St. Finnian of Clonard

St. Finnian of Clonard (c. 470 – c. 549) was an Irish monk, born in Leinster, who studied in the monastic schools of Britain, possibly under the disciples of St. David in Wales, before returning to his native land steeped in monastic learning and discipline. Around 520 he founded a monastery at Clonard, on the river Boyne in the midlands of Ireland, which grew into one of the greatest centers of study and sanctity in the early Irish Church.

Drawing thousands of students, Clonard became the training-ground of a generation of monastic founders, and Finnian earned the title "Teacher of the Saints of Ireland," being remembered especially as master of the group known as the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland," among them St. Columba (Columcille) and St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise. Devoted to Scripture and to a life of austerity, he laid deep foundations for the flowering of Irish monasticism that would send missionaries across Europe. He is said to have died of the yellow plague and is venerated as one of the fathers of the Irish Church.