Famous Irish Saints: 13 Saints of Ireland and the Places to Follow in Their Footsteps

Who are the 3 patron saints of Ireland? Ireland’s three patron saints are Saint Patrick (17 March), Saint Brigid (1 February) and Saint Colmcille, also called Columba (9 June). Other much-loved Irish saints include Kevin of Glendalough, Brendan the Navigator, Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Canice of Kilkenny, Finbarr of Cork, Columbanus and Aidan, plus Oliver Plunkett, canonised in 1975. There is no single agreed count of Irish saints. Catholic.org lists 331, and many more are honoured locally.

When Roman authority collapsed in Britain in the 5th century, Ireland, which had never been part of the Empire, became a stronghold of monastic Christianity. Monasteries grew into schools and libraries, and the island earned its name as the Land of Saints and Scholars. From the 6th century, Irish monks sailed to Scotland, England and mainland Europe, carrying faith and learning with them, and the growing culture of monks and churches shaped everything from Irish place names to the great high crosses.

This guide covers 13 of Ireland’s most famous saints: who they were, what the legends say, and the churches, holy wells, mountains and pilgrim paths where you can still follow them. It also includes a feast-day calendar, a pilgrim-path guide and answers to the questions readers ask most.

Irish saints: fast facts

Three patron saints: Patrick (17 March), Brigid (1 February), Colmcille (9 June) Saint Brigid’s Day: a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland since 2023, on the first Monday in February (Monday 1 February 2027) Croagh Patrick pilgrimage: Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July Lough Derg three-day pilgrimage: late May to mid-August (in 2026: 29 May to 15 August), admission €85 Longest saint pilgrim walk in this guide: Saint Declan’s Way, about 115 km from Cashel to Ardmore Most recently canonised saint here: Oliver Plunkett, 12 October 1975

Saints of Ireland at a Glance

Saint	Feast day	Known for	Best places to visit
Saint Patrick	17 March	Bringing Christianity to Ireland	Croagh Patrick, Downpatrick, Armagh, Lough Derg
Saint Brigid	1 February	Kildare, Imbolc, the rush cross	Kildare town, Faughart
Saint Colmcille (Columba)	9 June	Donegal, Derry, Iona	Glencolmcille, Gartan, Derry
Saint Finbarr	25 September	Patron saint of Cork	Gougane Barra, Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Saint Canice	11 October	Patron saint of Kilkenny	Saint Canice’s Cathedral, Aghaboe
Saint Brendan the Navigator	16 May	Legendary Atlantic voyage	Clonfert, Mount Brandon area
Saint Declan	24 July	Christian pioneer of Munster	Ardmore, Waterford
Saint Kevin	3 June	Hermit of Glendalough	Glendalough, Wicklow
Saint Oliver Plunkett	1 July	Martyr, canonised 1975	Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda
Saint Buíthe	7 December	Founder of Monasterboice	Monasterboice, Louth
Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise	9 September	Founder of Clonmacnoise	Clonmacnoise, Offaly
Saint Columbanus	23 November	Missionary to Europe	Bangor, Down (and Luxeuil and Bobbio abroad)
Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne	31 August	Irish apostle of Northumbria	Lindisfarne, Bamburgh

A note on the island: Ireland is two jurisdictions, and saint sites sit on both sides of the border. I have marked places in Northern Ireland so you can plan around them. See my guides to Ireland and Northern Ireland for planning.

Saint Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland (17 March)

Everyone knows Patrick, and most people know the legend that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. In reality Ireland never had snakes after the last Ice Age, and the story is usually read as a symbol of his campaign against pagan belief. The real Patrick was not Irish at all. According to his own writings he was born in Roman Britain, kidnapped as a teenager by Irish raiders and enslaved in Ireland for around six years, before escaping. He later returned as a missionary and is traditionally said to have died on 17 March in the 5th century.

Folklore credits Patrick with using a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, and this is why the shamrock became Ireland’s emblem. To see how Dublin marks his feast day, read about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin.

Places to visit associated with Saint Patrick

Slemish, County Antrim (Northern Ireland), and Killala Bay, County Mayo. Tradition places Patrick’s years as an enslaved shepherd on Slemish mountain in Antrim, and some traditions also point to Killala Bay in Mayo.

