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Colga

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(or Colchu; Irish, Coelchu), is the name of several early Irish saints:

1. COLGA, "the Wise," lector of Clonmacnoise was a man of eminent piety and learning, and acquired the name of chief scribe or master of all the Scots. He was appointed to preside over the great school of Clonmacnoise; was a special friend and correspondent of Alcuin, at Charlemagne's court, and composed the Scopa Devotionis, or Besom of Devotion, a collection of most ardent prayers in the form of litanies, and full of the warmest devotion to God. He died about A.D. 796, and is commemorated on February 20 (Lanigan, Eccl, Hist. of Ireland, 3:228 sq.; Todd and Reeves, Mart, Doneg. page 55).

2. COLGUS, or COLGANUS, was of the powerful famiily of the Hy- Fiachrach, in Connaught. He is chiefly known in connection with St. Coliumba. He finished about A.D. 580, and probably died in his native land, according to St. Columba's promise (Lanigan, Eccl. Hist. of Ireland. 2:328).

3. COLGIUS, or COLCIUS, son of Cellach, was another disciple and associate of St. Columba. According to the Irish annals he died about A.D. 622 (Lanigan, Eccl. Hist. of Ireland, 2:328; Colgan, Acta Sanctorum, pages 381, 382.

4. COLGA, abbot of Lusk, in Leinster, flourished about A.D. 694, and was one of the chief prelates who attended the synod at Armagh, convened by Flann Febhla and St. Adamnan about A.D. 697 (Lanigan, Eccl. Hist. of Ireland, 3:140).

5. COLGA, or CAOLCHU, of Lui-Airthir, is commemorated September 24 (Todd and Reeves, Mart. Doneg. page 257).