Dubhán

Dubhán was a Brittonic priest and pilgrim of the 5th century, from whom Hook Head in County Wexford, Ireland, takes its name; it was once called Rinn Dubháin, "Dubhán's point". According to tradition he came from Wales to Ireland in the year 452 with a group of followers. Legends make him the founder of several medieval signal-⁠fire lighthouses, among them the one on Hook Head; a German account says he built the first wooden church there and kept a fire to warn ships of the rocky coast.

His name meant "little dark one", and the Normans translated it as "fishing hook". One historian identifies him with Saint Dyfnan, a son of King Brychan, who is buried on Anglesey. He also founded the church of Killooaun in Ballymacward, County Galway, now in ruins. Irish calendars commemorate two saints of this name, on 11 February and 11 November, but neither can be certainly linked to him. Venerated locally, from the time of the undivided Church.