Ernan

Ernan (variants include Ernain, Ernin, Ethernanus) is the name of four Irish saints.

t. Ernan, Son of Eogan

Ernan, Son of Eogan, died around 640. Mentioned in the "Martyrology of Tallagh" on 1 January, he was a nephew of St. Columba. He is thus confused with Ernan of Hinba, an uncle of St. Columba.

His monastery in Ireland was at Druim-Tomma in the district of Drumhome, County Donegal. He is venerated as the patron saint of Killernan, though he may not have visited Scotland and also as patron of the parish of Drumhome, where a school has been dedicated to him. Kilviceuen ("church of the son of Eogan") in Mull, and of Kilearnadale in Jura, may have been dedicated in his honor. In the "Scottish Kalendars", his commemoration is assigned to 21 and 22 December.

t. Ernan, Abbot of Hinba (Ernan of Hinba)

Ernan, Abbot of Hinba lived in the sixth century. An uncle of St. Columba, Ernan was one of the twelve who accompanied Columba from Ireland to Iona. He was appointed head of the community which Columba had established on the island of "Hinba" -which may have been Canna, about four miles northwest of Rùm, but it may also have been Eileach an Naoimh, one of the Garvellachs, between Scarba and Mull.

t. Ernan of Cluvain-Deoghra

St. Ernan of Cluvain-Deoghra lived in the sixth or seventh century. Cluvain-Deoghra may have been in Meath or in County Longford. His feast day falls on 11 January in the "Martyrology of Tallagh".

t. Ernan of Torach

Ernan of Torach died on August 17, ~650. He is considered by some scholars one of the disciples of St. Columba. Columba had founded a church and monastery on the island of Torach or Tory, off the northwest coast of Donegal. He may have accompanied Columba initially to Torach. He was chosen to be its abbot. He has been identified with Ernan of Cluvain-Deoghra, perhaps erroneously. Of him, the "Catholic Encyclopedia" states: "It has been conjectured that this Ernan is identical with the Ernan whose name appears in the epistle of John, the pope-elect, to the prelates of North Ireland in 640. If this be so, he must have been a person of some importance." [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05523a.htm]

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05523a.htm Ernan] at the Catholic Encyclopedia