Saint Finbar

Also known as

• Bairre
• Barr
• Finbarr
• Finnbarr
• Fionnbharr
• Lochan

Memorial

• 25 September

Profile

Son of an artisan named Amergin and a lady of the Irish royal court. Educated at Kilmacahil monastery, Kilkenny, Ireland. He had very light hair, which led to the nickname Fionnbharr, “white hair”. Made multiple pilgrimages to Rome, Italy, visiting Saint David of Wales on one trip. Preached throughout southern Ireland, and possibly in Scotland. Hermit on a small island at Lough Eiroe and at Gougane Barra. Founded a school at Eirce, Ireland. Founded a monastery on the river Lee; it developed into the city of Cork, Ireland. First bishop of Cork. Extravagant miracles were attributed to him. Legend says that the sun did not set for two weeks after his death.

Born

• c.550 at Connaught, Ireland as Lochan

Died

• 25 September 623 at Cloyne, Ireland of natural causes
• interred in the cathedral at Cork, Ireland

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• Barra, Scotland
• Cork, Ireland

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia, by A A Macerlean
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
• Pictorial Lives of the Saints
• Saint Finnbarr, Founder of the Diocese of Cork, by Father P Cahalane, PP, from The Fold

MLA Citation

• “Saint Finbar”. Saints.SQPN.com. 2 October 2010. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-finbar/>