Aidus

St Aidus, Bishop of Kildare. 

Born mid 6th C.   Died 638 A.D.   A descendant from the royal race of Leinster. His genealogy is traced to Cathair, King of Leinster, afterwards King of Ireland.  Aidus abandoned his privileged life to become a monk in Kildare Monastery.  He presided over the monastery as Abbot and was later elevated to Bishop of Kildare. He was denominated 'Dubh' meaning black maybe because of his dark complexion.  

                                                                               

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Auxilius

St. Auxilius                    Bishop of Kilossey.       He flourished in 990A.D. An nephew of St. Patrick, St Auxil gave his name, to an abbey Kill uaxaile; it is now called Killishee near Naas.

 

Beoan

St.Beoan, son of Nessan of Feigh Cullen Co. Kildare. Beoan came from the race of Cathaoir Mor, of Leinster . Feigh-Cullen, near the Hill of Allen was the site of an ancient church. A Baptismal trough used at this church is preserved at Allen.

 

 

 

 

Blath or Flora

St Blath. Latinised Flora.     Died  523 A.D. St Blath lived in simple obedience as a cook to St.Brigid at Kildare. 

 

 

Bran Beg

St. Bran Beg, of Clane 6th Century.  Son of Degill and Cumenia and a nephew of St.Columkille. He is considered to be the founder and Patron Saint of Clane, Co. Kildare. In the eight century there was an Abbey at Clane. In the 13th century a Franciscan Abbey was founded in the place, probably by Gerald Fitz-Maurice, Lord Offaly, King Henry V11 suppressed it. The ruins of the Abbey remain close to Clane.

 

 

 

 

Brigid

St Brigid, 451-552 A.D.  First Abbess of Kildare, Patroness of Kildare Diocese and General Patroness of Ireland.  Brigid founded a convent and a monastery in Kildare, which became a centre of religion and learning.

 

 

Cobhthach

St.Cobhthach. 9th Century, St. Cobhthach, son of Muiredeach, was Abbot of Kildare. He is described as a man of singular wisdom. Died c 868 A.D.

 

 

 

Cocca

St.Cocca,Cucca,Cuach,Cuaca or Coc, Patroness of Kilcock,Co. Kildare. 6th Century. Kilcock in the barony of Ikeathy and Oughterany is named after her. It means Church of St.Coc.  St Cocca reputedly is a sister of St Kevin and uterine sister of St. Attracta.  When St Cocca came to Kilcock is uncertain, it is stated she presided over a community of nuns as Abbess. As well as the church in Kilcock being dedicated to St.Cocca, another local memorial is  Tubbermochocca, or the Holy Well of Chocca, to perpetuate her celebrity. 

 

 

 

Cogitosus

St Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise.  A nephew of St. Brigid of Kildare. Best known for his biography 'Life of St. Brigid'.

 

 

 

Colman

St. Colman, Banban,  'The Sage’ or ‘The Wise'. 7th and 8th century. Scribe of Cill-Dara. He is thought to be a relation of St. Patrick.

 

 

 

 

Conleth

St Conleth or Conlaid.  5th Century. Born c 450. First Bishop of Kildare c490. St Conleth is recorded as being a skilled worker in gold and silver, and manuscript illuminator. He lived as a hermit in a cell in Old  Connell on the bank of the river Liffey near the town of Newbridge.  A friend and co-worker of St Brigid, they ran the first double monastery together. 

 

 

 

 

Connath or Comnantan

St.Connath or Comnantan. Abbess of the Kildare monastery. She flourished in the 6th century. Died 590 A.D. 

 

 

Cuach or Coiningean

St Cuach or Coiningean, virgin of Fionnamgh Church.  6th Century.  Daughter of a King of Leinster and her mother Camell, she is half sister to St.Kevin and St Attracta.  She was a pupil or delta to Mac Tail of Cill Cuillinn, (Kilcullen).  St Cuach church, called Cill Finn Miughi is thought to be in the vicinity of Killeen Cormac near Narraghmore.   A peculiar characteristic feature of Cuach, is a great finger nail resembling that of  a wolfs nail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derchairthinn

St. Derchairthinn of Uachtar-aird.  Descended from the race of Colla Uais, who was Monarch of Erinn. Uachtar-aird or Anglicised into Oughterard in the Barony of South Salt in Co.Kildare is taken to be her birthplace. It is recorded as having a festival celebrated in her honour.

