Saint Ibar (also known as Iberius or Ivor) was an early Irish bishop. The saint is sometimes said to have been one of four bishops to have preceded Saint Patrick in Ireland (see also Saints Ailbhe, Ciaran and Declan), although possibly they were just contemporaries. His feast day is 23 April.
He preached in the present County Wexford and is regarded as the patron of Begerin, in Wexford harbour. Although at first not disposed to yield to Saint Patrick (or his successors), he afterwards submitted and became his disciple. Much obscurity attaches to his early training, but he settled at Begerin, where he built an oratory and cell. In the 'Life of Saint Abban' it is stated that Saint Ibar's retreat was soon peopled with numerous disciples from all parts of Ireland, and the 'Litany of Aengus' invokes the three thousand confessors who placed themselves under Saint Ibar's direction. His nephew, St. Abban, as a boy of twelve came to Begerin in St. Ibar's old age and accompanied him to Rome. His death has been chronicled in the year 500 on 23 April, on which day his feast is observed. Although Begerin was formerly an island in the north of Wexford harbour, it has long since been one of the reclaimed Sloblands.
The Church of Ireland church in Wexford town is dedicated to St Iberius.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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