This is a list of the saints of Ireland, which attempts to give an overview of saints from Ireland or venerated in Ireland. The vast majority of these saints lived during the 4th–10th centuries, the period of early Christian Ireland, when Celtic Christianity produced many missionaries 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.[1] For this reason, Ireland in a 19th-century adage is described as "the land of saints and scholars".[2]
Christianity was introduced into Ireland toward the end of the 4th century. The details of the introduction are obscure, though the strict ascetic nature of monasticism in Ireland is said to be derived from the practices of the Desert Fathers. Although there were some Christians in Ireland before Patrick, who was a native of Roman Britain, he played a significant role in its full Christianisation.
Some of the best-known saints are Saint Patrick, Colmcill, Brigid of Kildare and the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.
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 (d. 1681, canonized 1975 by Pope Paul VI) and Charles of Mount Argus (d. 1893, canonized in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI).
- ^ Todd, James H., ed. (2007-07-25). The Martyrology Of Donegal: A Calendar Of The Saints Of Ireland. Translated by O'Donovan, John. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-0-548-22367-3.
- ^ The Monthly Packet of Evening Readings for Members of the English Church, Volume 3, John and Charles Mozley (1852), p. 215.