ABOUT THE SAINT
Within the serene grounds of St Conleth's Church in Newbridge, a tranquil garden and a poignant statue honour Saint Conleth. The statue portrays the saint with a child perched upon his shoulders, holding aloft a St Bridget's Cross.
Saint Conleth, a man of many talents, was an Irish hermit, metalworker, and reputed copyist and illuminator of manuscripts. It is believed that he hailed from the picturesque Wicklow area.
While leading a solitary life at Old Connell on the River Liffey, in what is now Newbridge, he was persuaded by the revered Saint Brigid to serve as a priest for her monastic community in Kildare. Around 490 AD, he became the first Bishop of Kildare. Cogitosus, in his insightful "Life of Brigid," refers to him as the esteemed "bishop and abbot of the monks of Kildare".
Tragically, Conleth's life was cut short in 519 AD when he was attacked by wolves in the dense forests of Leinster while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He was laid to rest nearby. In 799 AD, his relics were transported and placed beside Brigid's in the grand cathedral in Kildare. Finally, in 835 AD, his relics were returned to their final resting place in Connell.
Saint Conleth is the revered patron saint of the Catholic St Conleth's Parish, encompassing Newbridge and its surrounding areas. Old Connell, the site of Conleth's original cell, now a peaceful graveyard, lies within the parish boundaries.
A testament to Saint Conleth's renowned metalwork skills is the crozier that he crafted for Saint Finbarr of Termonbarry.
Saint Conleth's Feast Day is celebrated on May 4th.
Newbridge boasts a rich tapestry of faiths, with numerous churches representing various denominations. The town is nestled within St. Conleth's Parish in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. The parish itself has three churches within Newbridge: St Conleth's Parish Church (established in 1852), Cill Mhuire (established in 1983), and the Dominican St. Eustace's Church (established in 1966).
In the Moorefield area of town, a Church of Ireland church (established in 1828) stands as part of St. Patrick's Anglican Parish.
Newbridge Sports Centre welcomes the African faith group "The Kingdom of Heavenly Water, Fire and Mountains." Just outside the town, near Milltown, a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall provides a place of worship.
Within Newbridge Industrial Estate, the Open Arms Community Church offers a spiritual home. The Roseberry section of town is where the Newbridge Bible Fellowship Church can be found.
Saint Conleth, a man of many talents, was an Irish hermit, metalworker, and reputed copyist and illuminator of manuscripts. It is believed that he hailed from the picturesque Wicklow area.
While leading a solitary life at Old Connell on the River Liffey, in what is now Newbridge, he was persuaded by the revered Saint Brigid to serve as a priest for her monastic community in Kildare. Around 490 AD, he became the first Bishop of Kildare. Cogitosus, in his insightful "Life of Brigid," refers to him as the esteemed "bishop and abbot of the monks of Kildare".
Tragically, Conleth's life was cut short in 519 AD when he was attacked by wolves in the dense forests of Leinster while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He was laid to rest nearby. In 799 AD, his relics were transported and placed beside Brigid's in the grand cathedral in Kildare. Finally, in 835 AD, his relics were returned to their final resting place in Connell.
Saint Conleth is the revered patron saint of the Catholic St Conleth's Parish, encompassing Newbridge and its surrounding areas. Old Connell, the site of Conleth's original cell, now a peaceful graveyard, lies within the parish boundaries.
A testament to Saint Conleth's renowned metalwork skills is the crozier that he crafted for Saint Finbarr of Termonbarry.
Saint Conleth's Feast Day is celebrated on May 4th.
Newbridge boasts a rich tapestry of faiths, with numerous churches representing various denominations. The town is nestled within St. Conleth's Parish in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. The parish itself has three churches within Newbridge: St Conleth's Parish Church (established in 1852), Cill Mhuire (established in 1983), and the Dominican St. Eustace's Church (established in 1966).
In the Moorefield area of town, a Church of Ireland church (established in 1828) stands as part of St. Patrick's Anglican Parish.
Newbridge Sports Centre welcomes the African faith group "The Kingdom of Heavenly Water, Fire and Mountains." Just outside the town, near Milltown, a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall provides a place of worship.
Within Newbridge Industrial Estate, the Open Arms Community Church offers a spiritual home. The Roseberry section of town is where the Newbridge Bible Fellowship Church can be found.
ABOUT THE SAINT