Abbot of Iona
Encyclopedia
The Abbot of Iona was the head of Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey is located on the Isle of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe. The abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland and marks the foundation of a monastic...

 during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

 and the leader of the monastic community of Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...

, as well as the overlord of scores of monasteries in both Scotland and Ireland, including Durrow
Durrow
Durrow is a small rural village in County Offaly, Ireland. Durrow is located on the N52 off the N6 road between Kilbeggan and Tullamore .Famous for being the Ancestral home of the Champion ploughman Luke Bracken. and Dean McDermott, Offaly Bord na Scol runner up,...

, Kells
Abbey of Kells
The Abbey of Kells is a former monastery located in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, 40 miles north of Dublin. It was founded in the early ninth century, and the Book of Kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the Abbey in the 1650s...

 and, for a time, Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...

. It was one of the most prestigious clerical positions in Dark Age Europe, and was visited by kings and bishops of the Picts
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...

, Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...

 and English
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...

. The Ionan abbots also had the status of Comarba of Colum Cille, i.e. the successors of that Saint, Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...

.

Iona's position as head of the Columban network (familia) of churches declines, with abbots based at Derry, Raphoe, Kells and Dunkeld. In Scotland, the abbots of Dunkeld ruled much of central Scotland in the 11th century, and functioned as one of the most important politicians of northern Britain. One of the abbots, Crínán
Crínán of Dunkeld
Crínán of Dunkeld was the lay abbot of the diocese of Dunkeld, and perhaps the Mormaer of Atholl. Crínán was progenitor of the House of Dunkeld, the dynasty which would rule Scotland until the later 13th century....

 married Bethóc ingen Maíl Coluim
Bethóc
Bethóc ingen Maíl Coluim meic Cináeda was the eldest daughter of King Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots, who had no known sons.The strongest hereditary claim of succession to the Scottish throne therefore passed through Bethóc. Princess Bethóc married Crínán, Abbot of Dunkeld. The first son of...

, the daughter of King Máel Coluim II
Malcolm II of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Cináeda , was King of the Scots from 1005 until his death...

, and became the progenitor of the so-called House of Dunkeld
House of Dunkeld
The so-called House of Dunkeld, in Scottish Gaelic Dùn Chailleann , is a historiographical and genealogical construct to illustrate the clear succession of Scottish kings from 1034 to 1040 and from 1058 to 1290.It is dynastically sort of a continuation to Cenél nGabráin of Dál Riata, "race of...

, who ruled Scotland until the later thirteenth century. Dunkeld became a bishopric, and the monks based at Inchcolm Abbey
Inchcolm Abbey
Inchcolm Abbey is a medieval abbey located on the island of Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The Abbey, which is located at the centre of the island, was founded in the 12th century during the episcopate of Gregoir, Bishop of Dunkeld. Later tradition placed it back in the reign of King...

 became Augustinians
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...

.

At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the monks of Iona adopted the Benedictine rule. Iona was re-endowed in 1203 by Raghnall mac Somhairle
Raghnall mac Somhairle
Ragnall mac Somairle, or Ragnall son of Somairle, was a late 12th century and possibly early 13th century magnate, seated on the western seaboard of Scotland. He was likely a younger son of Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, Lord of Argyll and his wife, Ragnhildr, daughter of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of...

, son of Somerled
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...

, king of Argyll and the Isles.

List of abbots of Iona to 891

Early abbots of Iona
Incumbent Until Citation(s) Notes
Colum Cille mac Fedelmtheo Died 9 June 597
Baithéne mac Brénaind
Baithéne mac Brénaind
Baithéne mac Brénaind was an Irish monk, specially selected by St. Columba as one of the band of missionaries who set sail for what is now Scotland in 563....

