Saint Finnbarr was  born at Lisnacaheragh and he was a child of the Diocese of Cork. There his father, Ainairgen, was a professional artisan and his mother was the daughter of a local landowner. At his baptism he was named Loan McAmairgen. The baptismal name of Loan was changed to Finnbarr in unusual circumstances. Sometime after the baptism of the child, a number of clerics, who were on a pilgrimage from Ossory to South Munster, were impressed by the youth. With the permission of his parents they took him on the return journey to Ossory for his education. On the way the youth was tonsured at a place called Tlos Coill, believed to be situated in the region of the Nagle mountains, which now marks the northern boundary of the Diocese of Cork. In the course of the ceremony, the cleric who tonsured him remarked: “Fair is the crest (barr) on Loan.” The elder cleric added: “This shall be his name henceforth – Finnbarr.”

For a period of about seventeen years Saint Finnbarr worked not only as the master of great schools, but continued the pioneering work of Saint Patrick, extending the Faith. While still on active service he died about the year 620, aged about 70 years. The circumstances of his passing are indeed touching.

Because of continuing raids, his enshrined body was removed in the ninth century to a safer resting place, but in vain. The relics of the saint have been lost. Through the centuries many legends have grown in relation to the life and work of Saint Finnbarr. There is ample testimony to his holiness as a pioneer of the Faith and to his greatness as a man of Ireland’s soil. “May chaste Bairre from Corcach be before me in Heaven. For he was kind and gentle to the poor.”