Saint Finbarr

Infobox Saint
name=Saint Finbarr
birth_date=550 AD
death_date=620 AD
feast_day=September 25
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


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birth_place=near Bandon, Ireland
death_place=Cloyne, County Cork, Ireland
titles=Bishop and Confessor
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patronage=Cork, Diocese of Cork
major_shrine=Saint Finbarre's Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral), County Cork
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Saint Finbarr (c. 550–c. 620) Bishop of Cork in the 6th century and patron saint for the city and Diocese of Cork.

Possibly born near Bandon, and originally named "Lochan," he is said to have studied in County Kilkenny where he was renamed "Fionnbharr" ("Fairhead" in Irish) for the color of his hair.

Finbarr is widely believed to have lived at an island hermitage at Gougane Barra, before founding a monastic settlement and center of learning at "an Corcach Mór." This settlement was to eventually grow to become the city of Cork.

Varying accounts of Finbarr's life suggest he travelled to Rome, and preached at Barra in Scotland.

Finbarr died at Cloyne in Cork and was buried in Gill Abbey - a site occupied by the present day Church of Ireland Saint Finbarre's Cathedral.

There are several variations on the spelling of Finbarr's name. It will often be spelt as "Finbarre," or as a modern derivation "Finbar." (popular as a masculine name in Cork).

Finbar is an Irish name. Roman Catholics and Protestants both venerate St Finbarr. His feast day is September 25.

ee also

*Cork
*Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
*St. Finbarr's Cemetery, Cork
*University College Cork
*Gougane Barra

External links

* [http://cathedral.cork.anglican.org/history.html History of Saint Finbarre's cathedral and about Finbarr]
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf0m.htm Finbarr brief overview]