This is a list of the saints of Ireland, which attempts to give an overview of saints from Ireland or venerated in Ireland. The vast majority of these saints lived during the 4th–10th centuries, the period of

early Christian Ireland Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * Early ...

, when

Celtic Christianity Celtic Christianity ( kw, Kristoneth; cy, Cristnogaeth; gd, Crìosdaidheachd; gv, Credjue Creestee/Creestiaght; ga, Críostaíocht/Críostúlacht; br, Kristeniezh; gl, Cristianismo celta) is a form of Christianity that was common, or held ...

produced many

missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Mi ...

to Great Britain and the European continent. For this reason, Ireland in a 19th-century adage is described as "the land of saints and scholars". The introduction of Christianity into Ireland was during the end of the 4th century. Its exact introduction is obscure, though the strict

ascetic Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...

nature of monasticism in Ireland derives from the Desert Fathers. Although there were some Christians in Ireland before him, Patrick, a native of

Roman Britain Roman Britain was the period in classical antiquity when large parts of the island of Great Britain were under occupation by the Roman Empire. The occupation lasted from AD 43 to AD 410. During that time, the territory conquered wa ...

, played a significant role in its full Christianisation. Some of the most well known saints are

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints b ...

, Colmcill,

Brigid of Kildare Saint Brigid of Kildare or Brigid of Ireland ( ga, Naomh Bríd; la, Brigida; 525) is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish hagiogr ...

and the

Twelve Apostles of Ireland The Twelve Apostles of Ireland (also known as Twelve Apostles of Erin, ir, Dhá Aspal Déag na hÉireann) were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finnian (d. 549) at his famous monastic school Clona ...

. After 1000, the prerogative of naming saints was granted exclusively to Rome, and the number of saints dropped. Saints canonized in the modern era include

Oliver Plunkett Oliver Plunkett (or Oliver Plunket) ( ga, Oilibhéar Pluincéid), (1 November 1625 – 1 July 1681) was the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland who was the last victim of the Popish Plot. He was beatified in 1920 an ...

(d. 1681, canonized 1975 by

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

) and

Charles of Mount Argus Charles of Mount Argus (11 December 1821 – 5 January 1893), was a Dutch Passionist priest who served in 19th-century Ireland. He gained a reputation for his compassion for the sick and those in need of guidance. His reputation for healings ...

(d. 1893, canonized 2007 by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...

Early saints

Modern saints

Modern saints include: Retrieved on 19 March 2021. * Saint

* Saint

Beatified people

Blessed

* Blessed John, or Terrence, Carey * Blessed Ralph Corby (Corbington) (1598-1644), professed priest, Jesuits, born in Ireland but included in the Martyrs of England and Wales * Blessed John Grove (d. 1679), layman, born in Ireland but included in the Martyrs of England and Wales * Blessed

Columba Marmion Columba Marmion, OSB, born Joseph Aloysius Marmion (April 1, 1858 – January 30, 1923) was a Benedictine Irish monk and the third Abbot of Maredsous Abbey in Belgium. Beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000, Columba was one of t ...

, Benedictine priest * Blessed Charles Meehan (Mahoney) (1640-1679), professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor (Recollects), born in Ireland but included in the Martyrs of England and Wales * Blessed

Dermot O'Hurley Dermot O'Hurley (c. 1530 – 19 or 20 June 1584)—also ''Dermod or Dermond O'Hurley'': ga, Diarmaid Ó hUrthuile—was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel in Ireland during the reign of Elizabeth I, who was put to death for treason. He ...

, Archbishop of Cashel, and 16 Companions, martyrs **

Patrick O'Hely Patrick O'Hely ( ga, Pádraig Ó hÉilí) (born between 1543 - 1546, died 31 August, 1579) was an Irish Roman Catholic bishop of Mayo, Ireland, who was executed by the English secular authorities. Biography Born in Dromahair, County Leitrim, ...

professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor (Observants); bishop of Mayo ** Conn O'Rourke, professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor (Observants) ** Matthew Lambert, layman ** Robert Meyler, layman ** Edward Cheevers, layman ** Patrick Cavanagh, layman ** Margaret Ball, laywoman ** Maurice MacKenragaghty, priest **

Dominic Collins Dominic Collins (; 1566 – 31 October 1602) was an Irish Jesuit lay brother, an ex-soldier, who died for his Catholic faith. He was beatified as a martyr by Pope John Paul II on 27 September 1992. Life Collins was born in 1566 of a prominent ...

, professed religious, Jesuits ** Concobhar Ó Duibheannaigh, professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor (Observants); bishop of Down and Connor **

Patrick O'Loughran Patrick O'Loughran (''in Irish: Pádraig Ó Lochráin'') (died 1 February 1612) was a priest of the archdiocese of Armagh and an Irish Catholic Martyr. O'Loughran was born in Donaghmore, County Tyrone to an '' Erenagh'' family. He later became ...

, priest of the archdiocese of Armagh ** Francis Taylor, layman ** Peter Higgins, professed priest, Dominicans ** Terence O'Brien, professed priest, Dominicans; bishop of Emly ** John Kearney, professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor (Observants) **

William Tirry William Tirry OSA (1609 – 12 May 1654) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest of the Order of Saint Augustine. He suffered martyrdom in Clonmel in the context of the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1992. Lif ...

, professed priest, Augustinians * Blessed

Edmund Ignatius Rice Edmund Ignatius Rice ( ga, Éamonn Iognáid Rís; 1 June 1762 – 29 August 1844) was a Catholic missionary and educationalist. He was the founder of two religious institutes of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and t ...

, founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers * Blessed John Roche (d. 1588), layman, born in Ireland but included in the Martyrs of England and Wales * Blessed Patrick Salmon, companion-martyr of John Cornelius * Blessed John Sullivan, professed priest, Jesuits

Venerable

* Venerable

Mary Aikenhead Mother Mary Frances Aikenhead (19 January 1787 – 22 July 1858) was born in Daunt's Square off Grand Parade, Cork, Ireland. Described as one of nursing's greatest leaders, she was the founder of the Catholic religious institute, the Relig ...

, founder of the Religious Sisters of Charity * Venerable

Catherine McAuley Catherine McAuley, RSM (29 September 1778 – 11 November 1841) was an Irish Catholic religious sister who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831.Austin, Mary Stanislas"Sisters of Mercy."''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Ap ...

, founder of the Sisters of Mercy * Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, founder, Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm; born in Ireland * Venerable

Nano Nagle Venerable Honora Nagle ( – 26 April 1784), known informally as Nano Nagle, was a pioneer of Roman Catholic education in Ireland despite legal prohibitions. She founded the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM), c ...

, founder of the Presentation Sisters * Venerable

Patrick Peyton Patrick Peyton, CSC (January 9, 1909 – June 3, 1992), also known as "The Rosary Priest", was an Irish-born Catholic priest, member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, and founder of the Family Rosary Crusade. He popularized the phrases "The f ...

, professed priest, Congregation of Holy Cross; born in Ireland * Venerable Edel Quinn, member, Legion of Mary, born in Ireland * Venerable Matt Talbot, lay ascetic

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

Ancient Order of Hibernians
— complete list of Ireland's saints
Catholic Online
— Irish saints {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Saints Of Ireland

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

Saints In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Catholic, Eastern Orth ...