Ilar

Saint Ilar (in Latin Hilarus or Elerius) is a Welsh saint of the 6th century, venerated at Llanilar in northern Ceredigion. Very little survives about him apart from his name.

The old records show him as a Breton companion of Saints Padarn and Cadfan in their mission to Wales, perhaps coming from Armorica. The parishes bearing his name, Llanilar, about four miles south of Aberystwyth, and Trefilan, are linked with Cadfan, but they also lie near those linked with Padarn. Through the years he has often been confused with Saint Hilary of Poitiers (14 January); the Welsh saint is, however, often named separately as Ilar the Fisherman (Ilar Bysgotwr), Ilar White-⁠foot (Ilar Droedwyn) or even Ilar the Martyr (Ilar Ferthyr). The poet Lewis Glyn Cothi mentions him in the 15th century, and the old hundred of Ilar bore his name. His day is 13, 14 or 15 January, by the Western calendar (new style), but today it is not observed by the Church in Wales. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.