Early Life and Conversion
Enda was an Irish prince, son of Conall Derg of Oriel (Ergall) in Ulster. Legend has it that the soldier Enda was converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea, later abbess of Killeaney. He renounced his dreams of conquest and decided to marry one of the girls in his sister's convent. When his fiancé died suddenly, he surrendered his throne and a life of worldly glory to mourn his loss. Such was his pain that he began to lose any interest in life. It is said that on the day that he would leave this mortal plane due to the grief of loss, a strange man came to him in a vision and told him of an isle where he would find peace, Innish. He made a pilgrimage to Rome and was ordained there. These stories told of the early life of Saint Enda and his sister are unhistorical, but the rest is not. More authentic vitae survive at Tighlaghearny at Inishmore, where he was buried.
Read more about this topic: Enda Of Aran
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