Colman of Cloyne

Saint Colman of Cloyne (Colmán mac Léníne) is the founder of the monastery of Cluain Uama, now Cloyne, in Ireland, and its first bishop. He is also one of the earliest Irish poets to write in the vernacular. He lived from about 522 or 530 until 600 or 606.

He was born in Munster, a son of Lénín, and was a bard at the royal court of Cashel. He is said to have been baptised at the age of fifty by Saint Brendan of Clonfert, to have studied at the monastery of Saint Jarlath at Tuam, become a monk and been ordained priest. He preached in Limerick and Cork and founded the monastery at Cloyne, where his cave and small chapel were shown. No Life of him was written; his deeds are known from the Irish annals, genealogies and martyrologies. Many places in Cork and Limerick bear his name, and he is the patron of east County Cork.

He is a saint of the undivided Church and is commemorated on 24 November (New Calendar).