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St Comgall, born around 516 in Co. Antrim, in what was then the ancient kingdom of Dalriada. The son of a soldier, Comgall was more interested in becoming a soldier of Christ. Studied under Finnian of Moville and Fintan of Clonenagh, he had to deepen his life of prayer to counteract his temptations to boredom and homesickness. Became a priest and established a monastery at Bangor 555-8 which attracted people like Columbanus. Bangor became the largest monastery in Ireland, and the total size of the community, with its subsidiaries, amounted to some 3,000 persons. He founded a monastery at Tiree in Scotland also. He died after a long illness at Pentecost in 602 or 605.