st.Finian of Clonard-Founder and teacher of “the Twelve Apostles of Ireland” and other Irish saints

Feast Day : December 12

Finian of Clonard was born about 470 in Myshall, County Carlow, Ireland. He studied under SS. Cadoc and Gildas in Wales, then returned to Ireland where he founded schools, monasteries and churches. His school at Clonard was the most famous, and attracted some of the most famous saints of Ireland, including Columba and Brendan of Clonfort. Finian was abbot, or by some accounts, bishop, though he may never have been officially consecrated in that position. He died during a plague epidemic.