Born: Unknown, Ireland (assumed)
Died: 681
Country most active: Ireland
Also known as: Cera, Cier, Ciara
This biography is republished from The Dictionary of Irish Biography and was written by Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin. Shared by permission in line with Creative Commons ‘Attribution’ (CC BY) licencing.
Ciar (d. 681), foundress and first abbess of Cell Chéire, and saint in the Irish tradition, was closely associated with north Munster, especially the territories of Múscraige Tíre (on the shores of Lough Derg) and Arada Tíre (barony of Owney and Arra, Co. Tipperary). Ciar’s father is named as Dub Rea, the genealogies maintaining that, in common with Gobnait of Ballyvourney, she belonged to Síl Conaire – in other words to the Érainn, the tribal group that included the Múscraige. A note in the Martyrology of Óengus ( fl. c.830) locates Ciar in Mag nEscad, apparently a plain in Múscraige Tíre. An alternative pedigree supplied for Ciar Ascad, however, makes her a daughter of Colla (or Conla) son of Dícuill, implying an association with the Araid. It is likely that the same individual is intended, the variant pedigree being a product of local cult fragmentation.
Ciar features in the Life of Brendan (d. 578) of Clonfert, in an episode (§93) that certainly seems anachronistic, unless it is interpreted as prophetic. Brendan is represented as urging the people of Múscraige Tíre to trust in the prayers of their local saint Ciar that an eruption of infernal fire might be quelled. More credible historically is the alleged contact between Ciar and Fintan of Taghmon (Co. Wexford), who lived till 637. The latter’s Life (§12) names Ciar as the leader of a group of five virgins who visited the saintly abbot when he lived in the kingdom of Éle (north Co. Tipperary). He sent them on to the Slige Midluachra (the road from Tara to Ulster), where they were to join St Telle. This may hint at the diffusion of a cult of Ciar into the north-Leinster and east-midland region. Ciar Ascad was perhaps associated with Cell Ascad (Kyle Ascoot, parish of Kilpipe, Co. Wicklow), while a certain Ciar and her sister Midan are associated with the unlocated Ros Iarnglais in northern Leinster. Likewise of interest is the former placename Kyltekeare (Cell Tech Chéire), in the townland of Kilgobbin, Co. Dublin. Ciar died in 681; she is commemorated in the martyrologies at 5 January and again at 16 October, the latter entry appearing to be a duplication.