Saints

Fifth century bishop. Patron of Ireland. Patrick was a Roman Briton, born somewhere on the west coast, between the Clyde and the Severn estuary. His father Calpurnius, was a civil official and a deacon. His grandfather was a priest. When Patrick was 16, he was captured by slave traders, and taken to Ireland where he was used as a herdsman, traditionally at Slemish in Antrim. During this time, he... Read More

Fintan was an Irish abbot who lived in the sixth century. Although of Munster descent, he was born in Leinster. He is said to have suffered from a skin disease, possibly leprosy. He ruled over the monastery of Swords, north of Dublin, and possibly over Clonmore at the end of his life, where he was buried. St Fintan originally opposed the adoption of the Roman method for determining the date of E... Read More

King. Edward was born in 962, the son of the English King Edgar and his first wife Elfleda. He succeeded his father in 975. Three years later, when he was just 15 or 16, he was assassinated at Corfe in Dorset, in 978, and quietly buried at Wareham. It is said that he was on his way to visit his half brother Etheldred, when he was set upon by Etheldred's retainers and stabbed before he could dismo... Read More