The Abbot of Clonard was the monastic head of
Clonard Abbey, which is in modern-day
County Meath,
Ireland. The abbey was founded by
Saint Finnian in the early sixth century. After the death of Saint Finnian, the abbots bore the title "
ComarbaiFinnéin" (i.e. "successor of Saint Finnian"). However, the title was ambiguous, since it may refer to the abbots of
Moville,
County Down, founded by Finnian nepos Fiatach (died 10 September 579/80). The abbots of Clonard were sometimes called 'coarbs of Finnian and Mo Cholmóc'. Until the early twelfth century, a few of the abbots and some others at Clonard Abbey were
consecrated bishops, but this did not necessarily mean they were
bishops of Clonard, since the
diocese of Clonard was not established until the
Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111.[1]
List of abbots
The following is a list of abbots and early monastic bishops. (Those who were consecrated bishops, but did not hold the office of coarb or abbot are indicated in italics and brackets):
Finnian (Finnio moccu Theilduib; Finian; Fionáin), died 12 December 549/552.
Senach, also bishop, died 31 August c.590.
Diarmat, died 615.
Colman moccu Theilduib (Mo Cholmóc), also bishop, died 8 February 654.
Oisséne Foto, died 1 May 654.
Ultán moccu Chungai, died 665.
[? Da Beóóc (Mo Bécóc), possibly abbot of Clonard, died 689/90].
Colman ua hEirc ('Colman hoa hOirce'), died 5 December 701.
Dub Dúin ua Fáeláin, also bishop, died 718.
Áelchú, died 732.
Fiannamail mac Geirtidi, died 736.
(Tólac mac Dúnchado, bishop, but not abbot of Clonard, died 738).
Forindán, died 12 February 745.
Do Dímmóc, also achorite and
abbot of Kildare, died 3 March 748.
Bécc Laitne, died 763.
Loarn, died 765.
Airlid, died 772.
Góedel, died 776.
(Fulartach, bishop, but not abbot of Clonard, died 29 March or 21 December 779).
Dub dá Bairenn, died 787.
Crundmáel Dromma Inesclainn, died 793.
(Clothchú, bishop and anchorite, but not abbot of Clonard, died796).
Dub dá Bairenn ua Dubáin, died 805.
Crundmáel mac Ordráin, died 820.
Clemens, also bishop, died 826.
Cormac mac Suibni, also bishop and scribe, died 830.
Murchad mac Flainn Ua Máel Sechlainn, also abbot of
Kells in 1055, and
king of Mide (according to the annals) for three nights in 1073, died 1076; he was grandson of Abbot Domnall mac Máel Sechnaill.
Muirchertach mac Loingsig Ua Máel Sechlainn, died 1092.
^Moody, T. W.; Martin, F. X.; Byrne, F. J., eds. (1984), Maps, Genealogies, Lists: A Companion to Irish History, Part II, New History of Ireland: Volume XI, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 243–244,
ISBN0-19-821745-5