Caomhan of Inisheer

Saint Caomhan of Inisheer (Caomhán, Cavan, sometimes Kevin) is the patron of the island of Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands off County Galway in Ireland. He is the best known of the saints of the archipelago, but little is known of his life, and part of the story is legendary. He is thought to have reposed around 865.

According to one tradition he was born at Cill na Manach in Leinster, where he was ordained priest by Bishop Lughaidh, then moved to Inisheer and remained there. According to another, he was a disciple of Saint Enda of Aran, regarded as the founder of monasticism in the Aran Islands.

The church of Teampall Chaomháin, a ruined building of the 10th century, stands on the site of his grave; wind-⁠blown sand has almost buried it, and the islanders have repeatedly dug it out so that the feast could be kept. Beside it is "Caomhán's bed", regarded as the saint's tomb and a place of pilgrimage. His day was 3 November, but in the 19th century it was moved to 14 June. Sick pilgrims used to come to the grave on that day, and an open-⁠air liturgy is still celebrated here every year. Around 1901 the parish church of the island was built, also under his patronage. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.