Saint Finian

Saint Finian the Leper

(This is not the same St Finian that St Colmcille had the dispute with over the contents of the book.)

Spital Hill.jpg St Finian the Leper is also known as St Finian Loabhar. He is a member of the race of Cianachta who are now known as Casey, Kean, Cian and O’ Mahoney. St Finian started a leper colony on Spital Hill in Swords. Leprosy was seen as a mark of God on the sufferer not as a punishment but as a form of sanctification that is, the person became holy as a result of bodily suffering. St Finian the Leper was patron of three churches in Ireland - Swords, Ardfinnan in Tipperary and Innisfallen in Killarney. The later part of his life was spent at Clonmore near Eniscorthy in Wexford. He spent much of his time in contemplation and often enjoying visions.

Feast Day

St Finian died in Clonmore on the 16^th of March in the year 1650. In Scotland there is an island at the end of Caledonian called Ellen Finan. In the old church on the island St Finian’s bell, which was made of iron, was preserved. His feast day is on the 16^th March.