The second edition of A Dictionary of Irish Saints by Professor Pádraig Ó Riain has just been published by Four Courts Press, offering an updated and comprehensive guide to Ireland’s rich heritage of saints. This new edition is a major revision of the original, which was first published in 2011, and it comes after more than a decade of further research, additional entries, and new sources.
Over the past sixty years, Professor Ó Riain has devoted himself to the study of Irish hagiography, and this dictionary is the culmination of his life’s work. The second edition runs over 700 pages and includes more than 1,000 entries. It incorporates material from the Supplement to the Dictionary of Irish Saints published by Four Courts in 2022, which serves as a further expansion of the already comprehensive first edition. The dictionary is invaluable for those interested in Irish saints, offering in-depth information sourced from Lives of the saints, martyrologies, genealogies, annals, folklore, and many more historical documents.
Professor Ó Riain’s dictionary has been praised for its “astonishingly comprehensive, intelligent, and well-organised” approach, and it is expected to remain a cornerstone reference for scholars and enthusiasts of Irish religious history for many years. The second edition also features a revised List of Sources, a detailed Introduction, and comprehensive indices, making it even more user-friendly for researchers.
Pádraig Ó Riain, who is Professor Emeritus of Early and Medieval Irish at University College Cork, reflects on his motivation for creating this monumental work. His fascination with Irish saints began in 1975 with a lecture on Cork’s patron saint, Saint Finbarr. The resulting interest in Irish saintly genealogies led to the publication of Corpus Genealogiarum Sanctorum Hiberniae in 1985. This, in turn, laid the foundation for the dictionary’s entries, though the project itself wasn’t fully realised until after his retirement in 2002.
In a recent statement, Professor Ó Riain shared his pride in the new edition, noting that the production quality is “exceptional” and that the updated cover design beautifully differentiates the second edition from the first.
The Dictionary of Irish Saints is available in hardback format for €65.00 and can be purchased directly from Four Courts Press or via their website. For those interested in exploring the spiritual and historical significance of Ireland’s saints, this new edition is an essential addition to any library.
Click HERUntitled design-10E to order your copy now and explore Ireland’s fascinating ecclesiastical heritage.
