Saint Finnian was born in Ireland, studied scripture, and perfected his holiness with penance and prayer in Wales and France for 30 years. He was sent back to Ireland and founded the Abbey in Clonard where he became the “Teacher of the 12 Apostles of Ireland” who came to study under him. The Abbey in its height had 3,000 students. St Finnian also established schools, monasteries, and churches. He is considered the “Father of Irish Monasticism”. He died in 549 of the plague.
