Finnian of Moville

Who they were

Finnian studied under St Colman of Dromore and St Mochae, then at Candida Casa and in Rome, returning to Ireland in 540 with a complete copy of St Jerome's Vulgate.

He founded a famous school at Movilla, where St Columba was his pupil, and wrote a rule for his monks and a penitential code. He died in 589.

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

A founder and teacher who brought the Scriptures home to Ireland.

Connected on this site

• Colmán of Dromore Saint Teacher
• Columba Saint Pupil
• Comgall Saint Pupil
• Ninian Saint
  “A popular hypothesis proposed by Thomas Owen Clancy, a researcher and professor of Celtic studies, posits that Ninian can be identified with three other historical figures: Saint Finnian of Moville, Saint Finnian of Clonard, and Saint Finbarr of Cork.” — Wikipedia