Saint Aedan is also known as Saint Maedoc (6th & 7th century), also known as Mogue and Aidan (Irish: Aedan). He was an Irish Saint, founder and first Bishop of Ferns in County Wexford and a Patron of other churches, such as Rossinver in County Leitrim and Drumalane in County Cavan. Aedan is a diminutive form of the Celtic name Aodh, Aedh, or Aed, originally Oed in Old Irish. The name meant “fire” and is related to the god of the underworld in Irish mythology. Madoc and Mogue are other pet forms of Aodh, meaning something like “my dear little Aedh”.
Aedan was born in Inisbrefny (an Island in Templeport Lake) County Cavan, about 558. Irish sources make him a son of Sedan, a chieftain of Connaught, and his wife, Eithne. A close look at the statue of Saint Aedan over our church doorway shows him holding a bell in his hand. Irish legend says that the “Bell of St. Mogue” was given to the infant on his birth by St. Kilian, who was also credited with his baptism.
When a youth, Aedan was a hostage of Ainmuire mas Setnai of the Cenel Conaill, High King of Ireland. Ainmire was so impressed with Aedan that he told him he could stay or go. Aedan said he would go, but only if the other hostages were released, whereupon Ainmire let them all return home. He studied at the great school of Saint Finnian at Clonard Abby. While at Clonard, Aedan made friends with Molaise, who would later found the monastery of Devenish Island on the River Erne.
He spent some time in Wales studying under Saint David. He returned to Ireland in 570 landing on the coast of Wexford with hives of bees, which had been scarce on the island. He is credited with helping King Brandubh win a victory over his enemies and consequently was granted land in Ferns which he used to start up a monastery. When it was agreed in a synod that Ferns be made a diocese, Aedan was ordained its first Bishop in 598.
He is credited with having evangelized many people and having established thirty churches in County Wexford. Many miracles are attributed to him including walking on water, changing leaves into loaves of fish and bringing a dead girl back to life. His staff is kept in the National Museum in Dublin, other relics with satchel are in the Armagh Cathedral. Aedan died on January 31, 632, on Lough Melvin’s shore in County Leitrim. His relics are claimed by St. Aedan’s in Ferns. His stone tomb is inside the cathedral, although his remains are under it, in the original cathedral crypt below. (Wikipedia.org)