Died 9 June 598
Lasrén mac Feradaig Died 16 September 605
Fergno Britt mac Faílbi Died 2 March 623 Known primarily as Virgno
Ségéne mac Fiachnaí Died 12 August 652
Suibne moccu Fir Thrí Died 11 January 657
Cumméne Find Died 24 February 669
Fáilbe mac Pípáin Died 22 March 679
Adomnán mac Rónáin Died 23 September 704
Conamail mac Faílbi Deposed(?) 707 Died 11 September 710
Dúnchad mac Cinn Fáelad Deposed(?) June 713
(restored 713 x 716)
Died 25 May 717
Dorbbéne mac Altaíni Died 28 October 713 Also called Dorbbéne Foto
Fáelchú mac Dorbbéni Deposed/resigned 722 Died 724
Fedelmid Deposed(?) before 722 Died 759
Cilléne Fota Died 726
Cilléne Droichtech Died 752
Sléibíne mac Congaile Resigned before 766 Died 767
Suibne Resigned 771 Died 801
Bresal mac Ségéni Died 801
Connachtach Died 802
Cellach mac Congaile resigned 814 Died 815
Diarmait daltae Daigri
Diarmait of Iona
Diarmait of Iona was Abbot of Iona . Thomas Owen Clancy argues that Diarmait was one of the most important Céli Dé reformers, instrumental to the spread of the movement in Scotland, laying the ground for his successor Indrechtach...

Resigned 831 Died in or after 831 Blathmac mac Flainn
Blathmac
Saint Blathmac was a distinguished Irish monk, b. in Ireland about 750. He was murdered and became a martyr in Iona, about 825. His biography written by Strabo, the Benedictine Abbot of Reichenau , and thus the story of his martyrdom has been handed down.Balathmac, the scion of a noble family,...

 was martyred on Iona in 825.
Indrechtach ua Fínnachta Resigned before 854 Died 854
Cellach mac Ailello Died 865 Cellach had been abbot of Kildare since 852
Feradach mac Cormaic Died 880
Flann mac Maíle Dúin Died 20 April 891

List of comarbai Coluim Cille and abbots of Iona, 891–1099

During that abbacies of Diarmait and Indrechtach, almost certainly because of Viking attacks, the relics of Columba were moved to other monastic houses in the Columban familia, such as Kells
Abbey of Kells
The Abbey of Kells is a former monastery located in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, 40 miles north of Dublin. It was founded in the early ninth century, and the Book of Kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the Abbey in the 1650s...

, Raphoe and Dunkeld
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is about 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam. Dunkeld and Birnam share a railway station, on the...

. The position of abbot on Iona ceases to have the same significance within the Columban monastic familia, and many comarbai are not based on the island.
Comarbai Coluim Cille to 1099
Incumbent Chief monastery Until Citation(s) Notes
Máel Brigte mac Tornáin Iona/Armagh Died 22 February 927 Máel Brigte had been abbot of Armagh from 883, and may not have spent much time on Iona
Dubthach mac Dubáin Raphoe Died 938
Cáenchomrac Iona Died 947 Was definitely abbot of Iona, but may not have been coarb of Coluim Cille
Robartach Raphoe Died 954
Dub Dúin ua Stepháin unknown Died 959
Dub Scoile mac Cináeda unknown Died 964
Mugrón Iona Died 980/81 Styled "coarb of Colum Cille in Ireland and Scotland"
Máel Ciaráin ua Maigne Iona Martyred 24 December 986 Killed by Vikings
Dúnchad Ua Robacháin Raphoe Died 989
Dub dá Leithe mac Cellaig unknown Died June 998 Dub dá Leithe had been abbot of Armagh from 965
Máel Brigte mac Rímeda Iona Died 1005 Was definitely abbot of Iona, but may not have been coarb of Coluim Cille
Muiredach mac Crícháin Raphoe Resigned 1007 Died 1011; Muiredach was also fer léigind of Armagh
Ferdomnach Kells Died 1008
Máel Muire Ua hUchtáin Kells Died 1009
Flandabra Iona Died 1025 Styled "coarb of Iona"
Máel Eóin Ua Toráin Derry Died 1025 Styled "coarb of Derry"
Máel Muire ua hUchtáin Kells/Raphoe Died 1040 Máel Muire was abbot of both Kells and Raphoe
Murchad mac Flainn ua Máel Sechlainn Kells (?) Deposed (?) 1057 Murchad was abbot of Conard from 1055, as well as briefly king of Mide in 1073; his most likely Columban holding would be Kells.
Robartach mac Ferdomnaig Kells Died 1057
Gilla Críst Ua Maíl Doraid unknown Died 1062 Gilla Críst was called "coarb of Colum Cille in Ireland and Scotland".
Mac meic Báethéne Iona Died 1070
Domnall mac Robartaig Kells Resigned before 1098
Donnchad mac meic Máenaig Iona Died 1099

