Ibar of Beggerin

For another saint of the same name, see Íbar of Killibar Beg. For other uses, see Ibar.

Ibar mac Lugna, whose name is also given as Iberius or Ivor, was an early Irish saint, patron of Beggerin Island, and bishop. The saint is sometimes said to have been one of four bishops to have preceded Saint Patrick in Ireland (see also the saint Ailbe, Ciaran and Déclán), although possibly they were just contemporaries. His feast day is 23 April.

Life

He preached in the present County Wexford and is regarded as the patron of Beggerin Island (Begerin), in Wexford harbour.^[1]

Although at first not disposed to yield to Saint Patrick (or his successors), he afterwards submitted and became his disciple. Much obscurity attaches to his early training, but he settled at Beggerin, where he built an oratory and cell. In the Life of Saint Abbán it is stated that Saint Ibar's retreat was soon peopled with numerous disciples from all parts of Ireland, and the 'Litany of Aengus' invokes the three thousand confessors who placed themselves under Ibar's direction. His nephew, St Abbán, as a boy of twelve came to Beggerin in Ibar's old age and accompanied him to Rome. His death has been chronicled in the year 500 on 23 April, on which day his feast is observed. Although Beggerin was formerly an island in the north of Wexford harbour, it has long since been reclaimed.^[1]

Moninne is said to have travelled to Leinster to become the disciple of St Ibar before founding her monastery in Killeavy.^[2]

Legacy

The Church of Ireland church in Wexford town is dedicated to St Iberius.

References

•  Lee, Sidney, ed. (1891). "Ibhar". Dictionary of National Biography 28. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 

Further reading

• Johnston, Elva (May 2008) [Sept 2004], "Munster, saints of (act. c.450–c.700)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, retrieved 14 Dec 2008