Seir Kieran NS, Clareen, Birr, Co. Offaly

Saint Kieran

Saint Kieran was born in his mother’s locality on the island of Cape Clear in Co. Cork in the year 375.
Kieran’s mother was called Laidhan and she established one of the first nunneries in the country at Killyon, which is not far from Clareen.
When Kieran was thirty years old he travelled to Rome to learn more about Christianity. He spent 20 years in Rome and he became a bishop there.
When he was making his way back to Ireland, Kieran met Saint Patrick.

St Patrick said to Kieran

“Go to Ireland before me and approach the fountain called Uarán in the middle of the country. Build a monastery on that spot, for there you will be held in honour, and it shall be thy place of resurrection”.

Patrick gave Kieran a bell which would remain silent until he should find the well or river known as the Uarán.
The bell rang out when Kieran reached Bellhill in Clareen.
This was a thickly wooded area beside the river that we know as the Furarán. At the time Kieran built a small cell and lived as a hermit there. Soon disciples gathered around him and a great monastery grew up.

It is believed that Kieran died in Seir Kieran in the year 465 when he was 90 years old.
The feast of Seir Kieran is celebrated in Clareen on the 5 of March annually as it is believed that this was the date when St. Kieran died.