Croagh Patrick, County Mayo. Ireland’s holy mountain rises to 764 metres above Clew Bay. Legend says Patrick fasted on the summit for the 40 days of Lent, and thousands of pilgrims climb it every year, especially on Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July. If you are Catholic, or visiting Ireland for a week and want a sacred climb, this is the classic one.

Saul, County Down (Northern Ireland). Saul is where Patrick is said to have founded his first church, in a barn given to him by a local chieftain. On the nearby crest of Slieve Patrick stands a large statue of the saint with bronze panels telling his story.

Lough Derg, County Donegal. On Station Island in Lough Derg you will find Saint Patrick’s Purgatory, a place of penance for well over a thousand years. The traditional three-day pilgrimage is demanding: pilgrims go barefoot, fast on one simple meal a day and keep a 24-hour vigil. It runs from late May to mid-August (in 2026, from 29 May to 15 August), with admission of €85 and a minimum age of 15, and you should book ahead. One-day retreats are also offered. Local legend says Patrick killed a great serpent in the lake and that its blood turned the water red. Read more about Donegal and my Donegal travel guide.

Armagh, County Armagh (Northern Ireland). Armagh is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. Tradition says Patrick founded his church here in the 5th century, and today the city has two cathedrals named for him: the Church of Ireland cathedral on the old church site and the Catholic cathedral, completed in 1904. See my things to do in County Armagh.

Downpatrick, County Down (Northern Ireland). Downpatrick is the traditional burial place of Patrick, in the grounds of Down Cathedral. An old legend says Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille were buried together here, though nothing can prove it.

Saint Brigid of Kildare (1 February)

Brigid is Ireland’s only female patron saint. Tradition says she was born around 451 near Faughart in County Louth, the daughter of a Leinster chieftain and a slave woman. She is remembered for her generosity to the poor and for founding a great monastery at Kildare around 480.

Brigid is tangled up with older belief. Before Christianity there was a goddess of the same name, associated with fire, poetry, healing and spring, and the saint’s feast day falls on the ancient festival of Imbolc, the start of spring. Most historians think the two traditions merged as Christianity spread. Read more about pre-Christian mythology and the pagan celebrations of ancient Ireland.

On Saint Brigid’s Day, people weave rush crosses and hang them over doorways, a custom that is probably older than Christianity and was meant to protect the home. Since 2023 the day has also been a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland: the first Monday in February, or Friday 1 February when that date falls on a Friday. In 2026 it fell on Monday 2 February, and in 2027 it falls on Monday 1 February. It was the first new public holiday in decades and the first named for a woman.

According to legend, Brigid chose the site of her convent at Kildare because a shrine to the goddess Brigid already stood there, where a sacred flame was tended by a group of women. Her convent is also linked to a school of manuscript art and to a lost illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kildare.

Places to visit associated with Saint Brigid

Saint Brigid’s Holy Well, Kildare. At Tully, near Kildare town, a spring runs underground and re-emerges under a stone archway, past a modern bronze statue of the saint. A nearby tree is hung with rags known as clooties, left by people who believe an illness or trouble will fade as the cloth rots away.

The Curragh, County Kildare. The Curragh plain is known as Saint Brigid’s pastures. One legend says the king of Leinster would give her only as much land as her cloak could cover, and that the cloak spread across the whole plain of roughly 5,000 acres. Read more in my guide to County Kildare.

Saint Brigid’s Cathedral and Round Tower, Kildare. The cathedral is said to stand on the site of Brigid’s original church, built under an oak tree, and it was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. The 12th-century round tower is often described as the highest in Ireland that you can climb, and the climb is steep and narrow, so check with the cathedral before you plan a visit. Her sisters kept a flame burning until the Reformation, and in 1993 the Brigidine Sisters relit it in Kildare.

Faughart, County Louth. Faughart is Brigid’s traditional birthplace and has a shrine and holy well dedicated to her.

Saint Colmcille (Columba) of Donegal (9 June)

Colmcille (Columba) was born on 7 December 521 at Gartan in County Donegal, of royal descent through Niall of the Nine Hostages, the legendary Irish High King. He trained under several great teachers, founded monasteries at Derry and Durrow, and is the patron saint of Derry. I lived in Donegal, and his name is everywhere there, from valleys to holy wells.

