In Christianity, certain deceased Christians are recognized as

saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...

s, including some from Ireland. The vast majority of these saints lived during the 4th–10th centuries, the period of

early Christian Ireland Early may refer to: Places in the United States * Early, Iowa, a city * Early, Texas, a city * Early Branch, a stream in Missouri * Early County, Georgia * Fort Early, Georgia, an early 19th century fort Music * Early B, stage name of Jamaican d ...

, when

Celtic Christianity Celtic Christianity is a form of Christianity that was common, or held to be common, across the Celtic languages, Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages. The term Celtic Church is deprecated by many historians as it implies a unifi ...

produced many

missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who 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 Miss ...

to Great Britain and the European continent. The exact number of Irish saints is not known but the Martyrology of Donegal lists 1000 saints, male and female. For this reason, Ireland in a 19th-century adage is described as "the land of saints and scholars".''The Monthly Packet of Evening Readings for Members of the English Church'', Volume 3, John and Charles Mozley (1852)
p. 215
Christianity was introduced into Ireland toward the end of the 4th century. The details of the introduction are obscure, though the strict

ascetic Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures through self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple living, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their pra ...

nature of monasticism in Ireland is said to be derived from the practices of the

Desert Fathers The Desert Fathers were early Christian hermits and ascetics, who lived primarily in the Wadi El Natrun, then known as ''Skete'', in Roman Egypt, beginning around the Christianity in the ante-Nicene period, third century. The ''Sayings of the Dese ...

. Although there were some Christians in Ireland before

Patrick Patrick may refer to: *Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name * Patrick (surname), list of people with this name People *Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint * Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick ...

, who was a native of

Roman Britain Roman Britain was the territory that became the Roman province of ''Britannia'' after the Roman conquest of Britain, consisting of a large part of the island of Great Britain. The occupation lasted from AD 43 to AD 410. Julius Caes ...

, he played a significant role in its full Christianisation. Some of the best-known saints are

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick (; or ; ) was a fifth-century Romano-British culture, Romano-British Christian missionary and Archbishop of Armagh, bishop in Gaelic Ireland, Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Irelan ...

, Colmcill,

Brigid of Kildare Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (; Classical Irish: ''Brighid''; ; ) 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 ...

and the

Twelve Apostles of Ireland The Twelve Apostles of Ireland (also known as Twelve Apostles of Erin, ) were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finnian (d. 549) at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird (Erard's ...

. After 1000, the process of recognizing saints was formalized, after which fewer people were named saints. Those canonized in the modern era include

Oliver Plunkett Oliver Plunkett (or Oliver Plunket; ; 1 November 1625 – 1 July 1681) was the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and the last victim of the Popish Plot. He was beatified in 1920 and canonised in 1975, thus becoming t ...

(d. 1681, canonized 1975 by

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul 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 State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...

) 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 healin ...

(d. 1893, canonized in 2007 by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...

Veneration

The medieval Irish saints were venerated locally in the areas in which they lived or established churches. With the Viking invasions, Irish churches were frequently ransacked and saints' relics and shrines were often destroyed.

Early saints

Early Irish martyr saints

* St. Ceannanach * St. Blathmacc of Iona * St. Donnan of Eigg * St.

Ia of Cornwall Ia of Cornwall (also known as ''Eia'', ''Hia, Ive'' or ''Hya'') was an evangelist and martyr of the 5th or 6th centuries, flourishing in the area of St Ives, Cornwall. She is said to have been an Irish princess, the sister of Erc of Slane. Leg ...

* St. Odhran the Charioteer * St. Colman Isirni (''the Thirsty'') * St. Colman of Stockerau * St. Dymphna of Gheel * St. Killian of Wurzburg * St. Totnan of Wurzburg * St. Colman of Wurzburg * St. Grimonia * St. Eliphius of Toul * St. Hiero of Holland * St. Maxentia of Beauvais * St. Brigid and Maura

Later saints

Later saints include: * Saint

(1821–1893) * Saint

(1625–1681) * Saint Laurence O'Toole (1128–1180) * Saint Malachy O'Moore (1094–1148) * Saint Fergal of Salzburg (canonised 1233 AD)

Pope Leo XIII's canonisations

In 1902, Pope Leo XIII added a group of 25 medieval Irish male saints to the Roman Martyrology, giving them a greater significance to the majority of other Irish saints who were not officially canonised by the pope. They are as follows: * Saint

Kevin of Glendalough Kevin (; , ; Latinized ; 498 (reputedly)–3 June 618) is an Irish saint, known as the founder and first abbot of Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland. His feast day is 3 June. Early life Kevin's life is not well documented because no conte ...

* Saint Flannan of Killaloe * Saint Eoghan of Ardstraw * Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnois * Saint Declan of Ardmore * Saint Albert of Cashel * Saint Colman of Dromore * Saint Colman of Cloyne * Saint Colman MacDuagh * Saint Comgall of Bangor * Saint

Finbarr of Cork Saint Finbar, Finbarr, Finnbar, or Finnbarr, in Irish Fionnbharra, very often abbreviated to Barra, (c. 550– 25 September 623) was Bishop of Cork and abbot of a monastery in what is now the city of Cork, Ireland. He is patron saint of ...

* Saint

Finnian of Clonard Finnian of Clonard ('Cluain Eraird') – also Finian, Fionán or Fionnán in Irish; or Finianus and Finanus in its Latinised form (470–549) – was one of the early Irish monastic saints, who founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath ...

