Fachanan

Fachanan belonged to the ancient princely race of the Corcu Loígde. Very little is known with certainty about him. A strong early tradition links him with Kilfenora, where he founded a monastery in the sixth century, and he is venerated as the first bishop of Kilfenora. His great achievement was the establishment of the monastic school of Ross, at what is now Rosscarbery, in County Cork, one of the most famous schools of Ireland, which flourished for three hundred years and survived in some form until the coming of the Normans. His commemoration is on 13 August, in the Western calendar (new style); the archive record gives 20 December. An Irish saint venerated locally, from the time of the undivided Church.