Colmcille’s most famous story is the Battle of the Book. The tradition is that he secretly copied a psalter belonging to Saint Finnian of Movilla, and when they argued over who owned the copy, King Diarmait mac Cerbaill ruled against him with the famous words “to every cow her calf, to every book its copy”. Colmcille refused to accept the judgment, and the dispute is said to have led to the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne around 561, where thousands died. A synod condemned him, and racked with guilt he sailed to Scotland around 563 to spread Christianity to the Picts. He founded the abbey on Iona and died there on 9 June 597. The old psalter is traditionally identified with the Cathach of Saint Columba, now kept at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.

Places to visit associated with Saint Colmcille

Glencolmcille, County Donegal. The valley is named for the saint (Gleann Cholm Cille, the glen of Colm Cille), and the ruins of early churches and crosses still stand where he and his followers are said to have lived. Every 9 June, local people and pilgrims walk the Turas, a pilgrim circuit of fifteen stations spread across the valley, several marked by ancient stone pillars that may pre-date Christianity. Read my full guide to Glencolmcille.

Gartan, County Donegal. The saint’s birthplace, near Church Hill, has a heritage centre and a lakeside setting. Check opening times before you go.

Derry (Northern Ireland). Tradition credits Colmcille with founding the monastery at Derry around 546, and the city still honours him. Long Tower Church is traditionally on the site of his monastery, and Saint Columb’s Cathedral is the Church of Ireland cathedral. Read my guide to the city of Derry.

Durrow, County Offaly. Colmcille founded a monastery at Durrow around 550. The Book of Durrow, an illuminated gospel manuscript that is older than the Book of Kells, was made in this tradition but is kept at Trinity College Library in Dublin, not at Durrow. On site you can see the High Cross of Durrow and several cross slabs in a small exhibition inside a conserved church. About 500 metres north is Saint Colmcille’s Well, with steps leading down to it and a plaque marked AD 550.

Saint Finbarr of Cork (25 September)

Finbarr is the patron saint of Cork. Tradition says he was born to a noble family, was known from childhood for miraculous cures, and was nicknamed Fionnbharr, meaning white head, for his fair hair. He is said to have made several pilgrimages to Rome and to have settled on an island in the lake at Gougane Barra before founding a monastery on the River Lee, the origin of Cork city. He became the city’s first bishop. Legend says that when he died at Cloyne the sun did not set for two weeks.

Places to visit associated with Saint Finbarr

Gougane Barra, County Cork. A monastery is said to have been built on a small island in the lake in the 6th century. The ruins today are much later, but the valley’s remoteness made it a secret place for Mass during the Penal Laws. The 19th-century oratory beside it is famous for its setting and richly decorated interior and is a favourite for wedding photos. It is the last stop on Saint Finbarr’s Pilgrim Path, one of the routes in the national pilgrim network.

Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork city. The Church of Ireland cathedral stands on the traditional site of Finbarr’s monastery beside the River Lee. The present Gothic Revival building, with its three spires, was designed by William Burges in the 19th century. Read more in my guide to Cork.

Saint Finbarr’s Cemetery, Cork. This large cemetery on Glasheen Road is named in his honour and dates only from the 1860s, so it is not his burial place. It is one of the older cemeteries in Cork still in use.

Saint Canice of Kilkenny (11 October)

Canice is the patron saint of Kilkenny, and the city’s great cathedral is named for him. Tradition says he was born at Glengiven in County Derry, trained in Wales, and became a friend of Colmcille and a successful missionary. He founded a monastery at Aghaboe and probably another at Kilkenny. He is one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

Places to visit associated with Saint Canice

Saint Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower, Kilkenny. This is one of the best-known sights in Kilkenny, once a medieval centre of Ireland. There has been a church here since the 6th century, and the present cathedral was built in the 13th century. Inside is the ancient Chair of Saint Kieran, still used to enthrone Church of Ireland bishops, and the round tower beside it is one of very few in Ireland that visitors can climb. I couldn’t climb the tower but spent an hour listening to the organ being played here. Read my full guide to Saint Canice’s Cathedral and the cathedral’s own website, and see the best things to do in County Kilkenny. Nearby, my guide to Kells Priory is a lovely medieval ruin to add to your day.

