| Saint Ciarán of Saighir | |
|---|---|
| Bishop and Confessor of Ossory | |
| Born | c.501 Cape Clear Island |
| Died | c.530 |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church and certain Protestant churches. Having been canonized prior to the Great Schism, he qualifies as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well |
| Feast | 5 March |
| Patronage | The diocese of Ossory |
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.[1]
Bishop Ciarán of Saigir is often referred to as the "first saint born in Ireland."[2] He was regarded as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.[3]
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.
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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 Salmanticensis, 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.[1]
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 Loígde.[1]
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.
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 Mountains 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.[1]
Like the saints Ailbe of Emly, 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.[1]
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.
Legends attribute remarkable miracles to Ciarán.[4][5] 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.[6] 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.
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