Venerable (Monastic)6th century

Ita of Killeedy

c. 480 – c. 570

Also known as Ita · Ide · Foster Mother of the Irish Saints

A holy abbess of Killeedy in Ireland who taught and fostered many of the young saints of her land, honored as the foster-mother of the Irish saints.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Mother Ita, Abbess of Killeedy

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Life

Ita of Killeedy was a sixth-century Irish abbess remembered as the 'foster-mother of the saints of Ireland.' Born of noble lineage in County Waterford around 480, she founded a community of nuns at Cluain Creadhail in County Limerick, a place that came to bear her name as Killeedy, the 'Church of Ita.'

Her monastery operated a school for the young, and Ita became renowned for fostering and teaching children who later became prominent saints, most famously Brendan of Clonfert, the seafaring abbot. Known for her asceticism and sought after as a spiritual guide, she reposed around 570 and is venerated in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, with her feast on January 15.

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

c. 480Birth in County WaterfordBorn of noble lineage in County Waterford, Ireland, into a Christian family; tradition gives her original name as Deirdre.
c. 496Foundation at KilleedyAt about sixteen she moved to Cluain Creadhail in County Limerick and established a small community of nuns; the place became known as Killeedy.
early 6th centuryFostering of BrendanSaint Brendan was entrusted to her care as an infant and remained under her teaching until he was about six years old.
c. 570ReposeIta died after a life of asceticism; her grave remains at the ruins of her church at Killeedy.

Contributions & Legacy

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Foundation at Killeedy

By the accounts of her life, Ita was born of noble lineage in County Waterford around 480; tradition records her original name as Deirdre. At about the age of sixteen she withdrew to Cluain Creadhail in County Limerick, where she gathered a small community of nuns. The settlement came to be called Killeedy, meaning the 'Church of Ita.'

Her austerity is remembered in the tradition that, although a local chieftain offered her substantial grants of land, she would accept only a few acres, which she cultivated. She is said to have received the religious veil from Bishop Declan of Ardmore.

Foster-Mother of the Irish Saints

Ita's monastery operated a school, and she became renowned as a teacher and foster-mother of children who would later be numbered among the saints of Ireland. The most celebrated of these was Saint Brendan of Clonfert, the seafaring abbot, who according to tradition was entrusted to her as a small child and remained in her care until he was about six.

The tradition also remembers that she raised her infant nephew, later venerated as Saint Mochaemhoc. She was widely sought after as a spiritual guide by the saints of her time, and her counsel to Brendan on what pleases and displeases God is preserved in her vita.

Repose and Veneration

Ita reposed around the year 570 after a life devoted to ascetic discipline. Her grave remains at the ruins of her church at Killeedy, a place of continued local devotion.

She is venerated as a saint in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, and her feast is kept on January 15. She is honored as patroness of Killeedy and, with Saint Munchin, as co-patron of the Diocese of Limerick; at the request of the Bishop of Limerick, Pope Pius IX granted a special Office and Mass for her feast.

Member ofReadHide

Synaxis of the Saints of Britain and Ireland

Synaxis

Family1 relativeShowHide

Ita's nephew, raised by her in infancy and later venerated as a saint.

Saint Mochaemhoc (Pulcherius)

Companions2 figuresShowHide

The seafaring abbot whom Ita fostered and taught as a child; he retained a lifelong devotion to her.

Saint Brendanthe Navigator

Fellow Irish saint: the bishop from whom, by tradition, Ita received the monastic veil.

Saint Declanof Ardmore

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to her life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Fellow early Irish abbess: a foundational woman of Irish monasticism of the same generation.

Brigidof Kildare

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 15