Aghaboe Abbey, County Laois. The abbey was founded in the 6th century by Canice and became a major centre of learning and farming. After the original monastery burned in 1234 it was rebuilt as an Augustinian priory. A Church of Ireland church from the 1700s now stands on the site, and it appears to contain fragments of the earlier buildings, including a carved limestone head on the east side of the doorway. Read more in my guide to County Laois.

Saint Brendan the Navigator (16 May)

Brendan was born in County Kerry around 484 and became known as the Navigator for the legendary voyage described in the medieval story of his travels. The tale says he sailed into the Atlantic with fourteen other monks in a leather-hulled boat, looking for the Promised Land of the Saints, or the Garden of Eden. He is the patron saint of sailors, travellers and whales.

Some Irish legends say his voyage reached North America, centuries before the Vikings and long before Columbus, and a later story even has Columbus visiting Brendan’s monastery at Clonfert. That part is folklore rather than documented history. In 1976 to 1977 the explorer Tim Severin tested the idea by sailing a replica leather boat from Ireland to Newfoundland, and that boat is now displayed at Craggaunowen in County Clare.

Brendan founded monastic settlements near the foot of Mount Brandon on the Dingle Peninsula, and later a great monastery at Clonfert in County Galway, where he is buried. He also travelled to Wales, England and Scotland. Saint Brendan’s Irish cream liqueur is named after him.

Places to visit associated with Saint Brendan

Saint Brendan’s Cathedral, Clonfert, County Galway. Brendan founded a monastery here in the mid-6th century, and at one time it is said to have held around 3,000 monks. It was raided by Vikings and burned in 1016, 1164 and 1179. The only medieval building that survives is the 12th-century cathedral, renowned for its Hiberno-Romanesque western doorway. It remains one of Ireland’s oldest churches still in use for worship and burial, and Brendan is buried here, even though he died elsewhere, at Annaghdown.

Annaghdown, County Galway. Brendan is said to have founded the first monastery here, along with a convent for his sister Briga, and to have died in it. The present abbey ruins date from around 1195, and the fortified monastery is quite massive. See my guide to two days in Galway for what else to see.

Mount Brandon and the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. The mountain that carries his name is a pilgrimage summit, and the Saints’ Road, Cosán na Naomh, is one of the pilgrim paths in the national network.

These monastic sites suffered repeatedly in the Viking Age. To follow that story, read my guide to the TV show Vikings in Ireland.

Saint Declan of Ardmore (24 July)

Declan is one of the early Irish saints who is said to have brought Christianity to Munster before Patrick’s mission. He is remembered as the patron of the Déisi of east Munster, a ruling people of the time, and for founding the monastery at Ardmore in County Waterford in the late 5th century.

Places to visit associated with Saint Declan

Saint Declan’s Oratory, Ardmore. This small oratory above Ardmore beach, known locally as the Beannachán, is said to stand over the saint’s burial place. The gravestone is long gone, probably taken by relic collectors, and a hollow in the south-east corner is now pointed out as the grave. Ardmore’s 12th-century round tower stands nearby. See my guide to Waterford.

Saint Declan’s Way. This pilgrim route runs about 115 km from Cashel in Tipperary to Ardmore in Waterford and has been nicknamed the Irish Camino. It follows the path Declan is said to have taken when he went to Cashel to meet Patrick. Walkers can plan sections using my guide to the best hiking trails in Ireland.

Saint Declan’s Holy Well. The well is at the start of the Cliff Walk in Ardmore and served as a baptistery. Declan is said to have withdrawn to a small cell where the ruined church now stands beside it.

Saint Kevin of Glendalough (3 June)

Kevin (Caoimhín) was a hermit and a reputed miracle worker who is said to have come from a royal Leinster family. Tradition has him living as a hermit at Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains, going barefoot, eating little and befriending the animals and birds. One of the best-loved stories says a blackbird laid an egg in his outstretched hand, and that he stayed still until it hatched. By the 540s his fame had drawn followers, and Glendalough grew into a monastery and school, and one of Ireland’s great pilgrimage destinations, with seven churches.

The monastery flourished for centuries despite Viking attacks, and was badly damaged by Anglo-Norman forces in 1214. Read more about Vikings in Ireland.

