Ciarán of Saigir

Who is Ciarán of Saigir?

Ciarán of Saigir, also known as Ciarán mac Luaigne or Saint Kieran, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and is considered the first saint to have been born in Ireland, although the legend that he preceded Saint Patrick is questionable. Ciarán was bishop of Saigir and remains the patron saint of its successor, the diocese of Ossory. He is identified with the Saint Piran who is venerated in Cornwall, Wales, and Brittany. Ciarán's date of death is uncertain but thought to have been around 530 and from natural causes. His feast day is celebrated on 5 March.

He is sometimes called Saint Ciarán the Elder to distinguish him from the other 6th-century Irish Saint Ciarán, who was abbot of Clonmacnoise.