OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Fergna Britt, Abbot of Iona, March 2

    On March 2 the Irish calendars commemorate no less than three saintly abbots of Iona (Ia, Hy), successors to the great Saint Colum Cille. We will begin with Saint Fergna Britt, the fourth successor to the founder, and the account given of him by Canon O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints:
    The Acts of St. Fergna, or Fergnaus, drawn from various writers, have been published by Colgan, at the 2nd of March. The surname Britt, which signifies a “Briton,” was derived, in Colgan’s opinion, from his having lived in Britain; but, the Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks, that probably more is implied in such an epithet, than is found recorded. He belonged to the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall, and he was son to Failbe, belonging to the family of Enna Boghaine. Fergna was born, probably after or about the middle of the sixth century, having been a member of the community in St. Columba’s time. He is called Virgnous, by Adamnan, who describes him as being a youth of ardent piety. St. Oengus the Culdee and the Calendar of Cashel designate him, by an epithet meaning “white” or “fair.” He appears to have presided over the religious community, at Iona, from A.D. 605, to 623, having immediately succeeded St. Laisren, or Laisrien, who died on the 16th of September, in the former year.

    It is said, that St. Fergna had lived for some time with St. Lugudius, Abbot of Cluain-Finchuil, or Cluain-Fiacul, “in Ireland;” but, this Fergnous or Vergnous is clearly a different person. Both are confounded, however, by Colgan, who represents St. Fergna, as the disciple of St. Columkille. He was the fourth abbot, in succession; but, not so nearly related, to St. Columba, as his predecessors. Fergna’s death is noted, at A.D. 616, in the Annals of Inisfallen; at A.D. 622, by the Annals of the Four Masters; and, at A.D. 623, by the Annals of Tighernach, and by the Rev. William Reeves. The 2nd of March is supposed to have been the day of his death. Simply the name Fergna, Abbot of Ia, is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the same date. St. Oengus the Culdee notices him, at the 2nd of March, as likewise Marianus O’Gorman; but, in the gloss to his Calendar, Fergna is styled bishop. Yet, this is thought to have been an incorrect designation; in so much as the precedent, so recently established, in Iona, by the founder, could hardly have been departed from, in the case of its fourth abbot.

    Besides, a century afterwards Venerable Bede asserts, that in Iona they were always accustomed to have its ruler, a priest abbot. The Martyrology of Donegal mentions, as having a festival on this day, Fergna Britt, son of Failbhe, Bishop. In the entry of his name, by the compiler of a table added to this Martyrology, it is Latinized, Virgnous. In addition, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fergna Britt, Bishop and Abbot of Ia-Coluim-Cille, at March 2nd. At this date, likewise, the Carthusian Martyrology records his feast. At the 2nd of March, the Drummond Kalendar observes, that the Abbot Fergna, of the Hy monastery, went to Christ. In Ireland, this holy man seems to have had his office recited in nine lessons, as we learn from an old Antiphonarium, belonging to the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.


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  • Saint Sillan, Abbot of Bangor, February 28

    On February 28 we commemorate a sixth/seventh-century abbot and successor to Saint Comgall at the famous monastery of Bangor, Saint Sillan (Siollan, Silvan, Sylvan). The Martyrology of Donegal records:

    28. C. PRIDIE KAL. MARTII. 28.
    SIOLLAN, Master, Abbot of Bennchair-Uladh, and successor of Comghall, A.D. 606.
    Canon O’Hanlon gives this account of his life:
    Sillan was born, probably a little before or about the middle of the sixth century, but the place does not appear to be known. It is said, he became a disciple to St. Comgall, the first Abbot of Bangor. Sillan was distinguished for his virtues and learning. On account of his erudition and proficiency in scriptural knowledge, he was chosen as professor and rector, over the monastic school. Hence, he enjoyed the title of Magister, or Master.
    Beogna, who was Abbot of Bangor, died on the 22nd day of August, A.D. 605. In the Annals of Inisfallen, however, the rest of Beoguini is recorded, 601. St. Siollan was elevated, in succession, to the dignity of Abbot, as the third superior, over this renowned monastery. In the year 609, the burning of the monastery of Bennchoir, in Ulad, is recorded, in the Annals of Inisfallen; but, this happened, most probably, after the time of Sillan. This saint did not long survive his predecessor, in ruling over the monastery for, in about half a year after Beogna’s death, according to our “Annals of the Four Masters,” Sillan was called to bliss, after having faithfully discharged the duties of his stewardship, in this life. According to the Annals of Inisfallen, at A.D. 604, the death of a Sillain—probably intended for this saint—is placed. He departed on the 28th day of February, in the year 606, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. Again, the same day, but the year 609 is set down, in the Annals of Ulster, for his demise. The Annals of Clonmacnoise have the same date. The Annals of Tighernach have his death, at A.D. 610.
    The Irish Martyrologists place the festival of St. Sillan, at this day. Thus we find, in his Festilogy, St. Oengus has an early notice of this holy superior. His name is inserted as Sillan, Abbot, Banchoir, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the same date. The Calendar of Cashel, and Marianus O’Gorman, at this day, commemorate him, as the Abbot of Bennchor and the comorban or successor of St. Comgall. He is noted as a Confessor, in the ancient Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin, where his feast is inserted at the ii. of the Kalends of March—corresponding with the 28th of February. Again, in the Martyrology of Donegal, we find mentioned, as having a festival on this day, Siollan, Master, Abbot of Bennchair-Uladh, and successor of Comghall. In Scotland, likewise, this distinguished superior received his share of honour. The holy Abbot, Sillan, departed to Christ in Ireland, on the ii. of the March Kalends, or on the 28th of February, according to the Drummond Kalendar. His personal sanctity gained him the admiration and love of all his community; while his repute for learning has survived, although its manifestation may not now exist, in the shape of works attributed to him.

