Image taken from St. Conleth’s College
Material distilled from Catholicireland.net / Celtic and Old English Saints / Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae
Regarding Conleth, the Martyrology of Donegal tells us that Roincenn was his original name, and that he descended from the line of King Laeghaire Lore, son of Ugaine Mór. Conleth was a man of extraordinary sanctity, and gifted with a prophetic spirit.
He was considered among the three illustrious artisans of Ireland, along with Tassach of Elphin, and Daigh. Conleth, was the principle of the Kildare college of metal-work and penmanship. He is also considered sculptor of the crosier of Saint Finbar of Termon Barry of Termon Barry in Connaught, held today in the Royal Irish Academy. Under Conleth, his community of monks excelled in creating beautiful chalices and other liturgical objects for the church, as well as copying missals, gospels, and psalters.
Conleth lived as a hermit at Old Connell along the river Liffey, near Newbridge in Kildare. One day, Conleth visited St. Brigid and her nuns in nearby Kildare, and they ended up working as missionaries together, attracting many followers. St. Brigid was very influential and recommended the appointment of Conleth as bishop and great deference was paid to her wishes. The Abbot Conleth was consecrated the first Bishop of Kildare about 490.
After some twenty years as bishop, the reverend Conleth began a journey to Rome, with a view to returning with vestments for his church at Kildare. He travelled against the wishes of his missionary helper St. Brigid. He died tragically early on his journey in the Irish woods, being attacked by wolves, on 3 May, 519.
Much of what we know of Conleth is taken from Cogitosus’s Life of Brigid (c. 650). Conleth’s feast day is celebrated on the 4th May.
by 