The Story of John Colgan

Red Hugh O'Donnell, who was a prisoner in Dublin Castle since 1587, escaped in September, 1591, and on the Rock of Doon was installed as Chief of Clann Dalaigh in May of the following year. In that same year of 1592, John Colgan, "The Iberno learned native of Glen Tochair" was born in Muff, now called Priestown, near Carndonagh.

When Colgan was born, the Church of Donagh owned three of the fifteen quarterlands comprising the parish of Donagh. These three quarterlands attached to the ancient church were: Carrowtemple, Carrick and Carrow-na-Farne - Ballynabroneghan (Moneyshandoney). This last quarterland was free to the Erenaghs of the parish who were always McColgan. The three quarterlands referred to contained 691 acres, 0 roods, 32 perches. This information was given to Sir John Davis at the inquisition held in Lifford in September 1609 by Domhnall McColgan, referred to in the state papers as "McColligen Donnell". According to W. J. Doherty, the map drawn in 1656 by Aneas Higgins for the Down Survey shows that a Glebe land was also set apart for the keeper of the Donagh bell and that it contained 14 acres, 1 rood and 24 perches of arable land; it seems to be situated between Glebe and Lenamore.

Little is known of Colgan's early life but it is certain that, being a member of one of the chief families of Inishowen, he would from an early age receive a sound education. His father, who was the lay rector of Donagh, would ensure that the boy was aware of all that was happening at national and local levels. John would know that four years before he was born, Sean Og O'Doherty had surrendered the lands of Inishowen to Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputy, and that in the same year (1588) the lands were regranted and Sean Og became Sir John O'Doherty. He would have heard that Red Hugh O'Donnell took Sean Og prisoner in 1593 and kept him in chains for two years until the chief of Inishowen pledged his full support. Colgan, as a boy of eight, would hear of Docwra's arrival in Derry with 4,000 foot-soldiers and 200 horses, and he would know that this force would be used to drive a wedge between the Armies of O'Neill and O'Donnell who were engaged in the nine years war against the Crown forces. He would be reminded that Docwra made little progress until Turlough Luineach O'Neill came into Derry and advised the commander on the strategies he should adopt. He would know that the Friary of Donegal was attacked and destroyed in August 1601 by Niall Garbh O'Donnell at the instigation of Docwra and of how, while relieving it, Red Hugh was called away to the disaster of Kinsale. Colgan would be wise enough by now to realise that the Gaelic way of life was virtually at an end. He would hear of the political intrigues that were taking place in 1601 after the death of Sean Og; of how Feilim, his half brother was elected Chief at Ard an Toisigh and of the disaffection of the McDaids who brought Cahir, a boy of 14 years, to Derry and had him accepted as the Queen's O'Doherty. When George Montgomery became Bishop of Derry in 1605, John Colgan was 13 years of age and a few years later in a survey of his diocese, the Bishop mentions that John McColgan was a student in Glasgow and was "rather skilled in law and spoke both Irish and Latin." Colgan at this time would be sixteen years of age and some writers find it difficult to accept that one so young could be "rather skilled in law"; but, being a member of an Eneragh family, the rudiments of the Brehon laws would surely form an integral part of the boy's education.

John Colgan is thought to have returned to Priestown after his studies in Glasgow, but by this time the rebellion of O'Doherty had been crushed; Inishowen had been declared forfeit to the crown and put in with the rest of Tir Conall to form the present County Donegal. The Church lands of Donagh were given to the Bishop of Derry. No one knows for certain when John Colgan left again but it is generally accepted that he left his native land for good in 1612. He probably went to Europe to continue his studies and he was ordained a priest in 1618 and entered the Franciscan Order in St. Anthony's College, Louvain, on 25th April, 1620.

Fr. Canice Mooney, O.F.M. has stated that he taught at Aachen or Aix-la-Chapelle for some time and in 1628 was transferred to Mainz but was back in Louvain before June 1635 where "He was already fulfilling the triple task of training the novices, teaching theology and co-operating in the great scheme, inaugerated at St. Anthony's College, of compiling a series of works on Irish Ecclesiastical history." It is known that as early as 1628, he was enquiring about documents in the libraries of Europe for as he says himself "he had a very thirst after the antiquities of his country." It was not, however, until he met Fr. Hugh Ward, Fr. Patrick Fleming and Brother Michael O'Cleary that the grand scheme began to come to fruition.

