Thursday 15 December 2016

The Early Bishops of Clonfert


The following is taken from Fr. Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy at p. 308:

St. Fintan Corach who flourished at this period [c. 571] was bishop of Clonfert. He had previously presided over a church in a place called Leam chuil in Leinster. It is stated that he either founded or governed a church at Cluainmaithin in Leix or Clonenagh. He became abbot of St. Brendan's and bishop of the see. His death is marked on the 21st of February but the year of his death is unknown or its place.

Senach Garb succeeded as abbot and bishop. He died in 621. St. Colman, the son of Comgel, was bishop of Clonfert and it seems died the same year with his predecessor.

Cumin Foda the Long, son of Feachna and grandson of Fiacrius a prince of West Munster, is said to have been promoted to the see of Clonfert by Guaire MacColman, which he governed with great wisdom. He died on the 12th of November 662.

Rutmel, prince and bishop of Clonfert died in 825.

Cathal MacCormac the eminent bishop of Clonfert died in 861.

Cormac MacAidan, bishop of Clonfert, died AD 921.

Giolla MacAiblen, comorban of Brendan, died in 1166.

Peter O'Moor, a Cistercian monk and abbot of Grelachdinach, afterwards Boyle, was bishop of Clonfert and a man of high esteem for many virtues. He was drowned in the Shannon on the 27th of December, 1171.

Maelisa MacAward sat a very short time having died A.D. 1173.

Malcallan, son of Adam, bishop of Clonfert died in 1186.

Donald O'Find, comorban of Clonfert and Brendan, died in 1195.

A bishop Ó Cormacain died at Clonfert in 1204 but the name of his see is not given.

Thomas, bishop of Clonfert, died in 1248.

Cormac or Charles Ó Lumlin, bishop of Clonfert, was highly esteemed for his probity and learning. He died at an advanced age in 1259.

Thomas O Kelley succeeded. He was a great benefactor to the church of the Dominicans at Athenry, where he is interred, having died in January, 1263.

John, who was an Italian and the Pope's nuncio, succeeded to the see of Clonfert in 1266 and was consecrated at Athenry. In the following year he went to Rome. He presided many years and was translated to the see of Benavento in Italy. He is classed among the principal benefactors to the church of Clonfert.

In 1296, William O'Duffy, bishop of Clonfert, fell from his horse and died in consequence.

Robert succeeded in 1296, was a monk of Christ church, Canterbury. He sat eleven years and died AD 1307.

Gregory O'Brogy was unanimously elected by the chapter, was dean of the cathedral. He sat eleven years and died in 1319.

Robert le Petit, a minorite, was elected by the dean and chapter on the 10th of February 1319, was deprived in two years, was afterwards promoted to the see of Enaghdune by provision of the Pope on the 18th of November, 1325, and obtained the temporals in June, 1326.

John O'Lean, archdeacon of Tuam, succeeded in 1322 by provision of the Pope. He died on the 7th of April, 1336. The see of Clonfert was kept vacant and the temporals of this see and that of Enaghdune given in custody to John de Exeter and Elias Tullesan on the death of Thomas O'Malley and continued so until the 10th year of King Edward III, A.D. 1346.

1 comment:

  1. A Gooley (GAbhlach) was mentioned in a surname meaning as being an early bishop of Clongert.

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