Saint Luchtighern, Barony of Bunratty Lower, Co. Clare
Saint Luchtigern lived during the early sixth century, A.D. By tradition he built the first church at Finlough and surprisingly later churches did not use the same site but rather went further up-slope. Immediately adjoining the town is Ennistymon Castle, formerly a seate of the O'Brien family, descendants of the Earls of Thomond. An abbey is said to have formerly existed here, over which St. Luchtighern presided. Born near Poggibonsi, Umbria, Italy; died 1260. Luchtighern; Luchesius, a miserly grocer, money changer, and corn merchant, is venerated as the first Franciscan tertiary. About 1221, Saint Francis of Assisi relieved of him wicked practices by enlisting him in the Third Order along with his wife Blessed Bonadonna. Thereafter the couple spent their lives in almsdeeds and penance. The Irish Saint Louthiern, patron of Saint Ludgran in Cornwall (October 17), may be identical to Saint Luchtighern, abbot of Ennistymon, who is associated with Saint Ita (Benedictines).
Died c. 570. Saint Ita is the most famous woman saint in Ireland after Saint Brigid, and is known as the Brigid of Munster. She is said to have been of royal lineage, born in one of the baronies of Decies near Drum in County Waterford, and called Deirdre. She convinced her father to allow her to lead the life of a maiden. She migrated to Hy Conaill (Killeedy), in the western part of Limerick, and founded a community of women dedicated to God, which soon attracted many young women. She also founded and directed a school. It is said that Bishop Saint Ere gave into her care Saint Brendan, who would become a famous abbot and missionary. Many other Irish saints were taught by her for years. For this reason, she is often called "foster-mother of the saints of Ireland." She is also mentioned in the poem of Blessed Alcuin, and her cultus is still vibrant (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer, Montague, Riain, Walsh, White). Emperor Charlemagne sent for the English scholar Alcuin of York to run his palace school and scriptorium at his capital, Aachen.
Firstly there was the Pre-Norman site, possibly even tenth century, the remains of which consist of the large limestone blocks in the site’s south-western part. Secondly, around 1300 A.D. the Norman De Clare’s had the site restored and this work also involved the incorporation of at least two sandstone windows in the south and east walls. Finally around 1480 A.D. the site was again restored and this time a new limestone-cut east window was inserted.
