The ''airchinnech Eglaisi Bige'' (head of the little church) is an office associated with the
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...
of
Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise or Clonmacnois (Irish language, Irish: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined monastery in County Offaly in Republic of Ireland, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone, founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Ciarán, ...
between 898 and 1097.
Nine persons are listed as its officers:
* Ecertach, son of Luchairén of the Meic Cuinn na mBocht. He was the father of Óenucán mac Écertaig (d. 949) and Dúnadach mac Écertaig (d. 955), both of whom became
Bishop of Clonmacnoise
Bishop of Clonmacnoise was the ordinary of the Roman Catholic episcopal see based at Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, Ireland. The bishops of Clonmacnoise (Old Irish: ''Cluain Moccu Nóis'') appear in the records for the first time in the 9th century ...
. Died 898.
* Fiachra of Eglais beag, died 923.
* Óenucán mac Écertaig, a son of Ecertach (died 898) and ''germanus atavi'' of Conn na mbocht. Both he and his brother were apparently
foster
Foster may refer to:
People
* Foster (surname)
* Foster Brooks (1912–2001), American actor
* Foster Moreau (born 1997), American football player
* Foster Sarell (born 1998), American football player
* John Foster Dulles (1888–1959), America ...
ed in
Louth Louth may refer to:
Australia
*Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia
* Louth, New South Wales, a town
* Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia
** Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality
Canada
* Louth, Ontario
Ireland
* Cou ...
, their tutor being Caíchormrac, bishop and ''princeps'' of Louth, who died in 903.
* Cathasach, died 978.
* Broen ua hAedha, possibly of the
Múscraige
The Múscraighe (older spelling: Músgraige) were an important Érainn people of Munster, descending from Cairpre Músc, son of Conaire Cóem, a High King of Ireland. Closely related were the Corcu Duibne, Corcu Baiscind, both of Munster, and a ...
of
Munster
Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
, died 987.
* Cairpre mac Rodaighe, died 1037.
* Ailill Ua Máelchiaráin, died 1060.
* Aodh Ua Conghaile, died 1092. Listed as such by the Four Masters.
* Máeláan Ua Cuinn, a member of the Meic Cuinn na mBocht, died 1097.
References
* Annette Kehnel, ''Clonmacnois the Church and Lands of St. Ciarán:Change and Continuity in an Irish Monastic Foundation (6th- to 16th Century)'', pp. 289–290, 1995, Transaction Publishers, Rutgers - State University, USA. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Head of Egailsi Bige, Clonmacnoise
Christianity in medieval Ireland
Religion in County Offaly