*St Donnan & Companions April 17th
St Donnan, d.617, came from Ireland and established a monastery on the Isle of Eigg. St Donnan and his 52 companions were celebrating Mass on Easter Sunday 617 when Danish pirates arrived. The pirates allowed them to finish Mass then put them all to the sword.
Many churches in the diocese came to bear his name and places names continue to this memory. Martin Martin noted that the island of Eigg was still catholic in 1703, and along with neighbouring Muck and Canna, remains substantially so today. The Church on Eigg is dedicated to St Donnan. Eilean Donnan is also named for him. He has strong connections also with Arran.
Pope Leo XIII restored this feast to the Scottish Calendar in 1898. Donan Fair was held in Auchterless, Aberdeenshire till 1851.
St Donnan of Eigg