* Saint Laserian of Leighlin * Saint

Muiredach of Killala Saint Muiredach mac Echdach, also known as Murtagh, was the founding Bishop of Killala, Ireland in the 6th century. Life Muiredach was of the Cenél Lóegairi, and connected to the royal family of King Lóegaire mac Néill. He is described a ...

* Saint Carthach of Lismore * Saint Tassach of Elphin * Saint Nathy of Achonry * Saint

Oran of Iona Oran or Odran (, ; , hence sometimes ''Otteran''; died AD 548), by tradition a descendant of Conall Gulban, was a companion of Saint Columba in Iona, and the first Christian to be buried on that island. Saint Odhrán's feast day is on 27 Octo ...

* Saint Felim of Kilmore * Saint Jarlath of Tuam * Saint Conleth of Kildare * Saint Aidan of Ferns * Saint Aengus MacNissi of Connor * Saint Aedh Mac Cairtinn of Clogher * Saint Fachanan of Kilfenora

Blesseds

* Blessed John, or Terrence, Carey * Blessed

Ralph Corby Ralph Corbie, SJ (Corby, Corbington, at times Corrington; 25 March 1598 – 7 September 1644) was an Irish Jesuit. A victim of the anti-Catholic persecutions following the Reformation, he was beatified in 1929. Life Corbie was born near Dublin ...

(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 Tadhg (Thaddeus) McCarthy, bishop * Blessed Christian O'Conarchy, Irish Cistercian abbot * Blessed

Columba Marmion Columba Marmion O.S.B, born Joseph Aloysius Marmion (1 April 1858 – 30 January 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 th ...

, 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'', () (Elizabethan English: ''Darby Hurley'' or ''Dr. Hurley'')McNeil 1930, p. 125.—was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel during the Elizabethan era rel ...

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

Patrick O'Hely Patrick O'Hely () (born between 1543 - 1546, died 31 August 1579) was an Irish Franciscan priest from Creevelea Abbey, near Dromahair, County Leitrim, and illegal and underground Bishop of Mayo, who was tortured and executed as part of the ...

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, SJ (; 1566 – 31 October 1602) was an Irish Jesuit lay brother, an ex-soldier, who died for his Catholic faith. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II, along with 16 other Irish Catholic Martyrs, on 27 September 1993.

, professed religious, Jesuits **

Concobhar Ó Duibheannaigh Concobhar Ó Duibheannaigh (c. 1532 – 1 ( O.S.)/11 ( N.S.) February 1612; ''Conor O'Devany'', ''Cornelius O'Devany'') was an Irish Franciscan priest from Donegal Abbey and Roman Catholic bishop during the religious persecution of the Cathol ...

, professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor (Observants); bishop of Down and Connor ** Patrick O'Loughran, 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 following the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. He was captured by the priest hunters at Fethard, County Tipperary while continuing ...

, professed priest, Augustinians * Blessed

Edmund Ignatius Rice Edmund Ignatius Rice, Presentation Brothers, F.P.M., Congregation of Christian Brothers, C.F.C. (; 1 June 1762 – 29 August 1844) was a Catholic missionary and educationalist who founded two religious institute, institutes of Religious brothe ...

, 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

Venerables

* 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 Religi ...

, 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 Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory (January 21, 1893 – January 21, 1984) was an Ireland-born immigrant to the United States. She was a Roman Catholic Religious sisters, religious sister who worked as an advocate for the impoverished elderly, foundin ...

, founder, Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm; born in Ireland * Venerable

Nano Nagle Honora "Nano" Nagle ( – 26 April 1784) was an Irish Catholic religious sister who served as a pioneer of Catholic education in Ireland despite legal prohibitions. She founded the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, co ...

, founder of the Presentation Sisters * Venerable

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

, professed priest, Congregation of Holy Cross; born in Ireland * Venerable

Edel Quinn Edelweiss Mary Quinn, (14 September 1907 – 12 May 1944) known as Edel Quinn () was an Irish-born Roman Catholic lay-missionary and Envoy of the Legion of Mary to East Africa. Life Born in Kanturk, County Cork, Edel Mary Quinn was the eldest ...

, member, Legion of Mary, born in Ireland * Venerable Matt Talbot, lay ascetic

Servants of God

Irish people, described as

Servants of God Servant of God () is a title used in the Catholic Church to indicate that an individual is on the first step toward possible canonization as a saint. Terminology The expression ''Servant of God'' appears nine times in the Bible, the first five in ...

, include: * Alphonsus (Alfie Lambe), Legion of Mary envoy to South America * Frank Duff, Legion of Mary founder * Father Willie Doyle, Irish priest and army chaplain * Mary Kevin Kearney, missionary nun and foundress of the Little Sisters of St. Francis in Uganda.

Other holy people

* Ellen Organ, an Irish child who became known as "Little Nellie of God" and whose story promoted Pope Pius X to lower the age of first communion. * Egbert Xavier Kelly, an Irish Christian Brother who was abducted and killed during the

Manila massacre The Manila massacre ( or ''Masaker sa Maynila''), also called the Rape of Manila (), involved atrocities committed against Filipino people, Filipino civilians in the Manila, City of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, by Empire of Japan ...

in 1945. * Sister Clare Crockett, an Irish nun who died in the

2016 Ecuador earthquake The 2016 Ecuador earthquake occurred on April 16 at with a moment magnitude scale, moment magnitude of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli intensity of VIII (''Severe''). The very large thrust earthquake was centered approxima ...

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 (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

Saints In Christian 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 Anglican, Oriental Orth ...