Ever been completely over-shadowed by an older brother? That’s how we imagine poor old St. Darerca felt. 

While this time five days ago parades battled the weather across the country and the nation raised a toast to St. Patrick, today his sister, St. Darerca barely gets a mention. 

Yes, St. Patrick had a sister, and yes, she too is a saint.

Sadly, it’s pretty difficult to find an accurate account of her history, or at least separate the legendary from the legit, but it does seem that Darerca has quite the tale of her own.

As well as being the sister of Patrick, Darerca was the mother of many other saints. She is believed to have had seventeen sons and two daughters by two husbands, (some woman for one woman eh!). If it happened nowadays she’d be starring in an E! reality TV show.

Pat's sister: Darerca was a sibling of Ireland's patron saint...

According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, all of her sons became bishops, and at least three in turn were canonized as saints.  Both of her daughters became saints too, St. Eiche of Kilglass and St. Lalloc of Senlis. 

In honour of the largely forgotten saint, may we suggest raising a toast this weekend, preferably at a gathering of the finest women you know. She’s the patroness of Valentia Island too, so perhaps a roadtrip to Kerry is in order. To Darerca!