Life of St. Declan of Ardmore

This 12th century text is one of the only accounts of Declán of Ardmore’s life. In the late 5th century, Declán converted the people of the feudal lands in southern Ireland to Christianity, later founding a monastery there. The saint’s work likely primed Ireland for the work of the iconic St. Patrick a little over one hundred years later. Not only a biography of Declán, this text offers up rare historical insights into medieval culture in the British Isles, as it often references unique cultural mythologies.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff