Saint Flannan
Saint Flannan of Killaloe (born c. 600 AD in Thomond, Munster, Ireland; died c. 640 AD at Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland) was an Irish bishop, the son of King Torlach of Thomond, who renounced a royal succession to become a monk and eventually became the first Bishop of Killaloe. He is patron of the Diocese of Killaloe and Clonfert. The Flannan Isles — a remote archipelago off the northwest coast of Scotland — are named for him and bear the ruins of an oratory attributed to him. His feast day is December 18.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Flannan
| Saint Flannan | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 18 |
| Profession | Prince; monk; bishop; pilgrim |
| Rel. Affiliation | Irish monastic church |
| Patronage | Killaloe; Diocese of Killaloe and Clonfert; County Clare; Flannan Isles; pilgrims; Munster |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; ship or waves (island pilgrimages); royal crown set aside; Irish cross |
| Birthplace | Thomond (County Clare/North Munster), Ireland |
| Death Place | Killaloe, County Clare/Tipperary, Ireland |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Saint Flannan, Killaloe, County Clare — his cathedral; a Romanesque gem of Irish ecclesiastical architecture |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast December 18; observed in Diocese of Killaloe and Clonfert |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Flannan was born around 600 AD as the son of King Torlach (Turlough) of Thomond — the great province of north Munster (modern County Clare and surrounding areas). He was educated by Saint Blathnat and later studied under Saint Colman of Kilmacduagh. Though his father intended him as his successor, Flannan chose the monastic life.
He traveled to Rome on pilgrimage — a significant undertaking from Ireland in the 7th century. The tradition says that Pope John IV (or another contemporary pope) was so struck by his holiness that he consecrated him bishop during the visit. He returned to Ireland and became the first Bishop of Killaloe, governing from the monastery his father had helped establish on the Shannon.
The remote Flannan Isles, 32 kilometers west of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, bear his name and preserve the ruins of a tiny oratory attributed to him — evidence of the extraordinary reach of Irish peregrination. The islands became famous in 1900 when three lighthouse keepers vanished without explanation, a mystery still unsolved.
Flannan died around 640 AD at Killaloe. The Cathedral of Saint Flannan, built on the site of his monastery, contains a remarkable 12th-century Romanesque doorway. His feast is December 18.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Thomond (County Clare/North Munster), Ireland
Death location: Killaloe, County Clare/Tipperary, Ireland
Notable location: His episcopal see; first bishop of Killaloe; the Cathedral of Saint Flannan in Killaloe is built on the site of his monastery; patron of the diocese; a Romanesque doorway in the cathedral is one of the finest in Ireland (Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland)
Notable location: Remote rocky isles named for him in the Atlantic, 32 km west of Lewis; his oratory ruins are here; the islands are famous for the mystery of the three lighthouse keepers who disappeared in December 1900 (Flannan Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Cathedral of Saint Flannan, Killaloe, County Clare — Romanesque cathedral on the site of his monastery.
- Flannan Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland — ruins of his oratory; remote pilgrimage site.
Feast day
December 18
Veneration
Saint Flannan is venerated in the Diocese of Killaloe and Clonfert with a feast day on December 18.
Prayers
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