Daig of Inniskeen

Saint Daig (Dagaeus, Dageus) was an Irish bishop and confessor of the later sixth century, seated at Inis-⁠Caoin-⁠Deagha, now Inniskeen in County Monaghan. His Gaelic name means "great flame", and he is thought to have received it from his mother. He is remembered on 18 August. Our sources show no formal Orthodox canonization and give no feast in the menaion: he is an Irish saint of the undivided Church, preserved in the old Irish lives and martyrologies.

Family and training

He was born in Cianachta Breg, in County Meath. His father, Cairell, descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, and his mother bore the name Dediva (also given as Deighe, Deidiu or Editua). She was a daughter of Tren and a granddaughter of a great court poet of King Lóegaire mac Néill. Several Irish saints are counted among his close kin: Felim of Kilmore, his elder brother, his sister Femia, and Senan of Laraghbrine, Diarmaid the Just and Caillin, who are recalled as sons of the same mother.

As a boy he went to the monastery on Devenish Island, in County Fermanagh, to study under Saint Laisrén mac Nad Froích. He then became a disciple of Saint Comgall at Bangor. One Russian source calls him a disciple of Saint Finian.

Craftsman and bishop

After his schooling he worked as a craftsman for a great father of Irish monasticism. Our sources do not agree on whom: one names Ciarán of Saigir, another Ciarán of Clonmacnoise. For him he made three hundred bells, three hundred croziers and three hundred Gospel books, which were given as gifts to other monasteries in Ireland. For this tradition counted him among the three great craftsmen of Ireland.

Later he founded his own monastery at Inniskeen, blessed by Saint Columba. Local people tried to kill him but did not succeed, and they were driven out to the Beara peninsula in County Cork. Saint Berach was one of his disciples. His Life records many miracles, though the sources before us do not describe them.

His repose and remembrance

Saint Daig was present at the death of Carláen, bishop of Armagh, on 24 March 588. He is said to have fallen asleep in the Lord soon afterwards, in the same year, on 18 August, though the year remains uncertain. The Martyrology of Óengus calls him a man of grace, the good and great son of Cairell. His name also appears in the Codex Salmanticensis, a medieval Irish collection of saints' lives. His day of remembrance is 18 August.