Saint Berach

Saint Berach of Termonbarry, (died 595). Berach was a disciple of Saint Kevin and a celebrated Irish saint, whose memory is still celebrated in County Roscommon.

Berach was of the tribe of Cinel Dobtha, or O'Hanley of Doohey Hanley, to which also belong the MacCoilidh family. Most of his life was spent in the Diocese of Elphin where he built the church at Cluain Coirpthe, now known as Termonbarry or Kilbarry. Berach's sister, Saint Midabaria, was abbess of a nunnery at Bumlin (Strokestown), of which she is venerated as patroness.

Under the title of "Berach of Cluain Coirpthe" St. Berach is honored in several martyrologies, and his holy life attracted pilgrims to Kilbarry from all parts of Ireland. The MacCoilidh family, whose name was anglicized to Cox in the early years of the seventeenth century, were hereditary custodians of St. Berach's crosier, and were considered as 'lay abbots' of Kilbarry. The crosier is now in the Dublin Museum.

St. Berach's oratory at Cluain Coirpthe was replaced by a damhliag (stone church), built by MacCoilidh and O'Hanley in 916, and acquired the name of Termon Barry, or Kilbarry, that is the church of St. Berach.

Some authorities give his feast as 11 February, but most martyrologists assign him 15 February. Kilbarrack Church, County Dublin, was also named after this saint, as in his early days he spent some time there and performed many miracles, duly recorded in his life. His bell was long preserved at the Abbey of Glendalough, but has disappeared since the sixteenth century.

In 1890, Dr. M. F. Cox, of Dublin, the lineal representative of the MacCoilidhs, unearthed St. Berach's boat, and had it placed beside the present Catholic church of Whitehall, near Kilbarry.

Saint Berach is the patron saint of the Irish town Termonbarry (Kulberry).