Irish Saints

Irish Saints

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, a period in which Ireland was known as the "land of saints and scholars" — it produced many missionaries. The introduction of Christianity into Ireland was during the end of the 4th century. Its exact introduction is obscure, though the strict ascetic nature of monasticism in Ireland, suggests a connection to Coptic monks from Egypt. Although there were some Christians in Ireland before him, Patrick from Britain played a significant role in its full Christianisation. Some of the most well known saints are the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and Brigit of Kildare.

Read more about Irish Saints:  Saints

Famous quotes containing the words irish and/or saints:

    Earth, receive an honoured guest:
    William Yeats is laid to rest.
    Let the Irish vessel lie
    Emptied of its poetry.
    —W.H. (Wystan Hugh)

    Up the Rebels, To Hell with the Pope,
    And God Save—as you prefer—the King or Ireland.
    The land of scholars and saints:
    Scholars and saints my eye, the land of ambush,
    Purblind manifestoes, never-ending complaints,
    Louis MacNeice (1907–1963)