Congan, also known as Coan, Cowan, and Comgan, a Christian Prince mentioned in the Irish Martyologies, lived at the end of the 6th Century. Expelled from his home by non-Christian neighbours, he, his mother Kentigerna, and his nephew Fillin (or Fillan), went to the Holy Isle of Iona, arriving there probably immediately after the time of St Columba. During his lifetime Congan voyaged from Iona about the coasts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland where he established 13 chapels or churches and a 14th further away at Turriff in Aberdeenshire. The text is accompanied by 14 extracts from Ordnance Survey maps showing all these sites. When he came to Aberdeenshire, Congan first established himself next to a major Pictish settlement at Balmellie Crofts at a place now known as St Congan's Den. Soon after arriving he built his church a mile further to the west, about which the town of Turriff grew. A trackway known as the Monks' Way, part of which still exists, led from Deer Abbey to Balmellie Crofts via Delgaty Castle. Importantly, two trackways from the coast of the Moray Firth to the settlements at Bennachie led past this settlement.
Detailed sketch maps of these routes accompany the text. A chapter about Congan's life and times is illustrated with line drawings of Culdee monks, their tonsure, dress and accoutrements, including the rhipidion. St Adamnan and St Brandan are mentioned. Congan's chapels or churches in the Highlands and Islands were at Islay, Ardnamurchan, Lochalsh, Loch Melfort in Argyle & Bute, Skye, Seil Island, Knoydart, and at North Uist. Every site is marked on a sketch-map of Scotland which accompanies the text. Four of these chapels, two on Loch Eishort on Skye, and two on the Cromarty Firth north of Dingwall, were on that part of the then ancient and disused Atlantic Coast Trade Route once used by the Tartessians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Massiliotes sailing in Venetii ships in their trade with Britain. The previous histories of the Atlantic Coast Trade Route had a bearing on the activities of Congan so an account of this trade is given in some detail.
It is claimed that the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Massiliotes, in their time, were carried to Britain with their cargoes in ships supplied and manned by the Venetii, a Celtic tribe whose homeland was on the shores of the Morbihan in Brittany. Some of these goods were exchanged in Wales for British iron which was then carried to Scotland and there exchanged for both Ambergris and Amber, the latter brought across the North Sea on the Amber Route by sailors trading from the Baltic. This Amber route led overland from harbours on the Cromarty Firth immediately north of Dingwall, through Glen Carron and Strath Bran, to join the Atlantic Coast Trade Route at Lockalsh (adjacent to the Kyles of Lochalsh, the gateway to Skye). Mention is made of the social legacies of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Massiliotes, that appear to survive in custom at two places in Cornwall, the 'obby oss' at Padstow, and the annual launching of a May Boat at Cawsand, Plymouth Sound.
Related legends in England, Wales, and Ireland are mentioned, those of Brutus, son of Aeneas, being at Totnes, Devon, Joseph and Jesus visiting Glastonbury; and, more remotely, the Red Hand of the Carthaginian goddess, Tanit, as being connected with the Red Hand of Ulster and the Bloody Hand of Chark in Wales. Reference is made to Bronze Age Irish arrivals on the coast of Morayshire bringing their goddesses, the 'Buandea' or 'Buvinda' (Boyndie), one of whom was the goddess Sovereignty in her manifestations as Eire, Fodlha, and Banph; the last mentioned giving her name to the settlement, Banff. The suppression of Celtic goddesses by monks of the Culdee and Roman churches led to the River Deveron receiving its present name. There is a chapter about widespread feeblemindedness amongst people of the countryside, brought about by inbreeding which led to the use of bowsening pools (ducking ponds) as a solution to that social evil. One such pool was in use at St Killin's in Perthshire, a church founded by Congan's nephew. The present appearance of St Congan's Den, known as such, is noted. There is a bibliography.
