In Christianity, certain deceased Christians are recognized as saints, including some from 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. For this reason, Ireland in a 19th-century adage is described as "the land of saints and scholars".The Monthly Packet of Evening Readings for Members of the English Church, Volume 3, John and Charles Mozley (1852), p. 215.
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).
Veneration The medieval Irish saints were venerated locally in the areas in which they lived or established churches. With the Viking invasions, Irish churches were frequently ransacked and saints' relics and shrines were often destroyed.
Early saints {| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:0px;text-align:left;"
! width=120 | Name ! width=100 | Floruit ! width=100 | Origin ! width=140 | Associated churchThis column covers the religious houses which are strongly associated with the saint, e.g. because he or she was remembered or promoted as the founder and/or patron of a church. The modern name of the town or parish named after the church is given first, followed by the medieval Irish name where possible and by the county in which it is located today. ! class= unsortable| Notes ! class= unsortable width=80| Feast day ! class= unsortable width=40| Ref ! class= unsortable| Image
|- valign="top" | Abbán moccu Corbmaic | 5th–6th centuries (d. 520?) | Leinster, Ireland | Adamstown (Mag Arnaide), County Wexford Killabban (Cell Abbáin), County Laois | Leinster and Munster saint | or
|- valign="top" | Abel of Reims | 8th century | Ireland? | | Bishop of Reims; Irish origins are questionable | (Bollandists)
|- valign="top" | Abran | 5th–6th centuries (d. 515) | Ireland | | Sailed to Brittany with siblings, lived as hermit by Marne River | 8 May |Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints, St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924. p. 7 | |- valign="top" | Adalgis of Thiérache | 7th century (d. 686) | Ireland |Saint-Algis Church | Worked as a missionary in Arras and Laon, was a disciple of Fursey. | 2 June | Retrieved on 29 October 2009. | |- valign="top" | Adomnán | 7th century (d. 704) | Ireland | Iona | Abbot of Iona, politically active churchman, writer; promulgated the Cáin Adomnáin | 23 September |Ní Dhonnchadha, "Adomnán [St Adomnán] (627/8?–704)" | |- valign="top" | Adomnán of Coldingham | 7th century (d. 680) | Ireland | | Confessor, prophet, monk at Coldingham, noted for the gift of prophecy | |"Adomnán of Coldingham", Saints in Scottish Place-Names | |- valign="top" | Áed mac Bricc | 6th century | Irish, of the Cenél Fiachach | Rahugh and Killare, County Westmeath, and Slieve League, County Donegal | Meath saint | |Stalmans, Nathalie and T.M. Charles-Edwards, "Meath, saints of (act. c.400–c.900)" | |- valign="top" | Áed of Clonmore | 7th century (d. 659?) | Irish, of the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty, north Leinster | Clonmore (Cluain Mór Máedóc), County Carlow | Leinster saint | |Doherty, "Leinster, saints of (act. c.550–c.800)" | |- valign="top" | Aedan of Ferns, see Máedóc of Ferns
|- valign="top" | Aidan of Lindisfarne | 7th century (d. 651) | Connacht, Ireland | Lindisfarne | First Bishop of Lindisfarne, invited by king Oswald to reconvert Northumbria | 31 August | Retrieved on 28 October 2009. | |- valign="top" | Ailbe of Emly | 6th century (d. 534?) | Munster, Ireland | Emly | First Bishop of Emly | |Johnston, "Munster, saints of (act. c.450–c.700)." | |- valign="top" | Ailerán | 7th century (d. 665) | Ireland | Clonard | Scholar at Clonard. | |O'Halloran, Wm., Early Irish History and Antiquities..., Chapter XI, 1916 | |- valign="top" | Alto of Altomünster | 8th century | Ireland | Altomünster | Founder of Altomünster, missionary to Bavaria, hermit and Benedictine | | Retrieved on 3 November 2009. | |- valign="top" | Andrew the Scot | 9th century | Ireland | Fiesole, Tuscany | Archdeacon at Fiesole in Tuscany, studied under Donatus, gave to the poor | | Retrieved on 3 November 2009. |
|- valign="top" | Assicus (Tassach) | 5th century | Ireland | Elphin | Ulster saint, first Bishop of Elphin, converted by Patrick, smith and bellfounder to Patrick | | Retrieved on 3 November 2009.Charles-Edwards, "Ulster, saints of (act. c.400–c.650)." | |- valign="top" | Athracht | 5th–6th centuries | Ireland | Killaraght and Toberaraght | Connacht saint, nun under Patrick and associated with Killaraght and Toberaraght, founded a hostel at Lough Gara | |Charles-Edwards, "Connacht, saints of (act. c.400–c.800)." | |- valign="top" | Autbod | 7th century | Ireland | Valcourt | Missionary and patron of Valcourt, known for miraculous fever cure | |Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints, St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924. p. 124 | |- valign="top" | Baíthéne | 6th century (d. 598) | Ireland | Iona; Mag Lunge | Abbot of Iona and disciple of Columba; earlier abbot of Mag Lunge on Tiree | |Charles-Edwards, "Iona, abbots of (act. 563–927)." | |- valign="top" | Balin | 7th century | Northumbria | | Gerald of Mayo's brother, disciple of Colmán, resided in Connacht | |Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints, St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924. p. 129 | |- valign="top" | Balthere | 8th century (d. 756) | Ireland | | Hermit and priest, moved to Lindisfarne, known as Apostle of the Lothians | | Retrieved on 8 November 2009. | |- valign="top" | Barinthus |6th century |Ulster, Ireland or Scotland | |Supposed companion of St. Brendan who may also have had a connection to St. Finbarr
|- valign="top" | Barrfoin | 6th century | Ireland | Drum Cullen, County Offaly | Missionary at Drum Cullen, friend of Columba, joined voyage of Brendan
|- valign="top" | Banban the Wise | 5th century | Ireland | Templeport, County Cavan | Missionary at Templeport, related to Saint Patrick | | Retrieved on 8 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Bécán | 6th century | Ireland | Kilbeggan, County Westmeath | Founder of Kilbeggan, Westmeath, worked in a monastery there | | Retrieved on 8 November 2009. | |- valign="top" | Bega | | Ireland | | Princess, valued virginity, moved to Northumbria to avoid pirates | | Retrieved on 28 October 2009.
