Fáilbe mac Pípáin was the eighth

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The ...

of Iona ( 669–679). Fáilbe was of the same kindred as Columba, the

Cenél Conaill Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history * Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) i ...

, distantly related to him through their common ancestor

Conall Gulban Conall Gulban (died c. 464) was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the '' Cenél Conaill'', who founded the kingdom of ''Tír Chonaill'' in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal in Ulster. He was the son of Niall N ...

. We know from the writings of Adomnán that Fáilbe was at Iona when King Oswald of Northumbria visited sometime in the 630s and was also present when Saint Ernéne, son of Crasen, visited before his death in 635. Little is known of his abbacy, but we do know he enjoyed a good relationship with his monk and successor, Adomnán, to whom he relayed information. Fáilbe died on 22 March 679.

Bibliography

* Sharpe, Richard, ''Adomnán of Iona: Life of St. Columba'', (London, 1995) 679 deaths Abbots of Iona 7th-century Irish abbots Burials in Iona Irish expatriates in Scotland Year of birth unknown {{Ireland-reli-bio-stub