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Ciaran

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(or Kieran). A large number of saints by this name appear in the Irish calendars, but of these only five have much more than the date and place of dedication:

1. Son of AEdh, commemorated January 5.

2. The Pious, of Belach-duin, commemorated June 14. Little is known of him further than that he wrote the Acts of St. Patrick, and died A.D. 770. See Lanigan, Eccles. Hist. of Ireland, 1:87.

3. Abbot of.Rathmurghe, commemorated Oct. 8, died A.D. 784.

4. Of Saighir, commemorated March 5. The Lifes of him are of doubtful authority. Lanigan is of opinion that he became a bishop about A. D. 538, and afterwards built the monastery of Saighir, around which a city gradually arose. He was the founder and first bishop of Ossory, and died there after A.D. 550.

5. Macantsaoir, or son of the carpenter, and abbot of Clonmacnoise, commemorated September 9. He is one of the most famous saints of Ireland, and half the monasteries of that country are said to have followed his rule. The year of his birth is variously stated from A.D. 507 to 516. He received his baptism and early education from St. Patrick's disciple, St. Justus. He was famous for his miracles, like all the others of his age, and also for his humility and purity. He died of the plague which raged A.D. 549. He is one of the "Patres Priores" in St. Cumin or Cuminian's Paschal Letter. See Forbes, Kal. of Scott. Saints, pages 435. 436; Wilson, Prehist. Ann. Scot. page 483.