Saint Dallan's given name was
Eochaidh (); his father was Colla, a descendant of the legendary High King
Colla Uais, and his mother was Forgall (Old Irish:
Forchella). His nickname,
Dallán ("little blind one"), was earned after he lost his sight, reputedly as a result of studying intensively. He was born in Maigen (now
Ballyconnell), at the eastern edge of the territory of the
Masraige of
Magh Slécht in the north-west of modern
County Cavan. He was not a member of the
Masraige but belonged to a branch of the
Airgíalla called the Fir Lurg, who were in the process of spreading southwards into modern-day
County Fermanagh and
County Cavan. (The
Barony of
Lurg in the north of County Fermanagh was named after them.) He was a first cousin of
Saint Mogue. (The
Life of Máedóc of Ferns says in ch. 72 that Dallán and Máedóc were sons of two brothers and he lived in
Kildallan townland.) The
Amhra Coluim Cille, a
panegyric on
Columba, written shortly after Columba's death in 597, is his best-known work and considered "one of the most important poems we have from the early medieval Gaelic world". It is reported that after completing the work, Dallan regained his sight. It was claimed that those who recited the praises of Columba from memory would receive the gift of a happy death, a custom that was widely abused by those who attempted to rely on their memory rather than a virtuous life. a funeral oration in praise of
Senán mac Geirrcinn (Senán of Iniscattery), was said to preserve from blindness those who recited it with devotion. In c.640 Dallan was visiting his friend Saint Conall Cael at his monastery on
Inishkeel when pirates raided the island monastery. Dallan was reportedly beheaded, and it is said that God reattached his head to his body after he was martyred. He was buried on Iniskeel; his friend Canall Cael was later laid to rest in the same grave. In a list of ancient Irish authors contained in the Book of Ballymote, Dallán is called "grandson of testimony". ==Works==