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Centers of Irish Influence in England
bury's reference to a certain stream in which Daniel stood
Florence
1
all night that he was of remarkable austerity.
of Worcester and others have references to him.
The Irish continued the ruling element in the Devonian
peninsula and in what is now Wales to the seventh and
eighth centuries. Exeter was probably the scene of the
labors of some of the Irish teachers who poured through
what is now Bristol. There appear to have been many
such and had there been a West Saxon Bede doubtless we
would be in possession of a story of their work in the
south similar to that told of Aidan, Finan, Colman and
their associates and successors in Northumbria.
2. FOUNDERS OF ABINGDON, CHICHESTER, AND LINCOLN
Abingdon, in Berkshire, originally Abban-dun or Dun
Abban, has its name derived from that of Abban, an Irish
scholar, who founded a monastery there and converted
many. He was a hermit, and authorities are cited concerning
his connection with the place by Camden who
says that "in course of time that monastery
rose to such
magnificence that in wealth and extent it was hardly
second to any in England."
There is a difference of opinion between Colgan and
Lanigan in regard to Abban's work in England. Colgan
agrees with Camden and considers that Abban labored at
Abingdon and lived to a great age. Lanigan 2
throws
doubt on the account on the ground that in Abban's life-
time the district continued in possession of the pagan
Saxons. Kelly, 3
rejects the objections of Lanigan and
propounds the view, now generally accepted, that Abban
was actually the foster-father of the town and the original
1 Gest. Pont. I, 357.
2 Ecclesiastical History of Ireland.
3 Translator of Lynch's "Cambrensis Eversus."
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