CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
Section 2. — Biographical. 
Abbots, and other distinguished Persons, connected with the Churches of Derry. 
The annalists have preserved no account of the successors of Columbkille in the abbacy 
of Derry, for more than two centuries. This silence, as Colgan remarks, can only be accounted 
for by the fact that its ancient chronicle has been lost, as well as those of the several religious houses 
in its vicinity, in which notices of the distinguished men connected with it would have probably 
been preserved. The Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters record, at the year 704, the death 
of Saint Mochonna, abbot of Derry—a very distinguished man of his age, who, at a synod held in 
the year 695, by Flann, archbishop of Armagh, and Saint Adamnan, subscribed to the acts thereof 
under the signature of Antistes Dorensis. But though Colgan, Doctor O’Conor, Doctor Lanigan, 
and other distinguished ecclesiastical antiquaries, took for granted that Mochonna was abbot of 
Derry-Columbkille, it is manifestly an error. As has been already remarked, there were many 
other places in Ireland, in the names of which the word Derry formed a part, and among others 
was one called Doipe TTloconna, or Derry of Mochonna, evidently from this saint, who was the 
founder of a religious house there, and who is consequently called in the genealogy of the saints 
in the Book of Lecan, “ Patron of Derry”—an appellation only applied to the founder of a religious 
house—and we know that he was not the founder of the abbey at Derry-Columbkille. Thus he 
is properly called by the annalists simply abbot of Derry, because it would have been superfluous, 
and contrary to custom, to have repeated his name in connexion with the place, and it is also cer¬ 
tain that the Derry of Saint Columbkille was invariably called Derry-Calgach for many centuries 
later than the age in which Mochonna flourished. 
Colgan had better evidence for connecting with Derry, either as monk or abbot, a still more 
distinguished man of this period—the celebrated Adamnan, abbot of Iona, who died in 596. It is 
certain that his memory was venerated here, and, what is more conclusive, that his name was con¬ 
nected with a holy well called Cobap or Cioppaio CCbamndin, which was held sacred for many 
ages. In those which follow there is, however, no room for doubt. 
724. “ Caochscuile, scribe of Derry-Calgach, died.” 
852. “ Indreachtach O’Finachtan, coarb of Columbkille, an eminent sage, suffered martyr¬ 
dom from the Saxons on the 12th of March.” 
879. “ Muirchertach, the son of Niall, abbot of Derry-Calgach, and other churches, died. 
903. (908) “ Dermot, abbot of Derry-Calgach, died.’— Annals of Munster. 
919. (921) “ Kinaeth, the son of Donnell, abbot of Derry-Calgach and Drumhome, the head 
of the religious of Kinel-Connell, died.”— Annals of Munster. For Drumhome, in the county 
of Donegal, Colgan has inaccurately written Drumcliffe, in the county of Sligo. . 
925. “ Maolbrighde, the son of Tornan [now Dornan], coarb of Patrick, Columbkille, 
and Adamnan, “ abbot of Armagh, Derry, andRaphoe, head of the piety of all Ireland, and of the 
greater part of Europe, died on the 22nd of February, at a venerable old age.” Colgan gives a 
notice of this eminent man in his Acta Sanctorum, from which it appears that he was of the same 
royal stock as Columbkille himself, being the twelfth in descent from Connell Gulban, son of 
Niall of the nine hostages, monarch of Ireland. The family of Tornan, or, as it is now called, 
Dornan, still exists. 
927. (i Caoncomhrac, son of Maoluidhir, abbot and bishop of Derry-Calgach, and keeper 
of the canons of Saint Adamnan, died.” 
936. “ Dubhthach, [Duffy], coarb of Columbkille and Adamnan, in Ireland and Scotland 
[that is at Derry and Raphoe], died.” _ 
937. “ Finachtach, the son of Kellach, coarb of Derry, a bishop and a sage, skilled in the old 
language of Ireland, died.” . 
948. “ Maolfinnen [now Mulfinnen], the learned bishop of Derry-Calgach, died. 
949. “ Clericen, the son of Conallan, erenach of Derry-Calgach, rested in peace.”— Annals 
°'f Ul Q5()' Adhland the son of Egneach, who was the son of Dalach, coarb of Columbkille, 
the fiucnpe dione’of the Irish clergy, died.” This Adland, as appears from the genealogy of the 
O’Donnells, was of the royal family of Tirconnell, being the brother of Donnell, from whom the 
name O’Donnell originated. By the proverbial phrase Guaire Aidhne of the Irish clergy is to be 
understood that Adhland was the most distinguished for hospitality and generosity of the religious 
order in Ireland in his time. Guaire was king of Connaught in the 7th century. 
952. “ Robhartach [Rafferty] O’Steaphain, coarb of Columbkille and Adamnan, died. 
962. “ Dubhscuile Mac Cionadha [Me Kenna], coarb of Columbkille, died. 
