Picture: Andreas F. Borchert · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Íte of Killeedy
Irish saint
SaintResearchedDate unknown
Feast: 15 January (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
475
verified
Died
15 January 570
verified
Beatified
—
not on record
Canonised
—
not on record
Who they were
Ita, called 'the Brigid of Munster', was born in County Waterford about 475 and became a nun at Killeedy in County Limerick. Her austerities, miracles and gift of prophecy were famous, and many saints held her in veneration.
She was foster-mother of many saints, among them St Brendan the Navigator. She died on 15 January 570.
The miracles
Pope Pius IX granted a special Office and Mass for her feast; there was never a formal cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
The foster-mother of Irish saints.
Connected on this site
- Brendan the Navigator Saint“She was foster-mother of many saints, among them St Brendan the Navigator.” — this site's research
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Ita
- Wikidata Q1288349 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Íte of Killeedy (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.