| Saint Ultan of Ardbraccan | |
|---|---|
| Died | 657 |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | September 4 |
For the brother of Saint Fursey, see Ultan.
St. Ultan of Ardbraccan (died ca. 657?) was an Irish saint and Abbot-Bishop of Ardbraccan during the 7th Century CE.
Ultan founded a school, educating and feeding its poor students, and was noted for his work in collecting the writings of Saint Brigid and illuminating them. He was also known for his beautiful hymns.
He was the maternal uncle of St. Brigid, and collected a life of her for his pupil, St. Brogan Cloen of Rostuirc, on Ossory. The confusion in his chronology (suggesting an extraordinary longevity, namely 180 years, because his death is not chronicled till 657) is explained by the fact that 657 was the death-date of a different Ultan, the brother and companion of Saint Fursey.
He succeeded St. Breccan as Abbot-Bishop of Ardbraccan about the year 570.
Although no contemporary writings of his life have survived, he is believed to have been Bishop of Meath and an apostle of Desi of Meath. Much mention of him is made in the Martyrology of Aengus. His feast day is celebrated on September 4.