Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman, Irish, and Aberdeen Martyrologies. Authority: — Mention in Jocelin’s Life of S. Patrick, in that of S. Comgall, and those of other contemporary Saints.] Kieran — called in the Roman Martyrology Queranus — was named also Macantsaor, or the carpenter's son • his father’s name was Beoaidh, and that of his mother was Darerca; she was descended from the bard Glas. His father was a carpenter in Meath. Crushed by the taxation of the King of Ainmire, he left his native land for Connaught, when, in the field Ay, Kieran first saw the light, and was baptized by S. Justus. Hearing of the fame of S. Finnian of Cluain-iraird (Clonard), he betook himself to his school, and did not leave it till he was well grounded in ecclesiastical learning. Thence, having received a certificate from S. Finnian, together with his blessing, he repaired to the monastery ofS. Nennid, in one of the islands of Lough Erne. This saint had been also a disciple of S. Finnian, and while in his school had made acquaintance with Kieran. As he had lately founded a monastery in the island, and had become bishop of the surrounding district, it is not improbable that Kieran went to him on invitation to assist him in the management of his institution. Kieran was received by him with great joy, and remained some time with him. Wishing, however, to improve himself further in the knowledge and observance of monastic discipline, Kieran went to the great monastery of the Isle of Arran. S. Enda, who still governed it, received him very kindly, and employed him for seven years in thrashing corn for the use of the community. During that period he was considered as a pattern of piety and sanctity, and Enda is said to have had some visions relative to the great merit of Kieran, and the number of religions houses which in course of time would belong to his institution.

At the expiration of these seven years our saint removed, according to one account, to Inniscathig, where he was charged by S. Senan with the care of providing for strangers. But his liberality to the poor was so profuse that he incurred the displeasure of some of the monks, and accordingly thought it advisable to quit the monastery. He then proceeded to an island of Lough Rie, called Aingin, where, having erected a monastery, he was soon surrounded by a vast number of excellent monks. This was his first establishment, and he remained abbot of it for seven years, till 548, when, leaving the care of it to Adamnan, a monastic man, he removed to the west bank of the Shannon, and, on a site granted him by King Dermit, founded the great monastery of Clonmacnoise. King Dermit had a high opinion of S. Kieran, who, it is said, had foretold to him his accession to the sovereignty. At the request of the saint, the prince laid with his own hands the first stone of the foundation.

S. Kieran did not long survive the foundation of Clonmacnoise, as he fell sick of a pestilence which raged in the year 549, and which carried him off, some say at the early age of thirty-three; and from the fact of his being a carpenter’s son, and of having died at the same age as Christ, it was thought that the resemblance between the saint and his Lord was peculiarly remarkable. His institution, fox which he had drawn up a particular rule, was extended after his death to a great number of religious houses. Kieran is said to have composed a lay asking God for a long life in which to serve Him; but his prayer was not answered, “he was made perfect in a short time.’' S. Columba [Irish abbot of Iona (d. 597), apostle of Scotland] wrote a hymn in praise of Kieran, beginning with these lines: — “Quantum Christe, O, apostolum Mundo misisti hominem ?

Lucerna hujus insulae.” He is said also to have carried away some clay from his grave. On getting into the eddy of Corryvrechan, Columba threw it into the sea, and was saved from wreck. Kieran is not to be confounded with S. Kieran of Saigir (March 5). S, Omer.