Stories & Legends
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St. Odran Gives His Life to Save St. Patrick
St. Patrick was taken captive in his youth by the Irish High King Niall during one of his raids into Gaul. He served seven years in bondage as a swineherd for the chieftain Milcho, who lived in County Antrim. After his escape to Gaul, Patrick had a vision in which he heard the voice of the Irish crying out: “We entreat thee, holy youth, to come and walk still among us.”
To his great joy he was sent by Pope Celestine to bear the True Faith of Christ to the pagans on the Emerald Isle.Truly was he the Founder of Catholic Ireland, for he won the entire nation to the doctrines of Christ without a drop of blood shed through persecution. There was, however, one martyr during this time, St. Odran, who left his mark in History to this day as a model ideal of fidelity. His story well merits the telling.
From the Vita Tripartite Sancti Patricii, we learn that on the borders of the future counties of Kildare and Offaly, the chieftain Failge Berraide worshipped the pagan god Crom Cruach and was a great adversary of Christ and, therefore, also of the great Saint Patrick. In fact, Patrick had destroyed the god’s statue at Magh Leécht, and Failge had vowed to avenge this act by killing Patrick. With this murder, he believed he would arrest the astonishing progress of the Catholic Religion by taking the life of its greatest promoter. Providence, however, acting through the Apostle’s faithful servant Odran, frustrated his purpose, as we shall see.
Odran takes the blow for his master Patrick
Now, Odran was Patrick’s charioteer and disciple who attended him on his missionary travels. Having overheard the plot of Failge Berraide, he studied the best place for the suspected ambush and made his own plan to foil the plot and save the Apostle’s life.
On the day that the evil deed was to be carried out, Odran was driving the chariot as they continued their journey along the Hy-Failgre territory not far from Failgre Berraide’s castle. Claiming to be greatly fatigued and in need of rest, Odran requested that he and Patrick should exchange seats; the Saint readily agreed and took the reins, and Odran settled himself in the seat of honor for a feigned rest.
Ere long they arrived at the spot where Failgre and his men lay in ambush. As the chariot passed, the wretched chieftain rushed forward and, in his fury mistaking the driver for the servant, pierced Odran’s heart with a spear.
For his Satanic perfidy, the murderer was struck dead shortly after this foul deed, and as a just punishment for his grievous crime, the Vita reports, his soul was buried in hell, while Angels were seen bearing that of Odran to Heaven, where he joined the array of purple-robed martyrs.
The grief of St. Patrick was great over the loss of his faithful disciple, and he pronounced that the posterity of that wicked Failgre Berraide should wane and lose power in the principality, while the chieftain Failgre Ros, who favored the Catholic Religion, and his posterity should rule therein, and this prediction was fulfilled.
The feast of Saint Odran, the first martyr in Irish History and only martyr during the time of St. Patrick, is celebrated on February 19.
On St. Patrick: ‘Relying on divine power, he suddenly drove away the snow and darkness that the magician had spread over the territory, which even the magician himself could not dispel.’
From the Vita Tripartite Sancti Patricii, we learn that on the borders of the future counties of Kildare and Offaly, the chieftain Failge Berraide worshipped the pagan god Crom Cruach and was a great adversary of Christ and, therefore, also of the great Saint Patrick. In fact, Patrick had destroyed the god’s statue at Magh Leécht, and Failge had vowed to avenge this act by killing Patrick. With this murder, he believed he would arrest the astonishing progress of the Catholic Religion by taking the life of its greatest promoter. Providence, however, acting through the Apostle’s faithful servant Odran, frustrated his purpose, as we shall see.
Odran takes the blow for his master Patrick
Now, Odran was Patrick’s charioteer and disciple who attended him on his missionary travels. Having overheard the plot of Failge Berraide, he studied the best place for the suspected ambush and made his own plan to foil the plot and save the Apostle’s life.
On the day that the evil deed was to be carried out, Odran was driving the chariot as they continued their journey along the Hy-Failgre territory not far from Failgre Berraide’s castle. Claiming to be greatly fatigued and in need of rest, Odran requested that he and Patrick should exchange seats; the Saint readily agreed and took the reins, and Odran settled himself in the seat of honor for a feigned rest.
The spear entered the heart of Odran & not Patrick
For his Satanic perfidy, the murderer was struck dead shortly after this foul deed, and as a just punishment for his grievous crime, the Vita reports, his soul was buried in hell, while Angels were seen bearing that of Odran to Heaven, where he joined the array of purple-robed martyrs.
The grief of St. Patrick was great over the loss of his faithful disciple, and he pronounced that the posterity of that wicked Failgre Berraide should wane and lose power in the principality, while the chieftain Failgre Ros, who favored the Catholic Religion, and his posterity should rule therein, and this prediction was fulfilled.
The feast of Saint Odran, the first martyr in Irish History and only martyr during the time of St. Patrick, is celebrated on February 19.
Posted May 23, 2026
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