St Gobnait - the patron saint of bees and beekeeping

Mary O’Riordan traces the mythic history of bees and beekeeping in the early Christian stories of Gobnait.

Last Thursday, February 11, we celebrated St Gobnait’s Feast Day, patron saint of bees and beekeepers.

If it happens to be your birthday you may be called either – Abigail (brings joy) or Deborah which are the English forms of the name. St Gobnait is one of the best loved local saints in the areas where her cult is strong, yet she remains relatively unknown in many other places.