5th or 6th century. Beoc was a Cambro-Briton, who crossed over from
Wales to Ireland and founded a monastery on an island in Lough Derg,
Donegal
(
Benedictines).
St Daibheog of Lough Derg
In the "Martyrology of Tallagh" we find this insertion : Aedh, Lochagerg,
alias Daibheog. His name is Latinized Dabeocus, and he is frequently called
Beanus.
At a very early date, this saint lived on the island ; but for what term of
life does not seem to have been ascertained. Few notices of the place occur
in our ancient annals. We read, in the "Martyrology of
Donegal," that Dabheog belonged to Lough Geirg or Loch-gerc, in Ulster.
There, also, three festivals were annually held in his honour, namely, on
the 1st of January, on the 24th of July, and on the 16th of
December.
According to St. Cummin of Connor, in the following translation from his
Irish poem on the characteristic virtues of the Irish Saints :-
"Mobeog, the gifted, loved,
According to the Synod of the learned,
That often in bowing his head,
He plunged it under water."''
Whether or not St. Patrick had any acquaintance with St. Dabeoc can hardly
be discovered. But, we are told, while the latter, with his clerics, lived
on the island, and when his vigils had been protracted to a late hour one
night, a wonderful brightness appeared towards the northern part of the
horizon. The clerics asked their master what it portended.
"In that direction, whence you have seen the brilliant
illumination," said Dabeog, "the Lord himself, at a future
time, shall light a shining lamp, which, by its brightness,
must miraculously glorify the Church of Christ. This
shall be Columba, the son of Feidlimid, son of Fergus,
and whose mother will be Ethnea. For learning he shall
be distinguished ; in body and soul shall he be chaste ;
and he shall possess the gifts of prophecy."
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga." Quinta Vita S, Columbae. Lib. i., cap. X,
pp. 390, 391.