Feast day: 15 January
St Ita, who is called the “Brigid of Munster”, was born in 480 in the present county of Waterford. Her father was Cennfoelad and her mother was Necta. Cennfoelad was descended from Felim the Lawgiver, King of Tara. Her mother was probably a sister of Brigid’s mother. She was baptised as Deidre and grew up near Drum, County Waterford. She was said to embody the six virtues of Irish womanhood: wisdom, purity, beauty, musical ability, gentle speech and skills at needle work. She is said to have rejected a prestigious marriage for religious life.
At the age of sixteen she moved to Cluain Creadhail, Co. Limerick - a place that became known as Killeedy, meaning “Church of St Ita” - where she founded a small community of nuns and remained for the rest of her life as a religious. She received the veil from Bishop Declan of Ardmore. Legend has it that Ita was led to Killeedy by three heavenly lights. The first was at the top of the Galtee mountains, the second on the Mullaghareirk mountains and the third at Cluain Creadhail. Her sister Fiona joined her as a member of the community.
She was reputed to be a strong individual from the stories told about her. When she decided to settle in Killeedy a chieftain offered her a large grant of land to support the convent. Ita, however, would only accept four acres, which she cultivated intensely. The community seemed to have a school for little boys where they were taught: “Faith in God with purity of heart; simplicity of life with religion; generosity with love”. Her pupils are said to have included Saint Brendan, whom Bishop Erc gave to Ita in foster care when he was a year old. St Ita kept him till he was six. The Navigator visited her between his voyages and always followed her advice. He is said to have asked Ita what three things God loved best. “True faith in God and a pure heart, a simple life with a religious spirit and open-handedness inspired by charity.” The things God hated were a scowling face, obstinacy in wrongdoing and too great a confidence in the power of money.
Ita dedicated herself to prayer, fasting and simplicity, and she cultivated a gift for spiritual discernment. She was sought after as a spiritual director. The celtic church at this time recognised the gifts of women. It is probable that Ita was abbess of a double monastery of men and women.
Numerous miracles are attributed to Ita. She is said to be the author of an Irish lullaby, an English version of which was set for voice and piano by the American composer Samuel Barber.
It is believed that Ita suffered from a severe illness, possibly cancer, which caused her great suffering. She died in around 570, invoking the blessing of heaven on the clergy and laity of the district around Killeedy. Her grave, frequently decorated with flowers, is in the ruins of Cill Íde, a Romanesque church, where her monastery once stood and which was destroyed by the Vikings. The site is a place of pilgrimage today.
St Ita, pray for us.