Frs. Ward and Fleming had previously co-operated with Fr. Thomas Messnigham, the Rector of the Irish College in Paris, in preparing a book on the lives of the Irish Saints and this, it would seem, prompted them to continue with their research. Brother Michael O'Cleary was sent back to Ireland to copy or collect as many ancient documents as he could find and from these documents transcribed and annotated by Br. Michael and his associates the Annals of the Four Masters and the Martyrology of Donegal were composed. Colgan gave them the title of the Four Masters.

After the death of Fr. Ward and Fr. Fleming, Colgan was put in charge of the scheme of preparing for publication "The lives of the Irish Saints" but before he could start publishing, the cost of such a venture had to be overcome. The Convent of Louvain had no money, the monks lived poorly and "Their poverty was alike seen in their chapel and their dress." It was decided therefore "to appeal to the nobles, and chieftains of Ireland" and Fr. Brendan O'Connor was dispatched to Ireland with the document signed by five of the Louvain monks among whom was John Colgan. He was also instructed to search for manuscripts which would be of value for the work in progress at Louvain. It was now 1641 and Ireland was in turmoil though it is clear that Inishowen took little part in the rebellion. The only leaders of the ravaged land of O'Doherty who joined the rebels were Owen O'Doherty, who was killed later at Scarriffhollis in 1650, and Brian Og McLaughlin with a handful of Followers.

As a result of Fr. O'Connor's mission to Ireland, the Francis-cans decided to send "From each Friary three pounds and half the money in hand" and as a result of this generosity, Colgan in preparing a book on the lives of the Irish Saints and this, it would seem, prompted them to continue with their research. Brother Michael O'Cleary was sent back to Ireland to copy or collect as many ancient documents as he could find and from these documents transcribed and annotated by Br. Michael and his associates the Annals of the Four Masters and the Martyrology of Donegal were composed. Colgan gave them the title of the Four Masters.

After the death of Fr. Ward and Fr. Fleming, Colgan was put in charge of the scheme of preparing for publication "The lives of the Irish Saints" but before he could start publishing, the cost of such a venture had to be overcome. The Convent of Louvain had no money, the monks lived poorly and "Their poverty was alike seen in their chapel and their dress." It was decided therefore "to appeal to the nobles, and chieftains of Ireland" and Fr. Brendan O'Connor was dispatched to Ireland with the document signed by five of the Louvain monks among whom was John Colgan. He was also instructed to search for manuscripts which would be of value for the work in progress at Louvain. It was now 1641 and Ireland was in turmoil though it is clear that Inishowen took little part in the rebellion. The only leaders of the ravaged land of O'Doherty who joined the rebels were Owen O'Doherty, who was killed later at Scarriffhollis in 1650, and Brian Og McLaughlin with a handful of Followers.

As a result of Fr. O'Connor's mission to Ireland, the Francis-cans decided to send "From each Friary three pounds and half the money in hand" and as a result of this generosity, Colgan was able to publish in 1645 a volume of his Acta Sanctorum hiberniae containing the lives of those Saints whose feast days occur in January, February and March. In 1647, he published a separate volume the lives of Patrick, Brigid and Columcille entitled "The Trias Thaumaturgia", this publication was funded by Archbishop Fleming of Dublin.

He continued to work on the lives of the Irish Saints and had ready for the press a third volume comprising those lives commemorated in April, May and June, but this was never published, for those who had helped previously were by now a dispossessed people. Colgan also wrote a life of Aengus the Culdee and dedicated a volume on the life of John Duns Scotus to Colonel Philip O'Reilly published in Antwerp in 1655. In his dedication he seems to apologise for the smallness of the work but adds "This defficiency in that respect is supplied by the precious matter which it contains." He also feels proud that he has finally settled the birth place of the "Subtle Doctor" for he goes on, still addressing O'Reilly, "It ascribes to your country that brilliant star, whom three kingdoms vie with one another in claiming."

