
patrono.
Autore: Gian Michele Fusconi
