About Saint Etchen
Lived 490 – 577 (aged 86–87). Saint Etchen was a missionary.
St. Etchen (Etchenius, Ecian or Echen; 490 – 11 February 577) was an Irish Abbot who founded a monastery in Clonfad, County Westmeath.
Traditional narrative
Legend states that Etchen ordained Columba into the priesthood, and that he had to stop in the middle of ploughing a field to perform the act.
Death Etchen died on 11 February 577AD of natural causes. He was buried at his monastery in Clonfad. His date is celebrated as the Feast of Saint Etchen in Ireland.
Veneration A number of local schools and churches are named after St. Etchen, including:
Church of St. Etchen, Killucan St. Etchen National School, Kinnegad
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Saint Etchen's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Saint Etchen's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Saint Etchen?
Irish abbot and early saint
When was Saint Etchen born?
Saint Etchen was born in 490 in Ireland, Leinster.
When did Saint Etchen die?
Saint Etchen died on 11 February 577 in Clonfad, Ireland.
What was Saint Etchen's occupation?
Saint Etchen was a missionary.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Saint Etchen. https://biography.guide/saint-etchen/
MLA: "Saint Etchen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/saint-etchen/.
Chicago: "Saint Etchen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/saint-etchen/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC