Donnán of Eigg

Donnán of Eigg
Born	Likely to be Ireland
Died	April 17, A.D. 617 Eigg
Feast	April 17
Patronage	Eigg

Saint Donnán, (died April 17, 617), also known as Donan and Donnán of Eigg, was a Gaelic priest, likely from Ireland, who attempted to introduce Christianity to the Picts of north-western Scotland during the Dark Ages. Saint Donnán is the patron saint of Eigg, an island in the Inner Hebrides. He was martyred on April 17, 617 at Eigg by a pagan Pictish Queen who burnt him and 150 others. He is thought to be buried at Kildonan, Isle of Arran. Saint Donnán's feast day is on April 17.

Place-names and sites bearing his name

• Eilean Donnáin, Loch Alsh
• Kildonan, Isle of Arran
• Kildonnan, Eigg
• Kildonnan, Kilpheder Parish, South Uist
• Kildonnan, Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross
• Kildonnen, Lynedate, Loch Snizort, Skye
• Seipeil Dhonnáin, Kishorn
• St. Donnan's Chapel, Little Bernera, Lewis

At least eleven Scottish churches bear Saint Donnán's name.

See also

• Celtic Christianity
• Columba
• Eigg

References

• Cogan, Anthony. The Diocese Of Meath. (Vol.1). Dublin: , 1862.
• Farmer, David Hugh. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992. ISBN 0-19-283069-4
• Smyth, Alfred P. Warlords And Holy Men, Scotland AD 80-1000. : Edward Arnold, 1984. ISBN 0-7131-6305-4