Bio

 

 Kevin was supposedly born to a royal Irish family of Leinster and was named Coemgen (Kevin in the Anglicized form). A legend about him says that a mysterious cow appeared twice a day when Kevin was an infant to provide milk for the baby. He was said to be baptized by St. Cronan, and studied under another saint, Petroc. At an early age, Kevin chose to become ordained into the religious life and left home to become a hermit in Glendalough at a place called the Valley of Two Lakes. He had already attracted many followers inspired by his faith, and he made this move largely to have solitude and seclusion.

​

For seven years, Kevin spent his time in prayer and lived with only the birds and animals, sleeping on, eating, and wearing only what nature provided for him. This itself was attractive to even more followers, however, and so a small community was built close to his cave. Kevin had soon become so famous that he developed his community into a monastery and seminary.

​

After a pilgrimage to Rome (he returned with many relics), and a visit to other close friends and members of religious life, Kevin spent another four years in solitude before returning to his monks at Glendalough. Under his leadership, it became the most influential, thriving monastic community in his country.

​

More modern cultural legends about St. Kevin from art and writing tell stories of him rebuking a woman who came to tempt him and of him standing still enough for long enough so that a blackbird could land and lay a nest and even sit on the eggs until they hatched and the birds all flew away.

.