 

 

Diarmaid

St Diarmaid of Castledermot, Co.Kildare. 6th Century. He belonged to the race of Fiatach Finn monarch of Erin. He founded the monastery at Castledermot about 500 A. D. Firstly, named Diseart Diarmuda and afterwards Thistledermot and presently known as Castledermot. It is in the Baronies of Kilkea and Moone, Co.Kildare.

 

 

Emin

St.Emin or Evin of Monasterevin. Son of Eoghan Mac Murchad of Munster.  7th Century. Died in 689.

 

Farannan

 St. Farannan, Abbot of Kildare. Born in the early 7th century. He succeeded St. Lochenius Menn, who died A.D 694 in the government of Kildare.  St. Farannan had a short rein, he died in A.D 697.

 

Finia or Fine

 

 

St Finia or Fine  Abbess of Kildare     8th century.      She died 800 A.D

Hagiography

Hagiography is the study of saints; hagios comes from Greek meaning saint. The word saint comes from the Latin word santus, which translates to consecrated or holy. The term hagiology refers to the study of saints collectively, without focusing on the life of an individual saint.

Canonisation of a saint is an ecclesial process.  Firstly, a candidate is selected because of their noteworthy service to God and their reputation for holiness. Canonization is a posthumous exercise, to canonise means to declare that a person is worthy of a public cult.  It is a formal admission by the Holy See that a person is with God. The journey to canonization is lengthy and   phased.   The earliest stage is referred to as 'Servant of God’, followed by being 'Venerable' the final term being  ‘Blessed’ before being recognised by the Church as a saint. The person's name is inscribed in the church's list of saints and he or she is 'raised to the altars' which means they are assigned a feast day for liturgical veneration. Since the beginning of Christianity the stories of saints have been handed down through generations. The existence of saints is celebrated in icons, paintings and statues.  

 

 

 

Continue reading "Hagiography" »

Mactail *

St. MacTail of Killcullen Son of Tail.  Born towards the end of the 5th Century. Brother of Colman of Cill Cleitighe. He was appointed bishop of Kildare in the 6th century. He died in 548 A.D. 

 

Maeilalithglin

St.Maeilalithglin of Tech Maeilaithghin  of Cairpre Ua-Ciardha now Barony of Carbury, Co.Kildare.  O'Ciardha is now anglicised to Keary or Carey.

 

 

 

Mochua

 

St. Mochua of Timahoe, Co. Kildare. 5th century. c 657 A.D. Son of Lohan. Founded the monastery at Timahoe. Teach Mochua, the House of Mochua.

 

Monenn

St.Moneen or Maoineann. Bishop of Cloncurry, Co. Kildare. 4th and 5th century. Born c 360  of noble parentage.

 

Onchu

St. Onchu or Onchuo, Priest of Kildare Co.Kildare. 10th Century.  Died 929 A.D.

Profile


PROFILE


 


Betty Costin holds a (B.A) degree  and Higher Diploma in Theological Studies from St.Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

 



A native of south Carlow, her interest in hagiography stems from a strong tradition in the area of venerating local saints. S.S Finian & Fortchern of Killoughternane and St. Moling of St. Mullins.  

 



Now resident in Kildare, she has prepared an Alphabetical Index on Kildare Saints for the establishment of this website.

 




 



Rathnat

St.Rathnat, of Cille Rathnaite,now Kilrenny Co.Kildare. Cille Rathnaite is a parish in the  barony of Carbury , Co. Kildare.

Seanan

St.Seanan of Laithreach-Briuin, Laraghbrien,  Maynooth, Co. Kildare. St.Seanan belonged to the race of Eochaidh, son of Muireadh.  His genealogy is carried back for fifty generations to the seed of Heremon.  His mothers name was Deidi.  He was a contemporary of St.Columcille. The remains of a mediaeval church ruins and a cemetery are at Laraghbrien.

 

 

Tulelacia or Tuillelaith

St Tulelacia or Tuillelaith,  daughter of Uarghalalch. Abbess of Kildare. Died on  10th January  88 A.D. 

Tullalla or Tulilach

Tullalla. Abbess of Cill Dara or Kildare. It is uncertain whether she preceded or succeeded St. Comnat in governing the nuns at Kildare. Tullalla, flourished in 590 A.D.