The Osraighe (Irish for Deer People), a group of a Munster people known as the Érainn, establish a semi-independent state within the territory of Laigin / (Leinster) in the present County Kilkenny c100. The area around Ossory were said to have been anciently occupied, according to some interpretations of Ptolemy's 2nd century map, by tribes referred to as the Brigantes, the Cauci and the Usdiae. Some authors believe the Osraighe tribe(s) may have been pushed into the Kilkenny/Laois area by the rise of the Eoghanachta in Munster. The southeastern part of Ossory was sometimes referred to as Comor na tri uisge, "the district of the three waters." The territory of the Uí Duach comprised much of the north and the northeastern sections of Ossory.
The countries of Ely O'Carroll and Hy Carthin comprised some of the north-western portion of Ossory. The lands of the southeast were possibly the territories of the Uí Bairrche (Uí Bearchon, aka Ibercon), the Uí Dheaghaidh (O'Dea, aka Ida), and the Uí Crinn (Uí Grine, aka Igrin). The ancient sept of the Uí Dheaghaidh (O'Dea) would appear to have given its name to the barony of Ida (then part of the cantred of Iverk or Overk). About the yeare 571 the people of Osraighe were united with their neighbors to the northwest, the Eile, in a defeat at the battle of Tola, a battle which was apparently won by a chief of the Ulaid (northeast Ireland). Tola is the name of a plain situated between Cluain Fearta Molua (in the parish of Kyle in modern County Laois) and Saighir (Seir Kieran in modern Co. Offaly), in what was probably a key center for Osraighe at the time.
Beatissimus episcopus Ciaranus sanctorum Hibernia primogenitus i.e. bishop Kieran of Saighir was the first saint born in Ireland; and was of Leinster’s eastern portion, which is called Ossory. In that time the Irish all were non-christians and gentiles. Laighne was his father’s name and he was of the nobles of Ossory; his mother’s name was Liadain, and she was of the southern part of Munster, being indeed [to be more precise] of the Corca-laighde by race. According to the lives of the Irish Saints, St. Kieran was the first Bishop and founder of the Diocese of Ossory.
Palladius, ordained y Pope Celestine was sent to the Scots who believe in Christ as their first bishop. Some Scots, according to Prosper of Aquitaine in 431, had already begun the invasion of a region north of the Wall of Antonine, part of the latter kingdom of Dalriada, where they formed a settlement under a king named Saran and earlier invaders who were refugees from ireland had gained a foothold in Wales. Prosper who was residing in Rome, seems to imply that Palladius' mission was to Ireland itself when Patrick regarded himself as a pioneer. A century later, in the Martyrology of Oengus, Palladius is called the Old St. Patrick- the date 457 appears in the Annals of Ulster. Ireland had been Christianized before the mission of Palladius, who by bringing Patrick the Briton to Ireland only in 462.
Kieran, Ibar, Abban planted churches in the southeastern counties of Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, Tipperary, Kilkenny, and localities which Patrick may not have entered. When Ireland then had heard Christ’s name the disposition of Christian devotion had its first origin in Kieran; his parents and every other one marvelling at the extent to which all his deeds were virtuous. He was mild in his nature, and of converse sweet; his qualities were attended with prosperity, his counsel was instruction, and so with all else that appertained to a saintly man. One day that he was in Cléire there it was that, he being at the time but a young child, he made a beginning of his miracles; for in the air right over him a kite came soaring and, swooping down before his face, lifted a little bird that sat upon her nest. Compassion for the little bird took Kieran, and he deemed it an ill thing to see it in such plight; thereupon the kite turned back and in front of Kieran deposited the bird half dead, sore hurt; but Kieran bade it rise and be whole. The bird arose, and by God’s favour went whole upon its nest again.
What is known with certainty is that the saint was born in Cape Clear, Ireland in South west Cork, known then as Corca-Laighde, marked with the remains of the ruins of an ancient church and graveyard of Kill-Kiaran, close to the shore now known as Tra-Chiar?, St. Kieran's Strand. St. Kieran was born in Connacht, Ireland. He was the son of Beoit, a carpenter. After receiving the faith, either from missionaries or from the neighbours who traded extensively with the French, St. Kieran left his native home at the age of thirty and set out for Rome. He is said to have remained in Rome for twenty years and was apparently ordained a Bishop. On his homeward journey, he met St. Patrick who instructed Kieran to travel until he came to a well where he should found a monastery. Patrick gave him a bell, which was not to ring until such a time as Kieran reached the correct well.
A score and ten years now before ever he was baptised Kieran spent in Ireland in sanctity and in perfection both of body and of soul, the Irish being as we have said gentiles. But the Holy Spirit being come to dwell in His servant, in Kieran, he for that length [of time] lived in devotion and in perfect ways; then he heard a report that the Christian piety was in Rome and, leaving Ireland, went thither, where he was instructed in the Catholic faith. For twenty years he was there: reading the Holy Scripture, collecting his books and learning the rule of the Church; so that when the Roman people saw our Kieran’s wisdom and cunning, his devotion and his faith, he was ordained into the Church. Afterwards he reached Ireland again; but upon the way from Italy Patrick (primate of Ireland) had met him, and when they (God’s people) saw each other they made much rejoicing and had great gladness. Now at that time Patrick was not a bishop, but was made one later on.
Celestinus it was that made a bishop of him and then sent him to preach to the Irish; for albeit before Patrick there were saints in Ireland, yet for him God reserved her magistracy and primacy until he came; nor till his advent did their kings or their lords believe by any other’s means.
Said Patrick to Kieran:
“precede me into Ireland; and in the marching of her northern with her southern part, in her central point, thou shalt find a well. At such well (the name of which is uardn) build thou a monastery; there shall thine honour abide for ever and thy resurrection be.” Kieran answered and said: “impart to me the spot where the well is.” Patrick said to him: “the Lord will be with thee : go thou but straight before thee take to thee [first] my little bell, which until thou reach the well that we have mentioned shall be speechless; but when thou attainest to it the little bell will with a clear melodious voice speak out: so shalt thou know the well, and at the end of nine years and a score I will follow thee to that place.” They blessed and kissed each other, and Kieran went his way to Ireland; but Patrick tarried in Italy. Kieran’s bell was without uttering until he came to the place where was the well of which Patrick spoke: Uarán namely; for when Kieran was come - into Ireland God guided him to that well, which when he had reached, straightway the little bell spoke with a bright clear voice: barcán Ciaráin ‘tis called, and for a token is now in Kieran’s parish and in his see; throughout the territories round about ‘tis carried to be sworn upon [in covenants] between kings, for a sanction that they shall keep their troth. Moreover it is borne about to all peoples in general to procure for the successors to - Kieran’s monastery all that of which they may stand in need. Where it was made was with Germanus the bishop, Patrick’s master, who also gave it to Patrick.