18 DECEMBER

. . . .is the feast of St. Flannan, the 7th century abbot and first bishop of Killaloe. Flannan, as abbot, made a pilgrimage to Rome. While there, he was consecrated bishop by Pope John IV. St. Flannan’s Oratory still stands in Killaloe and is reputed to have been the parish church of Brian Boru.

There has been a cathedral in Killaloe since St. Flannan’s day. The present St. Flannan’s Cathedral was begun in the 13th century and is now the Church of Ireland cathedral for the diocese of Killaloe. (Or as it is officially known: “The United Dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly.”)