Seiriol

 ( People From Anglesey ) 

Seiriol (, ) was an early 6th-century saint, who created a cell at Penmon Priory on Anglesey, off the coast of north Wales. He later moved to Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island).

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Narrative Seiriol was a son of King Owain Ddantgwyn of Rhos, and younger brother of Cuneglas of Rhos and Einion Frenin of Llŷn. His cell at Penmon is said to have been rebuilt by his brothers, as they didn't think his humble residence was good enough. St Seiriol's holy well (Ffynnon Seiriol) lies in a small chamber adjoining its remains. Both are protected by Cadw, the publicly funded body responsible for the historic monuments of Wales. Adjacent to them are the church and ruins of a monastery also dating back to Seiriol's day.

According to legend, Seiriol and Cybi were good friends, and would meet weekly near Llanerchymedd, at the Clorach wells. Saint Cybi would walk from Holyhead, facing the rising sun in the morning and setting sun in the evening. Saint Cybi was known as Cybi Felyn ( Cybi the Tanned), as he was tanned during his journey. Seiriol, travelling in the opposite direction, from Penmon, would have his back to the sun.Thus, he was known as Seiriol Wyn ( Seiriol the Fair). Maddern, Eric and Mynall, Sue. Snowdonia Folk Tales, The History Press, 2015 Rhyd-y-Saint railway station ( English: Ford of the Saints railway station) on the Red Wharf Bay branch line near Pentraeth was named so, since Seiriol and Cybi are said to have met there.

St Seiriol's Well is a small rectangular pool set in a well chamber to the north of Penmon Priory church.

In his old age, Seiriol retired to Ynys Lannog which subsequently became known (in Welsh language) as Ynys Seiriol. Later it would be known to the as Prestholmr (Priestholm), and is known as Puffin Island in English since the 19th century. Pemberton, Max. "St Seiriol's Priestholm on Puffin Island", Anglesey Today

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Veneration Saint Seiriol is commemorated 1 February in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. "Holy Fathers Seiriol and Cybi of Anglesey in Wales", Pravoslavie The Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh of Great Britain and Ireland (Moscow Patriarchate) holds an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Well of St. Seiriol in Penmon, most recently on July 23, 2022. "Annual pilgrimage to the Holy Well of St. Seiriol (VI century) in Penmon, Wales", Diocese of Sourozh, July 26, 2022

Trams on the Great Orme Tramway are named after local saints, #6 being Seiriol. The Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Company steamer St Seiriol ran excursions to the Isle of Man. "St Seiriol", Simplon It served as an Auxiliary minesweeper during WWI.

St Seiriol is depicted in a Venetian Glass mosaic by Gary Drostle at the western end of The Celtic Gateway footbridge in Holyhead.

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Sources

• Seiriol on National Library of Wales Dictionary of Welsh Biography

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External links

• Mosaic of St. Seriol at Holyhead
• 'St. Seiriol's Well' Pilgrimage Site in Wales

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