Pellegrino of Ireland

Pellegrino of Ireland, Irish prince and hermit, fl. 7th-9th centuries.

Biography

Pellegrino was the son of an Irish king called Romanus, who had converted to the Christian faith. Pellengrino departed for Palestine, where he spent years fasting in the desert. He was forced to leave after a dispute with a local ruler, removing to Italy, where he lived in the Apennines as a hermit till the age of ninety-seven.

Many miracles were attributed to him, resulting in a joint project by the Tuscans and Lombards to erect a basilica to him at thermae salonis. The church of San Pellegrino in Lucca is attested from 1078, and was the starting-point of a pilgrimage held every three years to San Pellegrinto del Alpi.

See also

• Andrew the Scot
• Fridianus
• Muiris Ó Fithcheallaigh
• Luke Wadding

References

• Irish Saints in Italy, Anselmo Tommasini, translated by J.F. Scanlan, London, 1937