The Abbot of Clonfert was the monastic head of the abbey of Clonfert

Clonfert

Clonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...

 in County Galway

County Galway

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...

, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

. The abbey was founded by Saint Brendan in the early sixth century. The abbots also bore the title "Comarbai Brénaind", "successor of Saint Brendan".

List of abbots

• Brendan
  Brendan
  Saint Brendan of Clonfert or Bréanainn of Clonfert called "the Navigator", "the Voyager", or "the Bold" is one of the early Irish monastic saints. He is chiefly renowned for his legendary quest to the "Isle of the Blessed," also called St. Brendan's Island. The Voyage of St...
  
   (Brénaind moccu Altai; Bréanainn; Naomh Breandán), d. 16 May 577/8.
• Fintan Corach (Corad), d. 21 February 592.
• Senach, d. 604.
• Senach Garb mac Buidi
  Seanach Garbh
  Seanach Garbh was Abbot of Clonfert.Seanach is the second recorded abbot, including Brendan. Few details of his life appear to be known, and over one hundred years would pass before another abbot was recorded...
  
  , d. 10 September 621.
• Ségán Carrthach, d. 636.
• Cumméne Foto mac Fiachnai
  Cummian
  Cumméne Fota or Cummian was an Irish bishop.-Biography:Cummian was an Irish Bishop and fer léignid of Cluain Ferta Brénainn , was an important theological writer in the early to mid 7th century. He is famous for a Paschal letter which displays his high level of learning...
  
  , also bishop, d. 12 November 661/2.
• Fáclán, fl.
  Floruit
  Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
  
   696/7.
• Fachtnae mac Folachtáin
  Fachtna mac Folachtan
  Fachtna mac Folachtan was Abbot of Clonfert.Fachtna mac Folachtan is the third recorded abbot, including Brendan. Neither his immediate predecessors or successors are known with certainty.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at...
  
  , d. 729.
• Fiachnae us Maic Niad
  Fiachna ua Maicniadh
  Fiachna ua Maicniadh was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 752.
• Cellán
  Cellan of Clonfert
  Cellan of Clonfert was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 753.
• Suibne
  Suibhne of Clonfert
  Suibhne of Clonfert was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 762.
• Crimthann mac Rechtgaile
  Crimhthann mac Reachtghal
  Crimhthann mac Reachtghal was Abbot of Clonfert.He is very uncertainly associated with Crimthann the Warlike, who defeated the Delbhna Nuadat at the battle of Bealach Cro in 751, during the reign of King Aedh Ailghin of Uí Maine, died 767....
  
  , d. 766.
• Ceithernach ua hErmono
  Cethernach ua Ermono
  Cethernach ua Ermono was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
   (?Rumono), d. 773.
• Flaithnio mac Congaile
  Flaithniadh mac Congal
  Flaithniadh mac Congal was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 781.
• Mac Flaithniad
  Mac Flaithniadh
  Mac Flaithniadh was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 783.
• Tipraite mac Ferchair
  Tibraide mac Fearchair
  Tibraide mac Fearchair was Abbot of Clonfert.There is some confusion over the length of Tibraide's term of office, as his death is listed twice in the annals, under 781 and 790...
  
  , d. 786
• Muiredach, d. 792.
• Muiredach mac Ólchobair
  Muireadhach mac Olcobhar
  Muireadhach mac Olcobhar was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 802.
• Ceannfaeladh
  Ceannfaeladh of Clonfert
  Ceannfaeladh of Clonfert was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  
• Conghaltach
  Conghaltach mac Etguini
  Conghaltach mac Etguini was Abbot of Clonfert.Conghaltach is described as Prior, not Abbot, unless he held two offices at once, as did Cormac mac Ciaran and Ruthmael.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at...
  
  
• Tipraite mac Ceithernaig
  Tibraide mac Cethernach
  Tibraide mac Cethernach was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 817.
• Ólchobar mac Cummascaig
  Olcobhar mac Cummuscach
  Olcobhar mac Cummuscach was Abbot of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 820.
• Ruithnél
  Ruthmael
  Ruthmael was Abbot and Bishop of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , also bishop, d. 826.
• Coinnecán, possibly deposed 838.
• Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
  Feidlimid mac Cremthanin
  Fedelmid mac Crimthainn was the King of Munster between 820 and 846. He was numbered as a member of the Céli Dé, an abbot of Cork Abbey and Clonfert Abbey, and possibly a bishop...
  
