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the so-called Peregrini pro Christo (Pilgrims for Christ) who was especially popular with Irish students so that it became
went into permanent exile from their homeland. Some of the known as ‘Peronna Scottorum’ (Péronne of the Irish).
more prominent examples include: St Kilian, who was martyred in
- St Columba (Colum Cille) Würzburg, Germany, along with
who founded the world-famous two companions. Kilian is patron
monastery on the island of of the city and is still celebrated
Iona in western Scotland; there in an annual public festival
on his feastday (8 July).
- St Columbanus, who travelled
to France and onwards Closer to home are figures such
through Germany, Austria and as SS Brigid, Canice, Patrick,
Switzerland, and finally south Brendan, Ciaran, Finian, Finbarr,
to Bobbio in Italy where he and a host of others, some
founded his last monastery celebrated at national (and international e.g. Brigid, Brendan)
and where he died in 615. He level, others the object of devotion and affection more locally.
also founded monasteries in France (Annegray, Luxeuil) and A later
Austria (Bregenz); generation

- St Gall, one of his companions, remained as a hermit of monks
near St Gallen, Switzerland, where a famous monastery and teachers
was subsequently founded. Its library holdings are among continued these
the richest centres for medieval manuscripts. There is activities, and
also a church named after him in Prague where one of his some reached
relics is kept. prominence as
teachers and poets in the Carolingian schools (the time of
- St Dympna, who escaped from her jealous father in Ireland Charlemagne, 9th century). A new impulse was generated in
to what is now Belgium, and was eventually murdered by his the 11th and 12th centuries with the founding of the so-
henchmen in the town of Geel. Known as the patron saint of called Schottenkloster (Irish monastery) network in southern
mental health, Dympna’s church (‘Dympnakerk’) still exists Germany including houses in Regensburg (two), Würzburg,
in the town, with its attached hospital where pilgrims would Nuremberg, Constance, Erfurt, Eichstätt, Memmingen and
stay to be cured of mental illnesses. Nowadays Geel is Kelheim,) eventually spreading south to Austria (Vienna) and
renowned as a leading international centre for mental health further eastwards as far as Kyiv (in present-day Ukraine).
care and research. The term ‘Schotten’ is based on the older Latin name ‘Scotti’,
- St Fiachra, patron saint of referring to Irish people; it was only later that it applied
gardeners, was known for his exclusively to people from Scotland.
hospitality towards travellers Initially populated by monks from the northern part of Ireland,
who were fed and cured by the the Schottenklöster subsequently formed closer ties with
medicinal plants which he grew. Munster, through Cormac Mac Cárthaigh, King of Cashel,
His name also became attached and the Benedictine monastery at Rosscarbery, Co. Cork,
to the horse-drawn taxis which which was a primary recruiting ground for Irish monks joining
were used in the 17th century the German mission. A number of manuscripts from these
to ferry people to and from monasteries survive today, particularly in Vienna.
the Hôtel St Fiacre in Paris
(cf. the ‘Fiaker’, still used for The names of many Irish saints remain in living memory
sightseeing tourists in Vienna up throughout Europe, and are still actively celebrated in church
to today). services and in popular devotion; through pilgrimages to the
sites of their foundations, places of burial, and holy wells;
Among others are St Fursa who is buried in Péronne, Picardie in the blessing of animals and crops; as well as in public
(in the north of France), centre of a monastic school which religious and civic festivals. Many street names and churches
in continental Europe still carry the names of Irish saints and
their relics are widely venerated.
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