Dallán Forgaill

Saint Dallán Forgaill
Born	c. 530 Magh Slécht, County Cavan, Ireland
Died	598 Inniskeel, County Donegal, Ireland
Venerated in	Catholic Church (Roman Rite)
Feast	29 January

Eochaid Mac Colla (c. 530 – 598), better known as Saint Dallan or Dallán Forgaill (Old Irish: Dallán Forchella; Latin: Dallanus Forcellius), was an early Christian Irish poet known as the writer of the "Amra Choluim Chille" ("Elegy of Saint Columba") and, traditionally, "Rop Tú Mo Baile"("Be Thou My Vision").

Saint Dallan's given name was Eochaidh (Old Irish: Eochaid); his father was Colla, a descendant of the legendary High King Colla Uais, and his mother was Forgall (Old Irish: Forchella). His nickname, Dallán ("little blind one"), was earned after he lost his sight, reputedly as a result of studying intensively.

He was born in Maigen (now Ballyconnell), at the eastern edge of the territory of the Masraige of Magh Slécht in modern County Cavan. He was not a member of the Masraige but belonged to a branch of the Airgíalla called the Fir Lurg, who were in the process of spreading southwards into Fermanagh and Cavan. (The barony of Lurg in County Fermanagh was named after them) His was a first cousin of Saint Mogue. (The Life of Máedóc of Ferns says in ch. 72 that Dallán and Máedóc were sons of two brothers.) He was also a fourth cousin of Tigernach of Clones, and a kinsman of Saint Edan of Ferns.

The "Amhra Coluim Cille", a panegyric on Columba, written shortly after Columba's death in 597, is his best known work and considered "one of the most important poems we have from the early medieval Gaelic world". It is reported that after completing the work, Dallan regained his sight. It was claimed that those who recited the praises of Columba from memory would receive the gift of a happy death, a custom that was widely abused by those who attempted to rely on their memory rather than a virtuous life. The "Amhra Coluim Cille" became a popular text for students in Irish monasteries.

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