St. Kevin of Glendalough (entered eternal life 618).
As is the case with many Irish saints, the story of Kevin, or Coemgen, was embellished by wandering bards who inspired generations with the lives and feats of God’s holy ones. The Lives that we have from the tenth and eleventh centuries all agree that Kevin was a devout follower of Christ, a man of prayer and penance, a friend of bird and beast.
He was born in Leinster, educated by monks, and as a young man, left the monastery to seek solitude in Glendalough, a narrow valley between the Wicklow hills. The niche or cave where Kevin is said to have lived can still be seen today. Steep cliffs rise above it, and deep lakes spread out below. In this wild place, Kevin lived on berries, apples, and nettles. Each evening, as penance, he plunged his body into the icy lake water for an hour. After a time, Kevin was sought out by others and convinced to move down the valley, where a monastery was founded.
The animals in that place showed Kevin great affection. On one occasion Kevin prayed for so long with his arms outstretched that a bird came and built her nest in his hand. When Kevin adopted little Foelán, the child of a separated couple, a doe tamely permitted the monks to milk her to feed the little boy. Kevin is said to have died in the early seventh century. His monastery flourished for hundreds of years.
From The Magnificat.