Saint Ailell, Son of Seigen, June 25

On June 25 the Irish calendars record the feast of Saint Ailell, accompanied by the patronymic 'son of Seigen'. As Canon O'Hanlon explains below, however, it is not easy to definitively distinguish this saint from others of the same name:

St. Ailell, Son of Seigen. 

We find Uill, son of Segin, recorded in the Martyrology of Tallagh, without any other addition. There are many distinguished ecclesiastics bearing the name of Ailill mentioned by our annalists, who have recorded their deaths. Under the head of Clocher, Duald Mac Firbis enters an Ailill, bishop, quievit 867. He is also called Scribe and Abbot of that place. We cannot be sure, however, that he is identical with the present saint. According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival in honour of Ailell, son of Seigen, was celebrated, at the 25th of June.



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