Biography

Gormgal is credited with building a number of monastic settlements in the late 10th century. Noted as an anchorite

Anchorite

Anchorite denotes someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, and—circumstances permitting—Eucharist-focused life...

 of exceptional sanctity, he made the island famous, so much so that in 1014 Brian Boru

Brian Boru

Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...

 visited High Island to make his confession

Confession

This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...

 to him. A well on the island is named after Brian.

Gormgal's monastery ceased to exist sometime in the following centuries but High Island remained a destination for pilgrims

Pilgrims

Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...

. His feast day is 5 August.

See also

• Féchín of Fore died 665.
• Enda of Aran
  Enda of Aran
  Saint Enda of Aran is an Irish saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His feast day is March 21.-Overview:...
  
  , died c. 530.
• Ceannanach
  Ceannanach
  Ceannanach aka Gregory, early Irish missionary, fl. c. 490-500?-Biography:Ceannach's original name is said to have been Gregory, the former name only associated with him after his death....
  
  , missionary
  Missionary
  A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
  
  , fl. c. 490
  490
  Year 490 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Faustus and Longinus...
  
  -500
  500
  Year 500 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Patricius and Hypatius...
  
  ?
• Gillagori Ua Dubhacan
  Gillagori Ua Dubhacan
  -Biography:Gillagori appears to be otherwise unknown. His surname may be an early form of Ó Dubhagáin. They were a bardic family from Baile Uí Dhubhagáin , near Loughrea, County Galway....
  
  , Abbot of Aran, died 1167.