Muiredach of Killala
{{Short description|Irish bishop and saint}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox saint
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| name = Muiredach of Killala
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| image = Ballina St. Muredach's Cathedral East Window Irish Saints Detail Saint Muredach 2013 09 14.jpg
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| caption = Saint Muiredach as depicted in the east window of St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina, created by Franz Mayer & Co.{{cite book |last=Galloway |first=Peter |title=The Cathedrals of Ireland |publisher=The Institute of Irish Studies |location=Belfast |date=1992 |isbn=0-85389-452-3 |page=25}}
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| birth_name = Muiredach mac Echdach
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| feast_day = 12 August
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Saint Muiredach mac Echdach, also known as Murtagh, was the founding Bishop of Killala, Ireland in the 6th century.
Life
Muiredach was of the Cenél Lóegairi,[https://www.dib.ie/biography/muiredach-a6020 Mac Shamhráin, Ailbhe. "Muiredach", Dictionary of Irish Biography'', 2009] and connected to the royal family of King Lóegaire mac Néill.
He is described as an old man of Patrick's family, and was placed at the head of the Church of Killala by St. Patrick, as early as 442 or 443.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08640a.htm Healy, John. "Killala." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 21 Mar. 2013] The connection with Patrick doesn't reconcile with Muiredach's being active in the late 6th century, and probably reflects Armagh's interests in Killala.
He appears active in County Sligo, and allegedly met with St. Columba in the year 575, in a town called Ballysadare.
He likely retired to an island off the Sligo coast in Donegal Bay to an uninhabited island, Inishmurray, that bears his name. He may also be a patron of the monastery on that island founded by Laisrén mac Decláin. Muiredach died there as a hermit, and his feast day is 12 August.[https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-muiredach-c-480-patron-of-killala-diocese/ Duffy, Patrick. "Aug 12 – St Muiredach (c. 480) patron of Killala diocese", Catholic Ireland, 12 August, 2012]
St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala.[https://www.northmayo.ie/st-muredachs-cathedral-ballina-in-the-diocese-of-killala/ "St. Muredach’s Cathedral Ballina", Mayo North]
References
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Category:6th-century Christian saints
Category:Canonizations by Pope Leo XIII
Category:5th-century Irish Christian clergy
Category:6th-century Irish bishops
Category:Medieval saints of Connacht
Category:Disciples of Saint Patrick
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