By 1651, Colgan's health was failing and in the following year he had to resign from his position as commissary of the three Franciscan Colleges of Louvain, Prague and Vielum. He had always been of "Fragile constitution" but he continued his work on the manuscripts available as long as his health permitted. He died on 15th January, 1658, in the fortieth year of his priesthood. He was assisted to the very end by Fr. Bonaventure O'Doherty, another monk from Inishowen and in all probability of Donagh for the christian name Bonaventure has been continued in a Carndonagh family until recent times. Bonaventure O'Doherty gave invaluable assistance to Colgan and to his successor, Fr. O'Sheerin by translating and transcribing the lives of the saints.

Colgan had worked all his life with no thought of earthly reward or monetary recompense. His sole purpose was "to restore the neglected honour of his church and country" and to refute the lies published about Ireland by Cambrensis and other historians of equal repute. Fr. Luke Wadding tells us that he was a most religious man and we know that he never sought promotion or preferment and wanted to give Fr. Hugh Ward the credit for his Acta Sanctorum.

His obituary states:

" He was a man by erudition, by piety and by candour of his mind, highly praiseworthy; for 36 years by constant and unwearied labour, even up to the time of his death, he sedulously worked in preparing the Acts of the Saints never complaining of his bodily infirmities, although one of the most fragile constitution. We earnestly ask that he be remembered by his brethren."

Other McColgans

According to Mac Lysaght the prefix "O" as well as "Mac" was found with Colgan in early mediaeval times and quoting from O'Dugan he says that they were Lords of the Barony of Tirkieran in Co. Derry. This barony lies along the Foyle and includes Enagh Lough, Claudy and Faughanvale. This was one of the two tribes of Colgan; the other sept was located in Offaly. The Four Masters record that in the year 1212, Gilchreest Mac Colgan was killed in a battle in which Donnell O'Melaghlin defeated Cormac O'Melaghlin.

These Mac Colgans of Tirkieran became Erunaghs of the Parish of Donagh and we find them listed from the year 1400, when Giolla na Naomh Mac Colgan is Parish Priest, until 1780 when Michael Mac Colgan, another native of priestown, is serving in Donagh. Machtochair states that Michael is buried with his father Roger and his brother Philip in the West side of Donagh Churchyard.

The most famous McColgan of recent times was, of course, Fr. John McColgan of Craigamullen (born 1705) who became Bishop of Derry in 1752. He worked as a priest, ministering to the people as well as carrying out the duties of his Episcopal Office. He lived, it is thought, in a thatched cottage in Muff near Derry but some maintain that it was in Muff, Culdaff he lived and there are Wallsteads on the property of Michael Gallagher where the older people can still point out the Bishop's room. The house belonged to the Henry Mor 0'-Dohertys and in the same house Henry Doherty , who was Sarsfield's secretary, and who wrote the Treaty of Limerick, was born. Tradition has it that Bishop McColgan was denounced by a friar, on whom canonical penance had been laid, and that he was rescued first by a James Davis on the Malin side of Trabreige Bay. After this the Bishop crossed to Glasha heading for the sanctuary of his native Cregamullan. On this occasion he was hidden by Joseph Campbell of Carndoagh who gave him a horse on which he made his way to Leenankeel. From here the fishermen of Leenan took him to Fanad. He died in Omagh in 1765 and is buried, at his request in Cloncha graveyard. Until recently his grave was unmarked but now, through the generosity of a native of Culdaff Parish, a headstone marks his last resting place.

During this same century of oppression the McColgans were prominent as Hedge School Masters in the parish. Tom McColgan who was a nephew of the Bishops, had a school in Cregamullan where he taught the Classics and in the 1826 Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education it is stated that Michael McColgan teaches "in mud walls thatched in Collon."

The last two McColgans of this clan, one in Cregamullan and one in Priestown, were both called Michael. Michael of Cregamullan died in January 1955 and Michael of Priestown died in April 1952. He was known locally as the Gaffer.