Ailbe of Emly

Who they were

Ailbe was Bishop of Emly in Munster and died about 527 or 541. Almost nothing certain is known of him beyond the disputed tradition that he was a disciple of St Patrick, probably ordained priest by him.

Legend tells that as an abandoned infant he was suckled by a she-wolf, whom he later protected as bishop. His Acts are untrustworthy.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

One of the founding bishops of the Church in Ireland.

Connected on this site

• Declán of Ardmore Saint
  “Like Ailbe of Emly, Ciarán of Saigir and Abbán of Moyarney, Declán is presented as a Munster saint who preceded Saint Patrick in bringing Christianity to Ireland.” — Wikipedia