born 1094, Armagh, County Armagh, Ire.
died Nov. 2/3, 1148, Clairvaux, France; canonized 1190; feast day November 3
Irish archbishop and religious reformer.
He studied at Armagh and was ordained a priest in 1119. While serving as vicar to the archbishop of Armagh, he persuaded the Irish church to accept reforms promoted by Pope Gregory VII in the 11th century, and he introduced the Roman liturgy into Ireland. He served as bishop in Counties Down and Connor before being named abbot of Iveragh, County Kerry. He became archbishop of Armagh in 1129 but resigned in 1137. In 1142 he introduced the Cistercians into Ireland. In 1190 he became the first Irish Catholic to be canonized.