St. Kevin
Also known as: Caoimhghin; Coemgen; Coemgenus; Comegen; Keivin; Kevin of Glen da locha; Kevin of Glendalough.
Kevin was born into nobility around 498 AD and was baptized by Saint Cronan of Roscrea. His name means "fair begotten" or "of gentle birth ( = Coemgen / Kevin ). He was educated by Saint Petroc of Cornwall from the age of seven living with monks, and ultimately studying for the priesthood in Cell na Manach (Killnamanagh). As a priest and a hermit monk he made the acquaintance of Saint Comgall, Saint Columba, Saint Cannich, and Saint Kieran of Clonmacnois. For seven years he lived and prayed in a cave at Glendalough, a Bronze Age tomb now known as Saint Kevin's Bed , to which he was reportedly led by an angel.
St Kevin of Glendalough | Legends tell us that Kevin wore skins, ate the nettles and herbs that came to hand, and spent his time in prayer. Word of his holiness spread, and he attracted followers, including Saint Moling and soon founded the monastery at Glendalough, which included relics brought back during a pilgrimage to Rome. This house, in turn, founded several others, and around it grew a town which became a see city. Kevin served as abbot for several years but when he saw that the monastery was well-established, he withdrew to live as a hermit. Four years later, however, he returned to Glendalough at the entreaty of his monk, and served as abbot until his death at age 120 on the 3rd June 618 AD of natural causes | 
River through Glendalough |
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So numerous were his followers that Glendalough became a veritable city in the desert. His festival is kept throughout Ireland. Glendalough became an episcopal see, but is now incorporated with Dublin. St. Kevin's house and St. Kevin's bed of rock are still to be seen: and the Seven Churches of Glendalough have for centuries been visited by pilgrims.
A Reading from the troparion on the Feast of St Kevin:
You were privileged to live in the Age of Saints, O Father Kevin
being baptised by one saint, taught by another and buried by a third.
Pray to God that He will raise up saints in our day
to help, support and guide us into the Way of salvation.
St. Finbarr
There are many legends surrounding the life of the seventh-century Irish hermit, St Finbarr. He was born near Bandon, about 550 AD the son of a royal mother, while his father, Amergin, was said to be a master smith. They baptized him, Lochan, but the monks with whom he studied ay Kilmacahill in Kilkenny renamed him Fionnbharr , or Whitehead, in honor of his fair hair.
According to legends, Finbarr went on Pilgrimage to Rome where the pope of the time was Gregory the Great, who wanted to consecrate Finbarr a bishop. He preached to the Irish in the south, and lived as a hermit on a small island called Louch Eiroe. He later established a monastery on the south side of the river Lee, on the corcagh mor from which the name of the city of Cork is derived. Soon many students flocked there from various parts of the country. They took possession of the large island in the marsh beneath, built on it and so gave birth to a city which now numbers over 70,000 inhabitants, and is the residence of the saint's episcopal successor. The coragh mor was built up in the lake as a fortification, a common practice in Ireland. Here, Finbarr's holiness drew many disciples to him, and his monastery became a renowned center of learning in Ireland.
Finbarr is considered as the founder and patron of the city and see of Cork, of Dornoch, the Episcopal seat of Caithness, and the island of Barra in the Hebrides. He is also the patron saint of marriage.
He died in Cloyne around 633 AD, and his body was taken back to Cork where Finbarr had been the city's first Bishop. According to legends, when Finbarr died, the sun did not set for two weeks.
