Everyone knows or is at least vaguely aware that the Patron Saint of Ireland is St Patrick. The huge amount of ST Patrick’s day gifts that get given on the Saints day is legendary. You can join in the fun with getting some presents from Shamrock gift.  However there is another saint who made a huge contribution to the development of the Catholic faith in the nation. This was St Darerca. St Patrick knew her well. She was his sister!

The details of this Saints life are not as well known as Patricks. Some maintain that she was captured along with him by the Irish Pirates that force them into slavery. However, whether she escaped with him or was rescued when he returned is not documented. Some scholars suggest they escaped together and she supported his move to the priesthood when they returned home.

Her Saints day is just 5 days after Patricks but it generally passes without comment or celebration. No one proposes to turn the Liffey green on her Saints day. This is a little unfair as St Darerca is also supposed to have given birth to 17 children. They all grow up to be part of the senior priesthood in Ireland and even Saints themselves.

She marries twice and marries well. Both were well to do and one Cronis, became a King of Brittany. Ireland had 331 Saints, more than any other country in the Catholic Church. At least 17 of them were the sons and daughters of St Dareca meaning that she was Mother to 5.13% of Ireland’s Saints in total.