Macdara

Saint Macdara (Sinach Mac Dara) was an Irish saint of the 6th century who lived on an island off the west coast of Ireland. The name "Sionach", associated with stormy weather, was set aside and the patronymic kept. He is the patron of the fishermen and sailors of west Connacht.

Saint Macdara's Island in County Galway was home to a one-⁠room chapel, considered one of the finest early Christian oratories in Ireland; the wooden church was later replaced by one of stone, and the oratory was restored in 1975. Tradition says that angels built the stone church in a single night, and that the saint is buried on the island, where his holy well also lies.

His feast day is 28 September, while the popular festival Féile Mhic Dara is held on 16 July, with a pilgrimage to the island and a service. On that day the fishermen do not go to sea, and it is the custom for boats passing the island to lower their sails three times. The saint's name does not appear in the old calendars and martyrologies.