Saints in Scottish Place-Names
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Donnán of Eigg
Introduction
Donnán of Eigg is known principally because of his martyrdom on the island in 617. Various stories account for the slaughter of Donnán and his monk, most showing little idea of the whereabouts of Eigg (Mart. O notes) That Donnán's cult was well established by at least the early 10th century is suggested a) by the long entry in Mart. T in which his 52 companions are named, and b) by his inclusion in the poem attributed, incorrectly thinks Clancy (Clancy and Márkus 1995,166), to Adomnán, A maccucain (Ó Riain 1985 no. 714) in which his kneecap is named as a relic. Donnán may have been viewed as Ireland and Scotland's ‘proto-martyr’ which may explain his popularity (Hennig 1946, 62); he may also have been popular also among the Norse (Rekdal 2004, 265-269). The vagueness shown by the Irish scribes from the 12th century onwards about the whereabouts of Eigg, and the lack of a genealogy suggest that his cult was of little note in Ireland by that time. The Dunkeld Litany has Donnate under martyrs, which might be Donnán of Eigg. There is a Donan also under monks and confessors.
Associated places
Eigg, Outer Hebrides
Obituary
AU 617.1 Combustio martirum Ega (plus addition by H2 glossator: combustio Donnain Ega hi .xu. kl. Mai cum .cl. martiribus). Clon. group includes ref. to ‘Donnán of Eigg on the 17th April’
Related Saints
Belongs to the group Donnán (ns) (certain)
Related Personal Names
Name
Donnán (certain)
Feast days
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Source code
Mart. G
Source title
Martyrology of Gorman
Editors
Stokes, Whitley
Year
1895
Notes
Full title is Félire Húi Gormáin, The Martyrology of Gorman edited from a manuscript in the Royal library, Brussels, with a preface, translation, notes and indices. It is published by the Henry Bradshaw Society.
Quote from source
Donnan mor 'sa manaig 'Great Donnan and his monks' gloss: adó for caeccait lion a coimhtionóil, co tangatar pioraiti na fairgi don oilen ina rabatar coro marbait uile. Ego ainm in oilein isin. 'Two and fifty was the full number of their congregation, and the pirates of the sea came to the island wherein they dwelt, and they were all killed. Eig is the name of that island.'
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Source code
Mart. Do.
Source title
The Martyrology of Donegal
Editors
Todd, J. H.
Year
1864
Notes
Other author to be specified.
Quote from source
Donnán Eaga, abb... Donnán, of Ega, Abbot. Ega is the name of an island in which he was, after his coming from Erin. And there came robbers of the sea (dibergaig na fairge) on a certain time to the island when he was celebrating mass. He requested of them not to kill him until he should have the mass said, and they gave him this respite; and he was afterwards beheaded and fifty-two of his monks along with him. And all their names are in a certain old book of the books of Erin, AD 616.
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Source code
Mart.T
Source title
Martyrology of Tallaght
Editors
Best, R. I. and Lawlor, H. J.
Year
1931
Notes
From the Book of Lesinter and MS 5100-4 in the Royal Library, Brussels.
Quote from source
Donnani Ega
Notes
Note in margin of Mart. T for 17 April says 'Zephan & Lurint & Geurgii & na naidin i mBethil & Petar decoin & Donnan Ego co n-ulib martirib in domuin hoc die commemorantur'.
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee
Source code
Mart. O
Source title
Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee
Editors
Stokes, Whitley
Year
1905
Notes
Full title is Félire Óengusso Céli Dé, The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee, critically edited from Ten Manuscripts, with a Preface, Translation, Notes and Indices.
Quote from source
La féil Petair deochain debraing martrai mbúade: cona cléir, cain dine, Donnán Eca húarae. 'At the feast of Peter the deacon, who advanced to victorious martyrdom, with his followers, a fair assembly, Donnán of chilly Eig.'
Notes
Some confusion is evident as to where (or what) Eigg is: a well in Caithness, a river, an island, a fountain. There is a story in RB512 about Colum Cille refusing to be Donnán's soul-friend because of his fate as a red martyr. He went to 'Gallgaidelu' where he and his followers were killed at the command of the queen of that place.
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
The Calendar of Fearn: text and additions, 1471-1667
Source code
Calendar of Fearn
Author
Adam, R. J.
Source title
The Calendar of Fearn: text and additions, 1471-1667
Series
Scottish Historical Society
Year
1991
Quote from source
Donnani sociorumque eius
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis
Source code
K. Brev. Ab.
Source title
Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis
Editors
Forbes, A. P.
Secondary Title
Kalendar of Scottish Saints
Pages
111-124
Year
1872
Notes
Kal. Brev. Ab. Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis, in Forbes 1872, 111-124
Quote from source
Donani ab
Notes
There are no special lessons for Donnán in the main text of the Brev. Ab.
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Source code
K. Dean Brown
Author
McRoberts, D
Source title
‘Dean Brown’s Book of Hours’
Journal
Innes Review vol xix, 2
Volume
xix
Year
1968
Notes
This was written for James Brown, Dean of Aberdeen in the last decade of the fifteenth century. D. McRoberts, D., ‘Dean Brown’s Book of Hours’ in Innes Review vol. xix, 2, 1968.
Quote from source
Donani abbatis
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Source code
Adam King
Author
Adam King
Source title
Calendar of Adam King
Editors
A.P.Forbes
Secondary Title
Kalendar of Scottish Saints
Pages
141-171
Year
1872
Quote from source
S. Donane Abot and confess. in scotland vnder king Machabeda
Day of Year
April 17
Calendar
Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster
Source code
K. Dempster
Source title
Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster
Editors
Forbes, A. P.
Secondary Title
Kalendar of Scottish Saints
Pages
177-229
Year
1872
Quote from source
Donani abbatis patroni in Achterles, cujus baculus cuilibet langori medebatur.
Day of Year
April 18
Calendar
Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster
Source code
K. Dempster
Source title
Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster
Editors
Forbes, A. P.
Secondary Title
Kalendar of Scottish Saints
Pages
177-229
Year
1872
Quote from source
In Buchania Donani ejusdem abbatis elevatio. K. B. [K = Adam King. B. = Ab. Brev.]
Day of Year
April 20
Calendar
Source code
Mart.T
Source title
Martyrology of Tallaght
Editors
Best, R. I. and Lawlor, H. J.
Year
1931
Notes
From the Book of Lesinter and MS 5100-4 in the Royal Library, Brussels.
Quote from source
et familiae Ego eliuatio.
Saint in place-names
Names
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