  , also king of Munster, abbot of Cork
  Abbot of Cork
  The Abbot of Cork was the head of the monastery at Cork in the province of Munster, Ireland. The monastery was founded by Saint Finbarr in the early seventh century. The abbots also bore the title "Comarbai Báirri", "successor of Saint Finbarr"....
  
  , scribe and anchorite, died 28 August 847.
• Rechtabrae
  Rechtabhra
  Rechtabhra was Abbot and Bishop of Clonfert.-References:* Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  , d. 850.
• Connagan
  Connagan
  Connagan, Abbot and Bishop of Clonfert, died 849.-References:* Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin....
  
  
• Cormac mac Ciaran
  Cormac mac Ciaran
  Cormac mac Ciaran was Abbot of Tuam.Cormac mac Ciaran is the fourth known abbot of Tuam, since its foundation as a Christian monastery by Jarlath in the 520's, and the first one known by name in over one hundred years....
  
  
• Mugrón ua Cinn Fáelad, d. 885.
• Máel Tuili mac Cilléni, d. 888.
• Máel Petair ua Cuáin, also bishop and abbot of Terryglass
  Terryglass
  Terryglass is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the...
  
  , d. 895.
• Áed mac Ailella
  Aedh mac Ailell
  -References:* Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.* Byrne, Francis John , Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9...
  
  , d. 916.
• Áed mac Cellaig, d. 958.
• Eógan ua Catháin
  Eoghan Ua Cathain
  Eoghan Ua Cathain was Abbot of Clonfert.Surnames had come into use in Ireland from about the 920's, and the prefix Ua may indicate that Eoghan was among the first to use the surname Ua Cathain in the west of Ireland....
  
  , d. 981.
• Máel Petair ua Tolaig
  Maelpeadair Ua Tolaid
  -References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.* Byrne, Francis John , Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9...
  
  , d. 992.
• Fiachra Ua Focarta
  Fiachra Ua Focarta
  -References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.* Byrne, Francis John , Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9...
  
  
• Óengus ua Flainn
  Aenghus Ua Flainn
  Aenghus Ua Flainn was Abbot of Clonfert. An apparent kinsman, Coinneccám Ua Flainn, was also abbot and died in 1081.-References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at...
  
  , d. 1036.
• Coscrach mac Aingeda, also abbot of Killaloe
  Killaloe, County Clare
  Killaloe is a large village in east County Clare, Ireland, situated in the midwest of Ireland. The village is on the south end of Lough Derg, while the settlement spreads across the River Shannon, with the County Tipperary side known as Ballina...
  
  , d. 1040.
• Diarmait mac Máel Brénainn, d. at Ardfert in 1074.
• Coinneccám Ua Flainn, d. 1081.
• Cenn Fáelad Ua hÓcáin, d. 1091.
• Ua Corcráin
  Ua Corcrain of Clonfert
  Ua Corcrain of Clonfert, Abbot of Clonfert, died 1095.Ua Corcrain may have been a member of the Ó Cormacáin eccleiastical family based in Síol Anmchadha, in what is now south-east County Galway....
  
  , also bishop, d. 1094.
• Gilla Muire Ua Fogartaig (Máel Muire Ua Fócarta), d. 1112.
• Máel Brénainn Ua hÁnradáin
  Gillabhrenainn Ua hAnradhain
  -References:* Annals of Ulster at at * Annals of Tigernach at at * of McCarthy's synchronisms at Trinity College Dublin.* Byrne, Francis John , Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9...
  
  , d. 1132/4.
• Gilla Meic Aiblén Ua hAnmchada, d. 1166.

Bishops of Clonfert

The following are the people at the abbey who were consecrated as bishops, though many did not hold the office of coarb or abbot.

• Móenu
  Móenu
  Móenu, Bishop of Clonfert, d. 1 March 572.Maeineann was a nephew of Brendan, and seems to have acted as his Coadjutor and head of the monastic school. It is not know if he was at any time its abbot, or if this was an office exclusive to Brendan....
  
  , d. 1 March 572.
• Eitchén, d. 578.
• Cenn Fáelad
  Cenn Fáelad
  Cenn Fáelad mac Blathmaic followed his father Blathmac mac Áedo Sláine and his brother Sechnassach as High King of Ireland and king of Brega...
  
  , d.807.
• Laithbertach mac Óengusso, d. 822.
• Cormac mac Áedáin, d. 922.
• Ciarán ua Gabla, d. 953.
• Cathal mac Cormaic, d. 963.
• Eochu mac Scolaige, d. 1031.