St. Flannan
Dec 18
Patron Saint of Killaloe and of County Clare
St. Flannan mac Toirrdelbaig, was the son of Turlough, the King of Thomond in Ireland.
He became a monk at the monastery of Killaloe, and at a certain point made a pilgrimage to Rome where Pope John IV consecrated him bishop.
He was the first bishop of Killaloe, the diocese becoming one of twenty-four established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111. St. Flannan's diocese of Killaloe is operative to this day.