5th March - Saint Ciaran of Saighir - Independent Catholic News

5th March - Saint Ciaran of Saighir - Independent Catholic News: Bishop and monk. St Ciaran was born in West Cork in the 6th century. He came from an Ossory family. Ciaran went to Europe as a young man where he was baptised and ordained. He returned to Ossory and settled at Saighir near Birr in Co Offaly, first as a hermit, then later as the abbot of a large monastery. He may have been consecrated bishop by St Patrick. There are many legends about St Ciaran. He is said to have had great skills communicating with wild animals. A wolf, a badger and a fox helped him and his monks build their huts.