1st January - St Ernan, Abbot, AD 640

St Ernan was a disciple of the great St Columba, and is said by Colgan, the renowned Irish scholar, to have been his nephew. What connection the saint had with Scotland is not clear. He may have laboured for a time there under St Columba, but he became Abbot of Drumhome in Donegal.

On the night St Columba went to his reward, as we are told by St Columba's biographer, St Adamnan, that Ernan was favoured with a vision in which the saint's death was revealed to him.

St Ernan died in his Irish monastery at an advanced age in the year 640. The church of Killernan, in Ross-shire, is named after him. Another dedication to this saint is thought by some to be Kilviceuen in Mull.