Ibar of Beggerin
Encyclopedia
Ibar mac Lugna, whose name is also given as Iberius or Ivor, was an early Irish
saint, patron of Beggerin Island, and bishop. The saint
is sometimes said to have been one of four bishops to have preceded Saint Patrick
in Ireland
(see also the saint Ailbe
, Ciaran and Déclán
), although possibly they were just contemporaries. His feast day
is 23 April.
He preached in the present County Wexford
and is regarded as the patron of Beggerin Island (Begerin), in Wexford harbour. Although at first not disposed to yield to Saint Patrick (or his successors), he afterwards submitted and became his disciple. Much obscurity attaches to his early training, but he settled at Beggerin, where he built an oratory and cell. In the Life of Saint Abbán it is stated that Saint Ibar's retreat was soon peopled with numerous disciples from all parts of Ireland, and the 'Litany of Aengus' invokes the three thousand confessors who placed themselves under Ibar's direction. His nephew, St Abbán
, as a boy of twelve came to Beggerin in Ibar's old age and accompanied him to Rome
. His death has been chronicled in the year 500 on 23 April, on which day his feast is observed. Although Beggerin was formerly an island in the north of Wexford harbour, it has long since been one of the reclaimed Sloblands.
The Church of Ireland church in Wexford town is dedicated to St Iberius.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
saint, patron of Beggerin Island, and bishop. The saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
is sometimes said to have been one of four bishops to have preceded Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(see also the saint Ailbe
Ailbe of Emly
Saint Ailbe was a sixth-century Irish bishop.He is sometimes claimed as one of the pre-Patrician Saints, with Ciaran, Declan, and Ibar, but the annals note his death in 528 . A tradition held that he went to Rome and was ordained bishop by the Pope...
, Ciaran and Déclán
Declán of Ardmore
Declán mac Eircc , Declanus in Latin sources, was an early Irish saint of the Déisi Muman, who was remembered for having converted the Déisi in the late 5th century and for having founded the monastery of Ardmore in what is now Co. Waterford. The principal source for his life and cult is a Latin...
), although possibly they were just contemporaries. His feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is 23 April.
He preached in the present County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
and is regarded as the patron of Beggerin Island (Begerin), in Wexford harbour. Although at first not disposed to yield to Saint Patrick (or his successors), he afterwards submitted and became his disciple. Much obscurity attaches to his early training, but he settled at Beggerin, where he built an oratory and cell. In the Life of Saint Abbán it is stated that Saint Ibar's retreat was soon peopled with numerous disciples from all parts of Ireland, and the 'Litany of Aengus' invokes the three thousand confessors who placed themselves under Ibar's direction. His nephew, St Abbán
Abbán
Abbán moccu Corbmaic , also Eibbán or Moabba, is a saint in Irish tradition. He was associated, first and foremost, with Mag Arnaide and with Cell Abbáin...
, as a boy of twelve came to Beggerin in Ibar's old age and accompanied him to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His death has been chronicled in the year 500 on 23 April, on which day his feast is observed. Although Beggerin was formerly an island in the north of Wexford harbour, it has long since been one of the reclaimed Sloblands.
The Church of Ireland church in Wexford town is dedicated to St Iberius.