ST FINBARR, FIRST BISHOP OF CORK, CONFESSOR - 25 SEPTEMBER

ST FINBARR, FIRST BISHOP OF CORK, CONFESSOR

Saint Finbarr [Finbar, Barr, Barrus, Barrocus] lived in the sixth age; was a native of Connaught, and instituted a monastery or school at Lough Eirc, to which, as to the habitation of wisdom, and the sanctuary of all virtues, such numbers of disciples flocked, as changed, as it were, a desert into a large city. 

This was the origin of the city of Cork, which was built chiefly upon stakes, in marshy little islands formed by the river Lee. St Finbarr's disciple, St Colman, son of Lenin, founded the famous episcopal see of Cloyne, of which he was the first bishop: he died on November 4, 604. 

St Nessan, who succeeded St Finbarr in his school, and built the town of Cork, was another eminent disciple, trained up under his discipline, and is honoured at Cork, on March 17 and December 1. 

The right name of our saint, under which he was baptised, was Lochan; the surname Finbarr, or Barr the White, was afterwards given him. He was bishop of Cork seventeen years, and died in the midst of his friends at Cloyne, fifteen miles from Cork. His body was buried in his own cathedral at Cork, and his relics, some years after, were put in a silver shrine, and kept there, this great church bearing his name to this day. 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints - 

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