Donnán of Eigg
Saint Donnán of Eigg (died 17 April 617) was a Gaelic priest, likely from Ireland, who attempted to introduce Christianity to the Picts of northwestern Scotland during the Early Middle Ages. Donnán is the patron saint of Eigg, the island in the Inner Hebrides where he was killed.
The Martyrology of Donegal, compiled by Michael O'Clery in the 17th century, records the manner of his death:
"Donnan, of Ega, Abbott. Ega [Eigg] is the name of an island in which he was, after his coming from Érin [Ireland]. And there came robbers of the sea 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 old books of Erin, A.D.616."
Patron saint of Eigg
In the Martyrology
- April 17 Saints Donnán, abbot, and 52 companions, martyrs