St. Ciarán is known as the “first born of the saints of Ireland,” and is also known as Kevin the Elder. He was a native of Ossory before the time of Patrick. Ciarán was traveled to Tours and Rome to learn about Christianity.  It is held that he was baptized there.  When he returned to Ireland he he built himself a little cell in Ossory and lived there as a hermit for a few years.  Other devout men joined him and formed a monastery. Ciarán also founded a monastery for women, the care of which was given to his mother Liadan. It is believed that Ciarán was consecrated a bishop by St. Patrick.  Another tradition states that he was consecrated in Rome.

To read more about St. Ciarán visit this site for St. Kierans parish in Irish Valley, PA.  Photo from Friends of St. Ciarán.  Here is an excerpt:

St. Kieran is also known as Kieran Saighir or Kevin the Elder. He was born in 375 A.D. and is one of the first Irish Saints. He was born in Cape Clear Island, off the coast of Cork. His Fathers name was Luaigne, one of the nobility of the of Ossary. His mother’s name was Liadhan. She established one of the first nunneries in the country at Killyon.  Legend states that when St Kieran was 30 he went to Rome to learn about the new religion, Christianity. He became a bishop there.  Upon his return to Ireland 20 years later, Kieran met St. Patrick.  St. Patrick gave him a bell.  St. Patrick told Bishop Kieran to build a Monastery where ever the bell rang.  He went on to say that the bell would ring near a river or stream called Uaran in the middle of the country.  The Bell rang at Bellhill, Clareen.  It was here that Kieran built his monastery and began his work of spreading the Good News of Christ.  It is believed that St Kieran died when he was 90 in the year 465.

Under the Oak: Irish Saints of March: Ciarán of Saighir