List of comarbai Coluim Cille at Kells and Derry

None of the following comarbai Coluim Cille are based at Iona, but rather Kells and Derry.
Comarbai Coluim Cille from 1099 to the 1220s
Incumbent Chief monastery Until Citation(s) Notes
Ferdomnach Ua Clucáin Kells Died 1114
Máel Brigte mac Rónáin Kells Died 1117
Conaing Ua Becléigind Kells Died 1128
Gilla Adamnáin Ua Coirthnén Kells Gilla Adamnáin was a priest of Durrow who later became abbot of Kells.
Gilla Meic Liac mac Diarmata Derry Archbishop from 1137 Gilla Meic Liac (Gelasius) had been abbot of Derry since 1121, and was consecrated archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...

 in 1137; he died on 27 March 1174.
Muiredach Ua Clucáin Kells Died 1154
Flaithbertach Ua Brolcháin Derry Died 1175
Gilla Meic Liac Ua Branáin Derry Resigned 1198
Gilla Críst Ua Cernaig Derry Died 1210
Fonachtan Ua Branáin Derry Died 1220
Flann Ua Brolcháin Derry Deposed 1220
Muichertach Ua Milliuc Derry Died

List of Benedictine abbots of Iona

Abbots of Iona in the Benedictine era
Incumbent Period Citation(s) Notes
Cellach fl. 1203–04
Amhalgaid Ó Fearghail fl. 1204 c. 1204 the house of Derry installs Amhalgaid in opposition to Cellach
Fionnlagh fl. c. 1320
Peadar Died or resigned 1357
Finghuine mac Ghille-Brìghde MacFhionghain c. 1357–1405
Eóin mac Gofraidh MacAlasdair 1405–c.1421
Dominic mac Ghille-Coinnich 1421–1444 x 1465
Aonghas mac Aonghais postulated 1465 Aonghas was son of Aonghas Óg
Aonghas Óg
Aonghas Óg was a Scottish nobleman who was the last independent Lord of the Isles.-Biography:He was the bastard son of John of Islay, Earl of Ross . Aonghas became a rebel against both his father and against the Scottish crown...

.
Eóin MacFhionghain 1467–1498 Eóin was son of Lachlan MacFhionghain.

List of abbot-commendators

Abbot-commendators of Iona
Incumbent Period Citation(s) Notes
Eóin Caimbeul I 1499–1510
George Hepburn
George Hepburn
George Hepburn was the son of Adam Hepburn and brother to Patrick Hepburn, the first Earl of Bothwell.He was a churchman, and served firstly as postulate Abbot of Arbroath, before becoming Lord High Treasurer of Scotland for a brief spell in 1509...

1510–1513 Died at the battle of Flodden, 9 September 1513
Eóin Caimbeul II 1514–1532
Ailean MacGill-Eathain provided 1526
Seumas Sdíbhard crown nomination 1529 A kinsman of the earl of Lennox, he was abbot of Dryburgh
Abbot of Dryburgh
The Abbot of Dryburgh was the head of the Premonstratensian community of canons regular of Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders. The monastery was founded in 1150 by canons regular from Alnwick Abbey with the patronage of Hugh de Morville, Lord of Lauderdale...

.
Fearchar Mac Eachainn 1528–1544 x 1546
Ruairidh MacGill-Eathain 1544–1552 x 1553
Ruairidh MacAlasdair 1545–1546
Ailean Mac an Toisic 1546
John Hay postulate 1547
Pádraig MacGill-Eathain 1547–1552
Alexander Gordon 1553–1562
Eóin Caimbeul III 1557–1560 x 1562
Pádraig MacGill-Eathain (again) 1560–1565
Séon Carsuel
Séon Carsuel
Séon Carsuel was a 16th-century Scottish prelate, humanist and Protestant reformer...

1565–1572
Lachlan MacGill-Eathain c. 1567 Despite Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...

, he was suspected of having received license from Mary, Queen of Scots, to go to the Pope to received the abbey and the bishopric of the Isles, but denied the allegation and renounced his claims to Carsuel.
Eóin Caimbeul III (again) 1572–1581
Alasdair Caimbeul 1581–1615 The abbey was annexed to the bishopric of the Isles on 11 August 1615; Alasdair Caimbeul was still alive on 30 September 1619.
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