Mo Chua of Balla was an early Irish

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...

 Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

, who lived around the year 500.

Mo Chua is credited with the founding on the monastic settlement at Balla

Balla

Balla is a village in County Mayo, Ireland on the N60 National secondary road, the main road between Castlebar and Claremorris. The economy of the village survives mainly on passing trade, from the busy N60 which carries over 7,000 vehicles through the village every day. The village is to be...

, and was among the first or second generation of Irish Christian Evangelist

Evangelism

Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....

, active in Connacht

Connacht

Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...

 in between about 480 and 520.

His genealogy

Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...

 is given as Mo Chua son of Beacán mac Baer mac Nath Í

Nath Í

Nath Í, an early Irish personal name for males, may refer to:*Nath Í mac Fiachrach, 5th-century legendary king of Connacht*Nath Í of Cúl Fothirbe, saint of the Dál Messin Corb of Leinster...

, making him a member of the Connachta

Connachta

The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...

 dynasty. He is also given as a kinsman

Kinsman

A kinsman is a male relative . The term Kinsman may also refer to:-Places in the United States:*Kinsman, Illinois*Kinsman, Ohio*Kinsman Township, Trumbull County, Ohio...

 of Cainneach of Achadh Bó, Ailbhe of Imleach Iubhair and Scuithín of Sliabh Mairge (Mairge Laighen).

His feast day is 2nd September.