17/03/2026
"A Naomh Ciarán, déan edarghuí chun
Dé ar ár son: cosain do chlann in am an
éigin and tabhair saor sinn ó gach uile
olc. Amen"
As most of you know Oileán Chléire is the birthplace of St. Kieran, or Naomh Ciarán, the elder. He is also called Ciarán of Saighir after the monastery he founded in the Kilkenny area in the 5th century. Muintir Chléire are very proud of this famous child of the Island and celebrate his special day on the 5th of March.
The 1938 schools’ collection of folklore from Oileán Chléire (Vol. 295, p. 155-157) contains a biography of the Saint collected by Máire Ní Drisceoil, Comolán, from Nóra Bn. Uí Drisceoil, also Comolán. From that we find out that Ciarán called on God to heal a little bird which had been attacked by a hawk and God heard his prayer.
Tá sé mar bheal-oideas i gcómhnuidhe i gCléire, gurab é an céud mírúilt a dhein Naomh Ciarán, ná, aon lá amháin nuair a bhí sé féin agus a leanbhaidhe eile ag spórd dóibh féin in áit éigin thiar ar an bPoínnte. Do chonnaich sé seabhach ag teacht anuas ar éidín óg, agus do tríall ar é marbhúgadh. Do bhí an t-éinín go léir géarrtha, acht do dhein an naomh guidhe cun Dé go leigeasfaí an t-éan, agus do eist Dia na Glóire lena guidhe, agus do leigeasfhadh é. Níl fhios ag aoinne a thuille mar geall ar an naomh, acht gur fhan sé istig ina bhaile-dúthchais in Oileán Cléire go dtí go raibh sé trí bliadhna déug, agus níor baisteadh fós é. (https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4798749/4795599/5151031)
