Talorcan

Other names

Talaricanus.

Introduction

The name Talorcan is Pictish, but little more is certain about this saint, whose main cult seems to have been at Fordyce in Aberdeenshire: ‘Perhaps all we can say with confidence is that Talorcan was a Pictish churchman whose cult has left traces around the Moray Firth, in Buchan, and on Skye. He cannot be dated with any confidence: there is a possibility, but no more than that, that the obit of Tolarggan Maphan in AU 726 may relate to him.’ Ab. Brev. (Macquarrie), 417. See also Clancy 2008, 377. Watson finds Talorcan at the following places (Watson 1925, 298): • Cill Taraghláin, church and cemetery on n side of Portree in Skye (OSA) • Parish of Cill Taraghláin, Kiltarlity, Invernesshire. • Logyn Talargy in the deanery of Buchan (> Logie Buchan). • Fordyce – Talorgán was the patron saint, with annual fair ‘in festo S. Tallericani’. St Tarkin’s well is in a burn close to the church. Forbes (Forbes, Kalendars, 449) notes that there was a well in the parish of Kilsyth which may commemorate him (OPS I, 43). ‘There is a remarkable spring on the south of Woodend called St. Mirrin’s Well, and another opposite Auchinvolle, whose corrupt name seems to point at St Talarican for its patron.’ Mackinlay notes a chaplainry at Tain (Mackinlay 1914, 213) ‘Tallirky, now Tarlogie, was a chaplainry at Tain in Ross-shire connected with the collegiate church there, but there is some doubt as to its association with the saint.’ (Mackinlays refers to Watson 1904, Place-names of Ross and Cromarty, 33). It seems now to be an area of Tain.

Gender

Male

Related Saints

Belongs to the group Talorcan (ns)

Feast days

Day of Year

Oct 30

Calendar

Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis

Source code

K. Brev. Ab.

Source title

Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis

Editors

Forbes, A. P.

Secondary Title

Kalendar of Scottish Saints

Pages

111-124

Year

1872

Notes

Kal. Brev. Ab. Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis, in Forbes 1872, 111-124

Quote from source

Talaricani episcopi

Day of Year

Oct 30

Calendar

Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen

Source code

Mart. Ab.

Source title

Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen

Editors

Forbes, A. P.

Secondary Title

Kalendar of Scottish Saints

Pages

125-137

Year

1872

Notes

Mart. Ab. Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen, in Forbes 1872, 125-137

Quote from source

In Scocia Sancti Talaricani episcopi et confessoris cuius vite et virtutum merita apud ecclesiam de Fordis in eiusdem honore dedicatam celebrari non desinunt.

Notes

The place referred to is Fordyce, Aberdeenshire.