     

    Saint Sillan is also mentioned in a hymn commemorating the abbots of Bangor found in the Bangor Antiphonary:
    The holy, valiant deeds
    Of sacred Fathers,
    Based on the matchless
    Church of Benchor;
    The noble deeds of abbots
    Their number, times, and names,
    Of never-ending lustre,
    Hear, brothers; great their deserts,
    Whom the Lord hath gathered
    To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom.
    Christ loved Comgill,
    Well too did he, the Lord;
    He held Beogna dear;
    He graced the ruler Aedh;
    He chose the holy Sillan,
    A famous teacher of the world.
    Whom the Lord hath gathered
    To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom.Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • Saint Comgan of Gleann Ussen, February 27

    On February 27 we commemorate an Abbot of Gleann Ussen, modern Killeshin, County Laois. There is some confusion around the identity and period in which Saint Comhghán (Comgan, Comhdan) flourished. Some of this has arisen due to conflicting accounts about his pedigree in the Irish genealogies, but also because of the attachment of the suffix ‘cend-inis’ to his name in some of the calendars. This is found in the entry in the Martyrology of Oengus for 27 February:

    With the suffering of Abundus,
    Great his gifts of poems ;
    The feast of Comgan, Cend Inis,
    The finding of the head of
    John [the Baptist].

    In the nineteenth century Margaret Stokes translated this epithet as meaning ‘without reproach’, but some of the earlier hagiographers appear to have believed that Cend Inis (Ceann Innis or Kean-Indse) was a place in Munster associated with the saint and assigned him to the period of the seventh century. Canon O’Hanlon, however, believes that he actually belongs to the ninth century and is more firmly associated with Gleann Ussen. As he explains:

    That St. Comgan was connected with Gleann-Ussen appears, from the authority of the Menelogium Genealogicum, the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Cashel and of Marianus O’Gorman. This was the name of a remarkable glen, situated in the territory of Hi-Bairche, about two Irish miles to the west of Carlow. There exists a considerable portion of the ruins of an ancient church, called Cill Ussin, anglice Killeshin.

    At Killeshin, St. Diarmaid or Diermit is said to have built or presided over a church or monastery; and, this must have been as late as the ninth century, if we are to identify him with that Diarmaid, Abbot of Gleann-Uissean, whose death is recorded at A.D. 874. Now, Comgan is generally allowed to have succeeded him ; but, at what particular date is not clearly ascertainable, for we cannot find any well-known allusion to him in our Annals.

    We find him placed after St. Diarmaid, in the government of Killeshin Monastery, and he cannot have enjoyed this position, before the close of the ninth century. Probably this was about the time, when our St. Comgan was abbot over that establishment.

    At this day, he is commemorated in our Irish Calendars. We find the simple entry, Comgan, of Gliuni Usin, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 27th of February. St. Oengus the Culdee, likewise, has placed his festival in the Feilire. The Martyrology of Donegal reads:

    27. B. TERTIO KAL. MARTII. 27.
    COMMAN, Mac Ua Theimhne.

    COMDHAN, [i.e., Diarmaid,] of Glenn-Uissen, son of Diarmaid, son of Deghadh, of the race of Cormac Cas, son of Oilill Oluim ; and Ethne, daughter of Feidhlimidh, son of Tighernach, was his mother.

    The Kalendar of Cashel, the Martyrology of Marianus O’Gorman, and the Martyrology of Cathal Maguire, have entered his festival, at the 27th of February. This holy man appears to have been greatly venerated, in Ireland, where his Office, containing nine Lessons, was formerly recited.

    At the iii. of the March Kalends, or at the 27th of February, we learn from the Kalendar of Drummond, that in the Island of Hibernia, the Natalis of the holy Confessor Comgan, who went to Christ, was celebrated. No further biographical statements, in reference to him, have been preserved.

    In his authoritative 2011 Dictionary of Irish Saints, Pádraig Ó Riain upholds Saint Comhghán’s identification with Killeshin and that cen dinnis means without  reproach. He has been confused with another saint Diarmuid of Gleann Uisean, but they are two distinct individuals. Ó Riain suggests that the importance of Gleann Uisean is reflected in its early twelfth-century ‘chief teacher’ Duibhlitir Ua hUathghaile who wrote a version in Irish of the Sex Aetates Mundi, the Six Ages of the World. Saint Comhghán himself appears in a list of saints whose aid is sought for the men of Leinster in a poem attributed to Saint Moling. Saint Comhghán thus seems to be a good example of a saint who was once  ranked as an important saint of Leinster with a notable monastic foundation, but who is now shrouded in obscurity.

    Note: This post was first published in 2012 and revised in 2024.

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.