Eochu macDiarmaid (also called Eochu) (–January 598), was the
Bishop of Armagh
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
, Ireland from 588 to 598.
Genealogy and birth
Eochu was born c. 540 AD in Domnach Rigdruing (The Church of the King's tribe). His father was Diarmait.
Bishop of Armagh
On the death of
Carláen
Saint Carláen (also called Cairlan, Carlan, Cairellán, Caurlan, Caerlan, Cáerlan, Cairlaene, Carillan, Cairlén, Ciarlaech, Cayrlan, Cairlani; – 24 March 588) was the Bishop of Armagh, Ireland, from 578 to 588.
Genealogy and birth
Saint ...
, the Bishop of Armagh, on 24 March 588, Eochu was appointed as the 13th
coarb
A coarb, from the Old Irish ''comarbae'' (Modern Irish ''comharba'', Latin: ''hērēs''), meaning "heir" or "successor", was a distinctive office of the medieval church among the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland. In this period coarb appears intercha ...
in succession to Saint Patrick. Eochu reigned as Bishop for 10 years. He probably attended the
Synod of Drumceat in 590 in his capacity as bishop of Armagh.
Eochu is referred to as a witness to a contract guaranteeing the rights of the Airgialla clan, as follows- "''Who binds the witnesses of the contract, it is not a cause of subjection, Bishop Echu, Bishop Aed mac Bric, Senach son of Máel''".
[’''The Airgialla Charter Poem:Edition''’, Edel Bhreathnach & Kevin Murray in 'The Kingship and Landscape of Tara' , Dublin (1952), p. 188, para. 42.]
Death
Eochu died in January 598. The Annals of Ireland give the following obits-
* Annals of the Four Masters 597- "''Eochaidh, son of Diarmaid, Bishop and Abbot of Ard-Macha, died''"
* Annals of Ulster 598- "''Eochu, abbot of Ard Macha, rested''"
* Annals from the Book of Leinster- ''Eochu, abbot of Armagh''
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:macDiarmaid, Eochu
540s births
598 deaths
Bishops of Armagh
6th-century Irish bishops