St Gerald of Mayo

Abbot. Gerald was an Englishman who became a monk at Lindisfarne in the 8th century. He then travelled to Inishbofin in Galway with St Colman of Lindisfarne and was later made abbot of the English part of the monastery at Mayo. The community became known as the Mayo of the Saxons. It flourished and was known as a great centre of study.

St Gerald also founded the abbeys of Tempul-Gerald in Connacht and Teagha-Saxon, and a convent which he placed under the care of his sister. St Gerald's College in Castelbar, County Mayo, is named after him. He died in 732.