St. Lelia

The diocese of Limerick today keeps the feast of St. Lelia, who as well as a commemoration in all other Irish dioceses. Canon O'Hanlon, in his lives of the Irish saints, says of this maiden that "her era and her locality have not been distinctly revealed to us; but there is good reason for supposing that she lived at a remote period, and most probably she let a life of strict observance, if she did not preside over some religious institution in the province of Munster". Lelia is now generally identified with the Dalcassian saint Liadhain, great-grand-daughter of the prince Cairthenn whom St. Patrick baptized at Singland. There are no particulars or traditions about her (in the 17th century she was said to be the sister of St. Munchin), but she gives her name to Killeely (Cill Liadaini) just within the borough boundary of Limerick. Her feast day is August 11th.