Places to visit associated with Saint Kevin

Glendalough Monastic Settlement, County Wicklow. The valley of two lakes holds a round tower, several ruined churches, an ancient cemetery and cross, and the nearby cave known as Saint Kevin’s Bed. It is one of the most important early monastic sites in Ireland. Read my guide to visiting Glendalough and plan a wider trip with my Wicklow Mountains road trip. Arrive early to beat the coaches.

Saint Kevin’s Way. This pilgrim path of about 30 km runs from Hollywood in west Wicklow over the Wicklow Gap to Glendalough, and can be walked in a day or split over two.

Saint Oliver Plunkett (1 July)

Oliver Plunkett was born in 1625 at Loughcrew in County Meath and studied in Rome. In 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and he returned to Ireland in 1670 during the years of Penal Law persecution. He opened a Jesuit school in Drogheda and worked to reorganise the church, but in 1679 he was arrested at the height of the Popish Plot panic and taken to London. He was tried in 1681, convicted of treason on perjured evidence and hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1 July 1681. He was the last Catholic martyr to die in England for his faith.

His remains were moved several times, first to Lamspringe in Germany and then to Downside Abbey in England, where most of them rest today. He was beatified in 1920 and canonised on 12 October 1975 by Pope Paul VI, the first new Irish saint in almost 700 years. He is known as a patron of peace and reconciliation, and his feast day is 1 July in Ireland.

Places to visit associated with Saint Oliver Plunkett

Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda, County Louth. The saint’s preserved head is displayed in a shrine in this Catholic church in the centre of Drogheda.

Saint Buíthe of Monasterboice (7 December)

Buíthe, also known as Boethius, was a 6th-century monk who founded the monastery of Monasterboice near Drogheda, in what is now County Louth. He died around 521. One charming legend says he died on the very day that Colmcille was born. Some traditions link the site to Patrick’s era, but little is known for certain about Buíthe himself, and the monastery is far better known for what it left behind.

Places to visit associated with Saint Buíthe

Monasterboice, County Louth. This ruined monastic site holds some of the finest Irish Celtic crosses in the country, above all Muiredach’s Cross and the Tall Cross, as well as a round tower. Vikings captured the settlement in 968 and it was an important centre of learning until the Cistercians arrived at nearby Mellifont Abbey in 1142, after which it declined. Read my guide to Monasterboice. Monasterboice sits in the Boyne Valley, so combine it with Newgrange.

The high crosses brought Bible stories to life for a population that mostly couldn’t read, much like church murals and sculpture. There is also evidence that the site was significant to pagan Celts before the monastery.

Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (9 September)

Ciarán was born around 516 and was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Traditionally he was the son of a craftsman, which set him apart from many early saints of noble birth. In 544 he founded the monastery of Clonmacnoise on the River Shannon, at a crossing point of the great east-west route across the bogs, and died of plague within months, still in his early thirties. His tiny community grew into one of the great monastic cities of Europe, a centre of learning, art and manuscript-making.

Places to visit associated with Saint Ciarán

Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, County Offaly. The ruins include a cathedral, two round towers, three high crosses, several churches and over 700 early Christian grave slabs, with the original high crosses displayed in the visitor centre. A visitor centre redevelopment was announced in 2026, so check the Heritage Ireland site for current opening arrangements before you go. Read more about Clonmacnoise and County Offaly. A pilgrimage and pattern day is held each September close to the saint’s feast day.

Saint Columbanus (23 November)

Columbanus was born around 543 in Leinster and trained at Bangor Abbey in County Down. Around 590 he left Ireland with twelve companions and became one of the greatest missionaries of the early medieval church. He founded monasteries at Annegray and Luxeuil in the Vosges, in what is now France, and later at Bobbio in northern Italy, where he died on 23 November 615. He is often described as one of the first Europeans, and he is the patron saint of motorcyclists.

Places to visit associated with Saint Columbanus

Bangor, County Down (Northern Ireland). The seaside town of Bangor grew around Bangor Abbey, the monastery where Columbanus trained and from which he set out for Europe. An international walking route, the Columban Way, has been under development to link his sites. Abroad, his story can be followed to Luxeuil in France and Bobbio in Italy.

Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne (31 August)

Aidan was an Irish monk trained at Iona, the abbey Colmcille founded. In 635 King Oswald of Northumbria asked Iona for a bishop to convert his people, and Aidan was sent. He founded a monastery on the tidal island of Lindisfarne, close to the royal stronghold of Bamburgh, and travelled on foot around Northumbria preaching. Lindisfarne became known as an English Iona. Aidan died at Bamburgh on 31 August 651.

Places to visit associated with Saint Aidan

Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and Bamburgh, Northumberland. I’ve been to Lindisfarne and explored most of the Northumberland coast, including Bamburgh Castle, and it is worth the trip for anyone following Irish saints, because this is where Ireland’s monastic tradition reached northern England. Lindisfarne flourished until the first Viking raids in 793. See my Northumberland coastal road trip and my guide to Vikings in the UK.

What or Who Are the 12 Apostles of Ireland?

The Twelve Apostles of Ireland, also called the Twelve Apostles of Erin, were twelve early Irish saints who studied under Saint Finnian at Clonard Abbey in the 6th century. They were instrumental in spreading Christianity and monasticism across the island. They are:

1. Saint Ciarán of Saighir (the Elder)
2. Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (the Younger)
3. Saint Brendan of Birr
4. Saint Brendan of Clonfert (the Navigator)
5. Saint Columba of Terryglass
6. Saint Columba (Colmcille) of Iona
7. Saint Mobhí of Glasnevin
8. Saint Ruadhán of Lorrha
9. Saint Senan of Scattery Island
10. Saint Ninnidh of Inismacsaint
11. Saint Laisrén (Molaise) of Devenish
12. Saint Canice (Cainnech) of Aghaboe

They were known for ascetic lives, a commitment to education and mission work, and their role in founding monastic communities throughout Ireland.

Irish Saints’ Feast Days and Pilgrimages: When to Go

Date	Saint or event	Where to go
1 February (public holiday on the first Monday in February)	Saint Brigid’s Day / Imbolc	Kildare town, Faughart, or anywhere Brigid’s crosses are woven
17 March	Saint Patrick’s Day	Armagh and Downpatrick, or Dublin
16 May	Saint Brendan	Clonfert, Dingle Peninsula
Late May to mid-August	Lough Derg three-day pilgrimage	Station Island, County Donegal (book ahead)
3 June	Saint Kevin	Glendalough
9 June	Saint Colmcille	Glencolmcille Turas, Gartan, Derry
1 July	Saint Oliver Plunkett	Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda
24 July	Saint Declan	Ardmore
Last Sunday in July	Reek Sunday	Croagh Patrick, County Mayo
31 August	Saint Aidan	Lindisfarne, Bamburgh
9 September (pattern day on the nearest Sunday)	Saint Ciarán	Clonmacnoise
25 September	Saint Finbarr	Gougane Barra, Cork
11 October	Saint Canice	Kilkenny
23 November	Saint Columbanus	Bangor, County Down
7 December	Saint Buíthe	Monasterboice

Irish Pilgrim Paths: Walk in the Saints’ Footsteps

Path	Saint	Route	Length (approx.)
Tóchar Phádraig	Patrick	Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick, County Mayo	35 km
Saint Kevin’s Way	Kevin	Hollywood to Glendalough, County Wicklow	30 km
Saint Declan’s Way	Declan	Cashel, Tipperary to Ardmore, Waterford	115 km
Saint Patrick’s Way (Northern Ireland)	Patrick	Navan Fort, Armagh and the Mournes to Downpatrick	Multi-day

Some routes, including Tóchar Phádraig, require registration before you walk, so check with the route organisers. My guide to the best hiking trails in Ireland covers more walks, and Ireland’s Ancient East links many of these monastic sites.

Tips for Visiting Irish Saint Sites

• Check access. Monastic ruins are often on uneven ground, and round-tower climbs involve steep, narrow stairs or ladders. See my guides to Accessible Ireland and Accessible Northern Ireland and check with each site before you go.
• Respect working places of worship. Many of these sites, including Lough Derg, Armagh and Croagh Patrick on pilgrimage days, are active sacred places. Dress warmly and modestly and follow any photography rules.
• Plan around feast days. They can be beautiful but crowded. See the calendar above.
• Bring for the weather. Ireland’s weather is changeable and many sites are exposed, so pack waterproofs. See my Irish bucket list and Ireland itineraries to combine saint sites with other highlights.

