Ioseph of Lough Conn, Abbot of Clonmacnoise

Abbot of Clonmacnoise

The Abbot of Clonmacnoise was the monastic head of Clonmacnoise. They also bore the title "Comarba of Saint Ciarán", "successor of Saint Ciarán". The following is a list of abbots:-List of abbots to 1539:-References:...

, died 904.

The Annals of Inisfallen

Annals of Inisfallen

The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...

, sub anno 899, state "Joseph of Loch Con, Abbot of Cluain Mic Nois, of the tribe of the northern Ui Fiachrach" died. These annals are often out of synch by as much as five years. Lough Conn

Lough Conn

Lough Conn is a lake in County Mayo in the province of Connacht in Ireland and covers about 14,000 acres . With its immediate neighbour to the south, Lough Cullin, it is connected to the Atlantic by the River Moy...

 is located in what is now County Mayo

County Mayo

County Mayo 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 village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...

, in what was then the kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe

Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe were a branch of the Ui Fiachrach dynasty of the Connachta. They were centered in the Moy River valley of Co. Mayo. The Uí Fiachrach Muaide territory at its widest reach included the baronies of Erris and Tirawley in Co. Mayo, and the barony of Tireragh in Co. Sligo...

. This kingdom was in decline by the late 9th century which may account for Ioseph's acension as abbot, as Clonmacnoise generally took people from the non-royal or minor dynasties of Ireland. He may have been attached to a monastery active in these years in Lough Conn.