Brecan (Bracan, Brocan, or Berchan)

Brecan (Bracan, Brocan, Or Berchan)

Of those bearing this name it is difficult to define what properly belongs to each.

(1) Bishop of Ard-Braccan, commemorated December 6. He was of the race of Eoghain, son of Niall, and bishop of Meath; but the name of his place is derived from Brecan of Ara and Killbraccan.

(2) Of Cillmor-Dithruibh, commemorated August 9, is one of the nineteen saints of Kilmore, near the Shannon, Co. Roscommon.

(3) Of Cluain-catha and Ard-Bracan, July 16. In Mart. Doneg. he is Bracan of Cluain-catha in Inis-Eoghain, bishop of Ard-Brecain and abbot of Magh- bile. Another dedication may be April 29.

(4) Of Ros-tuire September 17. Mart. Doneq. calls him Bracan, and his name is still found in Killbraghan, County Kilkenny. In Colgan's Life of St. Abban an account is given'of a meeting between the two saints Abban and Brecan, the latter being abbot of the two monasteries in the region of Ossory, Ros-tuire and Cluaini-imurchuir; but we must doubt the legend.

(5) Bishop — May 1. This was Brecan of Ara and of Cill-Breacain, in Thomond, the son of Eochaidh Balldearg. In the island of Inishmore there was a beautiful parish: church, called Templum Brecani (Colgan, Acta Sanctorum, page 715). This Temple-braccan was St. Brecan's principal establishment; but he also founded and gave his name to Ard-Braccan, the diocesan seat of the bishop of Meath.