|- valign="top" | Benignus of Armagh | 5th century | Meath, Ireland | | Patrick's psalm-singer, favourite disciple, helped compile Senchus Mór | | Retrieved on 8 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Béoáed mac Ocláin | 6th century (d. 520/4) | Connacht, Ireland | Ardcarne (Ard Carna) | Bishop of Ardcarne | or |
|- valign="top" | Beoán of Ard Camrois, Mo Bheóc | ? | Ireland | Ard Camrois/Ard Cáinrois, Munster; Ros Caín, Connacht | Munster and Connacht saint | |Johnston, "Beoán (supp. fl. 1012x24)"
|- valign="top" | Beóán of Mortlach | 11th century (fl. 1012 x 1024) | "possibly of Irish origin" | Mortlach | Bishop of Mortlach, Scotland | , possibly owing to confusion with the previous saint |
|- valign="top" | Beoc | 5th century | Ireland | Lough Derg, County Donegal | Founded St Patrick's Purgatory monastery at Lough Derg, Donegal | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Berach | 6th–7th centuries | Connacht, Ireland | Tarmonbarry; Cluain Coirpthe | Founder of Tarmonbarry and Cluain Coirpthe, disciple of Kevin and nephew of Freoch, belonged to the Cenél nDobtha of the Uí Briúin | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
|Berchert |7th-8th centuries |England |Tullylease, County Cork St Berrihert's Kyle, County Tipperary |An exile of the "Celtic party" following the victory of the "Roman party" at the Synod of Whitby, 664. |6 December | |- valign="top" | Blathmac | 8th–9th centuries (d. 823) | Ireland | Iona | Abbot of Iona, martyred by Danish Vikings, killed on altar steps of the abbey at Iona | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009. |- |Blath of Kildare |6th century |Irish |Kildare town, Co. Kildare |A virgin saint, one of the companions of St. Brigid. She was a cook in the convent of St. Brigid at Kildare. |29 January |"Feast of St. Blath of Kildare", Council of Catholic Nurses, Diocese of Joliet |- valign="top" | Boadin | | Ireland | | Monk, moved to France, known for kindness and living the Rule of Benedict | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Boethian of Pierrepoint | 7th century | Ireland | Pierrepoint (France) | Founder of Pierrepoint (France), disciple of Fursey, martyred by rebellious monks | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009. |- valign="top" | Brandan | 5th century | Ireland | | Monk, fought Pelagianism in Britain, Abbot in Gaul after fleeing | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Breage | 5th century | Ireland | | Nun, follower of Brigid of Kildare, settled by River Hayle, Dumnonia | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Brendan of Clonfert | 5th–6th centuries | Tralee, Ireland | Clonfert | Founder of Clonfert, monk, and remembered as a voyager to mysterious islands | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009. | |- valign="top" | Brendan mac Nemainn | 6th century | Irish | Birr, County Offaly | Meath saint; founder of Birr; contemporary of the younger Brendan of Clonfert; came to be regarded as one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland"
|- valign="top" | Briarch | 7th century (d. 627) | Ireland | | Abbot and founder of monastery in Brittany. Closely associated with Tudwal | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009. |- |Brianhuil/Brenhilda |7th century |Ireland |Sula Sgeir, Scotland |The sister of St. Ronan of Iona, who lived as a hermitess and died on Sula Sgeir |?
|Brigit |5th century |Ireland |Cluain Fidhe or Inis Fidhe (Finish/Feenish Island, Co. Clare) |A virgin saint and an abbess associated with Finish Island who was mentioned in the life of St. Senan of Inis Cathaig.
|- valign="top" | Brigit of Kildare | 5th–6th centuries | Irish, of the Fothairt.
Born in Faughart, Dundalk | Kildare | Leinster, Louth, and Meath saint, also a patron saint of Ireland, founder and patron of Kildare | |Charles-Edwards, "Brigit (439/452–524/526)" | |- valign="top" | Bricín or Bricíne | 7th century | Ireland | Tomregan (Túaim Dreccon), County Cavan | Abbot of Túaim Dreccon | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009.
|- valign="top" | Broccán Clóen | 7th century | Ireland | Ross Tuirc | Abbot of Ross Tuirc, Ossory, author of a hymn to St Brigit | | Retrieved on 13 November 2009. |- |Broccán/Brychan |5th century |Ireland |Brycheiniog, Wales |An Irish king or chieftain who travelled to Wales, settling in Brecknock, where he had some 24 children, all saints. |6 April | |- valign="top" | Brón mac Icni | 5th–6th centuries (d. 512) | Connacht, Ireland | Caisel Irrae |Bishop of Cassel-lrra (Caisel Irrae), disciple and bishop of St Patrick
|- valign="top" | Brónach | 5th–6th centuries (d. 512) | Ulster, Ireland | Kilbroney (Cell Brónche) | Ulster saint; her church was Cell Brónche (Kilbroney), later the parish church of Glen Seichis
|- valign="top" | Budoc | 6th century | at sea, off Brest | Dol, Brittany | Bishop of Dol, prince, fled to Ireland following exile from his mother's kingdom |