HIST & MYTH: Who were the Twelve Apostles of Ireland (or Erin)?

Written by Ben Kesp.

The twelve apostles of Ireland or Erin were a group of 6th Century monks who studied under St. Fenian (died 549 A.D.) in the monastic school of Clonard Abbey on the River Boyne in Co. Meath. Old druidic customs were incorporated into the new Christian religion of the Irish Celtic Church and the study of Latin and theology were a major part of studies. Thousands of scholars studied at Clonard Abbey and many well known names of Irish Christianity were educated there. 

St. Fenian and the Twelve Apostles 

The abbey at Clonard was founded in the year 520 by Saint Fenian and it is stated he was directed to the site by an angel. Following his death in the year 549, he was buried on the grounds of the abbey. Following a century of falling under different political dynasties, Clonard Abbey became the leading church in the midlands during the 9th Century, however, it did not escape being a target during the Viking raids. 

The Twelve Apostles of Ireland who studied at the abbey in its early days were: 

• Saint Ciarán of Saighir 
• Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, died in the year 549.
• Saint Brendan of Birr, County Offaly, died on 29 November 571.
• Saint Brendan of Clonfert (Brendan the Navigator). He was the son of Finnloga, the patron saint of the See of Clonfert in Co. Galway. Born in 484, and died in 577, aged 94.
• Saint Columba of Terryglass, abbot of Tir-da-glas in Co. Tipperary. Died in 552. 
• Saint Columba of Iona was born in 521, and died in the year 597, aged 75. Columba introduced Christianity to the Kingdom of the Picts, Scotland during the early medieval period. 
• Saint Mobhí of Glasnevin, near Dublin. He died on 12 October 545.
• Saint Ruadhain of Lorrha, in Co. Tipperary. He died on 15 April 584.
• Saint Senan of Iniscathay (Scattery Island)
• Saint Ninnidh of Lough Erne, the Pious. Death is unknown, but records show that he was alive in 530. 
• Saint Laisrén mac Nad Froích was the son of Nadfraech, and brother of Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster. Died in 570.
• Saint Canice was the patron of Aghaboe in Co. Laois who died in 599 at the age of 84.

Image: Wikipedia