Famous Irish Saints FAQs

Who are the three patron saints of Ireland?

The three patron saints of Ireland are Saint Patrick (feast day 17 March), Saint Brigid of Kildare (1 February) and Saint Colmcille, also called Columba (9 June). Patrick is the national patron, Brigid is the only woman of the three, and Colmcille is also the patron saint of Derry.

How many saints are there in Ireland?

There is no single agreed number. Most early Irish saints were honoured by popular tradition long before formal canonisation existed, so the total depends on how you count. Catholic.org lists 331 saints of Ireland, and hundreds more are venerated locally.

Was Saint Patrick Irish?

No. Patrick was born in Roman Britain. According to his own writings he was kidnapped as a teenager, enslaved in Ireland for around six years, escaped, and later returned as a missionary. He is traditionally said to have died on 17 March in the 5th century.

Where is Saint Patrick buried?

Tradition says Patrick is buried at Downpatrick in County Down, in the grounds of Down Cathedral, where a granite slab marks the traditional grave. An old legend says Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille were laid to rest together there, though this can’t be proved.

Why is Ireland called the Land of Saints and Scholars?

The name comes from the early medieval period, when Irish monasteries such as Clonmacnoise, Glendalough and Clonard were great centres of learning, and Irish monks like Colmcille, Aidan and Columbanus carried Christianity and literacy to Scotland, England and continental Europe.

Is Saint Brigid’s Day a public holiday in Ireland?

Yes. Since 2023 Saint Brigid’s Day has been a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, held on the first Monday in February, or on Friday 1 February when that date falls on a Friday. In 2026 it fell on Monday 2 February, and in 2027 it falls on Monday 1 February.

What are the Twelve Apostles of Ireland?

The Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve 6th-century monks who are said to have studied under Saint Finnian at Clonard Abbey: Ciarán of Saighir, Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Brendan of Birr, Brendan of Clonfert, Columba of Terryglass, Colmcille of Iona, Mobhí of Glasnevin, Ruadhán of Lorrha, Senan of Scattery Island, Ninnidh of Inismacsaint, Laisrén (Molaise) of Devenish and Canice of Aghaboe.

Which Irish saints have sites in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland you can visit Saint Patrick’s sites at Slemish, Saul, Armagh and Downpatrick, Saint Colmcille’s Derry, Saint Columbanus’s monastery town of Bangor, and Armagh, where Saint Oliver Plunkett served as archbishop.

What are the best Irish saint pilgrim walks?

Popular saint pilgrim routes include Tóchar Phádraig from Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick (about 35 km), Saint Kevin’s Way from Hollywood to Glendalough (about 30 km), Saint Declan’s Way from Cashel to Ardmore (about 115 km) and Saint Patrick’s Way from Navan Fort through Armagh to Downpatrick. Some routes require registration, so check before you walk.

When was Oliver Plunkett made a saint, and where is his head?

Oliver Plunkett was beatified in 1920 and canonised on 12 October 1975, the first new Irish saint in almost 700 years. His preserved head is displayed in Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda, and most of his body rests at Downside Abbey in England.

Follow the Irish Saints

This is a short list of 13 famous Irish saints, but each one is a doorway into the landscape, from a hermit’s valley in Wicklow to a mountain pilgrimage in Mayo and a tidal island in Northumberland. You can visit the places in Ireland where the saints are said to have walked, prayed and preached. Have you visited any of these sites? Tell me about it in the comments.

For the wider story of Irish belief and tradition, see my Irish Culture and Folklore guide.

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👉 Is Ireland worth Visiting?

👉 When to Visit Ireland

👉 Hidden Gems in Ireland – 32 Secret places to visit

👉 Answering all your travel questions about Ireland

👉What to pack for your Ireland trip

👉How to get around Ireland

👉 Ireland Travel Tips

👉 Moving and living abroad

👉 Where to stay in Ireland

👉 Northern Ireland Travel

👉 Northern Ireland Public Transportation

Exploring the fascinating regions of Ireland

 Exploring Northern Ireland

Ireland’s Ancient East

Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

Ireland’s The Wild Atlantic Way

Discovering Dublin