HE was born in Connaught, a province of Ireland, and seemed from his
infancy to be deeply impressed with the fear of God. He passed in his
early days into Wales, where he lived for a considerable time under the
direction of the holy abbot David. He returned afterwards to his own
country, accompanied with several monks of eminent piety, founded a
great number of churches and monasteries, and was made bishop of Ferns.
He {319} died in 632, according to Usher. His name is celebrated among
the Irish saints. It appears from Cambrensis that his festival was
observed in Wales in the twelfth century. He was also honored in
Scotland.[1] See Colgan, Jan. 31, pp. 208, 223. Chatelain, notes, p.
481.
Footnotes:
1. There is found in the chronicle of Scone, and in the Breviary of
Aberdeen, an ancient collect, in which the Divine mercy is implored
through his intercession. Chatelain tells us that in Lower Brittany
he is called St. De, (contracted from the Latin word Aideus, or
Aidanus,) and that the village and church which bear his name,
celebrate his festival on the 18th of March, the day perhaps on
which they received some portion of his relics.
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{321}
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