Kenneth (6th century)

Kenneth was born in Derry about 525 and studied in Wales. He was a companion of Columba and went with him to King Brude in Inverness. There are many dedications to him, particularly in Fife. See Towill p. 125.

Kessog (6th century)

Kessog was Irish. He worked in what is now East Dunbartonshire, mainly around Loch Lomond and Callander. He retired to Monk’s Island on Loch Lomond. There are two sites dedicated to him near Inverness – North and South Kessock. The South Kessock ferry (run by Dominicans) to North Kessock was used by pilgrims going to Tain.

Note: the ferry was replaced by a bridge in 1982, called the Kessock bridge. 

An aside – the Highland surname ‘MacIsaac’, which is also found around Callander, may be a corruption of Kessog.

See Towill p. 138, Woodside p. 27.