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Caomhán of Inisheer

d. 865

Patron saint of Inisheer

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About Caomhán of Inisheer

Caomhán of Inisheer was a latin Catholic priest.

Saint Caomhán (; may have died in 865), anglicised as Cavan, sometimes Kevin, is the patron saint of Inisheer , the smallest of the Aran Islands. Although he is "by far the most celebrated of all the saints of the Aran Islands", little is known about him. He is said to have been a disciple of Saint Enda of Aran.

The saint's Pattern Day was formerly 3 November, but was moved to 14 June in the 19th century. There used to be a pilgrimage of the sick to his tomb on his day, and an open-air mass is still celebrated there every year.

St Cavan's Church St Cavan's Church (also "St Kevin's Church", ) is a ruined church, built in the 10th century, at the location of the saint's grave. In recent times it has been roofed to resist the incursion of blown sand from the surrounding dunes. All that remains visible of this structure today is the chancel. A century or so after this was built, the rest of the building gave way for a wider nave. The lintel over the original western doorway was reused in the enlarged building to become the entrance from the nave to the priest's residence. Three other features date from the late medieval period: the head of the chancel arch, the pointed doorway in the south wall of the nave and the priest's residence.

The grave of St Caomhan ( or "Caomhán's Bed") is located to the northeast of the church. It is a tradition on the island to spend the vigil of the saint's feast praying at his grave. It has been written that people were cured of illness here.

Modern church

The modern Séipéal Naomh Caomhán was built around 1901.

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Important facts

Born
Ireland
Died
865

Frequently asked questions

Who was Caomhán of Inisheer?

patron saint of Inisheer

When was Caomhán of Inisheer born?

Caomhán of Inisheer was born in Ireland.

When did Caomhán of Inisheer die?

Caomhán of Inisheer died in 865.

What was Caomhán of Inisheer's occupation?

Caomhán of Inisheer was a latin Catholic priest.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Caomhán of Inisheer

· Wikidata: Q14507071

· DBpedia: Caomhán of Inisheer

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Caomhán of Inisheer. https://biography.guide/caomhan-of-inisheer/

MLA: "Caomhán of Inisheer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/caomhan-of-inisheer/.

Chicago: "Caomhán of Inisheer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/caomhan-of-inisheer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-27 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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