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Saint Finian the Leper(This is not the same St Finian that St Colmcille had the dispute with over the contents of the book.)
Feast DaySt Finian died in Clonmore on the 16th 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 16th March. Home ¦ Class Photographs ¦ Dates for Diary ¦ General Interest |Information ¦ Local History ¦ Newsletters ¦ Our Work ¦ Sporting Activities ¦ Useful Links ¦ Web Safety |
© St. Colmcille's B.N.S., chapel Lane, Swords, Co. Dublin |
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.