Saint Kieran the Younger

Apr 112009

Also known as

Kieran of Clonmacnoise
Ceran….
Ciaran….
Kyaranus….
Kyran….
Kyrian….
Queran….
Queranus….
one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland

9 September

Profile

Son of Beoit, a carpenter and chariot builder. Spiritual student of Saint Finian of Clonard and Saint Dermot. Considered the most learned monk at Clonard. Tutor to the daughter of the king of Cuala. Lived seven years as a hermit at Inishmore with Saint Enda. Monk at the abbey of Isel in central Ireland, but was run off by his brother monks – his charity to the local poor was so great that it threatened to bankrupt the abbey. He lived for a while with eight other hermits on Inish Aingin. Founder of the Clonmacnoise abbey in West Meath, and served as its first abbot. Spiritual teacher of Saint Comgall of Bangor. He placed that house under a singularly austere rule, referred to as the Law of Kieran to draw those monks who felt a need to ignore the physical world completely. The house was known for centuries as a center of Irish learning and thought. Reported miracle worker.