Saint Finnbarr

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Finnbarr, or Bairre, Saint, a native of Connaught, was born in the 6th century, his original name being Lochan. He was educated in Leinster by MacCorb, afterwards travelled in Britain with St. Maidoc, and spent some time with St. David. In the beginning of the 7th century he founded his monastery on the banks of the Lee, on ground granted to him by a chief, Aedh. The number of students who flocked thither caused habitations to spring up, and the foundations of Cork to be laid. He was consecrated Bishop of the district, and died in 623 at Cloyne, after an episcopate of seventeen years. The most eminent of his disciples was St. Nessan. One of St. Finnbarr's favourite retreats was Glengariff. His festival is the 25th of September. The island of Lough Erc, now Gouganebarra, was his hermitage, and preserves his name. [Barra, gen. of Barr.] He is also patron saint of a northern diocese in Scotland. Dr. Richard Caulfield, of Cork, has published his life in Latin, with a collation of various MSS.

Sources

119. Ecclesiastical History of Ireland: Rev. John Lanigan. 4 vols. Dublin, 1822.

233. Manuscript and Special Information, and Current Periodicals.

234. Martyrology of Donegal: Edited by J. H. Todd, D.D., and William Reeves, D.D. (I.A.S.) Dublin, 1864.

235. Martyrology of Tallaght, with Notices of of the Patron Saints of Ireland: Rev. Matthew Kelly, D.D. Dublin, 1857.

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