Saint Suibne
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Saint_Suibne.jpg/200px-Saint_Suibne.jpg)
Saint Suibne (also called Subne, Suibhne, Suibhney, Suibne nepos Mruichessaich, Suibne nepos mac Crundmaíl, Subnei, Suibni, Suivney, Sweeney; c. 670 – 21 June 730) was the Bishop of Armagh, Ireland from 715 to 21 June 730. He is notable for his portrait which is possibly the earliest contemporary representation of a bishop of Armagh.
Genealogy and birth
Suibne was from Cobran and was the son of Crundmael, son of Rónán of the Úi Nialláin clan from Oneilland Barony, County Armagh. He was called Suibne the Sage.[1]
His genealogy is "Suibne meicc Crundmael meic Ronain meic Baetain meic Muiredaich meic Eogain meic Niallain meic Feicc meic Feidelmid meic Fiachrach Cassan m. Colla Fochrích".[2]
Bishop of Armagh
On the death of Saint Fland Feblae mac Scandláin, the Bishop of Armagh, on 24 April 715, Suibne was appointed as the 19th Bishop in succession to Saint Patrick. Suibne reigned as Bishop for 15 years. Four years into his reign Armagh was attacked and some of the monks were killed. The Annals of Ulster under the year 719 state- "The killing of the community of Suibne in Ard Macha".
Lichfield gospels
There is an illustration on page 142 of the Lichfield Gospels made about 730 which depicts a prelate whom some scholars identify as Saint Suibne. If correct then it is the earliest contemporary portrait of a bishop of Armagh.
Death
Suibne died on 21 June 730. The Annals of Ireland give the following obits-
- Annals of the Four Masters 729- "Suibhne, son of Cronnmael, son of Ronan, Bishop of Ard-Macha, died on the 21st of June; he was of the Ui-Niallain"
- Annals of Inisfallen 729- "Repose of Suibne, abbot of Ard Macha"
- Annals of Ulster 730- "Suibne alias son of Crunnmael, descendant of Mruichesach, bishop of Ard Macha, fell asleep"
- Fragmentary Annals of Ireland 730- "Suibne, abbot of Ard Macha, rested"
- Annals from the Book of Leinster- "Subne, abbot of Armagh, dies"
Feast day
After his death Suibne was venerated as a saint and his feast was celebrated on 21 June, the day of his death. The Calendars of the Saints have the following entries-
- Martyrology of Gorman 21 June- "Hostful Suibne, bishop of Armagh"
- Martyrology of Oengus 21 June- "Bishop Suibne here"
- Martyrology of Tallaght 21 June- "Suibne Eps. O Chobran"
- Martyrology of Donegal 21 June- "Suibhne, Bishop, of Ard-Macha, A.D. 729"
Descendants
According to the genealogies Suibne left at least two sons, Rónáin and Fer Dá Chrích, but whether he was married or not is unknown. His son Saint Fer dá Chrích mac Suibni later became the Abbot of Armagh, reigning from 758 to 768. The Clan Cernaig descend from his other son Rónáin as follows-"Cummascach m. Cernaig m. Máilchíaráin m. Eochach m. Cernaig m. Echach m. Cumascaig m. Ailella m. Cumascaig m. Cernaig m. Suibne m. Éicnig m. Colcan m. Suibne m. Rónaín m Suibne".[3]
References
- ^ The Ancient List of the Coarbs of Patrick, by Rev. H.J. Lawlor and R.I. Best in PRIA, Vol. XXXV (1919), p. 321, No. 22.
- ^ Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae, Michael A. O'Brien, p. 183
- ^ The Laud Genealogies and Tribal Histories, Kuno Meyer (ed.), in Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 8 (1912), p. 322, folio 106a 1.
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- Patrick
- Sechnall mac Restituit
- Sen-Phátraic
- Benén mac Sescnén
- Iarlaithe mac Treno
- Cormac
- Dubthach the First
- Ailill the First
- Ailill the Second
- Dubthach the Second
- Fiachra mac Colmain
- Fedelmid Find
- Carláen
- Eochu macDiarmaid
- Senach
- Mac Laisre
- Tómméne
- Ségéne
- Fland Feblae mac Scandláin
- Suibne mac Crundmaíl
- Congus
8th–12th centuries
- Célé Petair
- Fer dá Chrích mac Suibni
- Cú Dínaisc mac Conasaig
- Dub dá Leithe I mac Sínaig
- Fóendelach mac Móenaig
- Airechtach ua Fáeláin
- Fóendelach mac Móenaig (second)
- Gormgal mac Dindataig
- Condmach mac Duib dá Leithe
- Torbach mac Gormáin
- Toicthech Ua Tigernaig
- Nuadu of Loch Uama
- Flandgus mac Loingsig
- Artrí mac Conchobair
- Suibne mac Forandáin
- Eógan Mainistrech mac Ainbthig
- Forindán mac Murgile
- Diarmait ua Tigernáin
- Cathassach
- Féthgno mac Nechtain
- Máel Cobo mac Crundmaíl
- Ainmere ua Fáeláin
- Máel Cobo mac Crundmaíl (second)
- Cathassach mac Robartaig
- Máel Brigte mac Tornáin
- Ioseph mac Fathaig
- Máel Pátraic mac Máel Tuile
- Cathassach mac Doilgén
- Muiredach mac Fergussa
- Dub dá Leithe II mac Cellaig
- Muirecén mac Ciaracáin
- Máel Muire mac Eochada
- Amalgaid mac Máel Muire
- Dub dá Leithe III Máel Muire
- Cummascach Ua hErodáin
- Máel Ísu mac Amalgada
- Domnall mac Amalgada
- Cellach of Armagh
- Muirchertach mac Domnall
- Niall mac Áeda meic Máel Ísu
8th–12th centuries
- Affiath
- Nuadu of Loch Uama
- Artrí mac Conchobair
- Forindán mac Murgile
- Máel Pátraic mac Findchon
- Féthgno mac Nechtain
- Cathassach mac Robartaig
- Mochtae daltae Féthgno
- Máel Aithgin
- Cellach mac Sóergussa
- Máel Ciaráin mac Eochocáin
- Ioseph mac Fathaig
- Máel Pátraic mac Máel Tuile
- Cathassach mac Doilgén
- Cathassach mac Murchadáin
- Máel Muire mac Scandláinn
- Airmedach mac Coscraig
- Cenn Fáelad Sabaill
- Máel Tuile
- Áed Ua Forréid
- Máel Pátraic mac Airmedaig
- Cáenchomrac Ua Baigill
- Máel Coluim Ua Broicháin
- Máel Brigte Ua Broicháin
- Amlaim Ua Muirethaig
12th–16th centuries
- Cellach of Armagh
- Malachy
- Gilla Meic Liac mac Diarmata
- Cornelius of Armagh
- Gilla in Choimded Ua Caráin
- Tommaltach Ua Conchobair
- Mael Ísu Ua Cerbaill
- Tommaltach Ua Conchobair (second)
- Echdonn Mac Gilla Uidir
- Luke Netterville
- Donatus Ó Fidabra
- Robert Archer
- Albert Suerbeer
- Reginald of Bologna
- Abraham Ó Conalláin
- Máel Patraic Ua Scannail
- Nicol Mac Máel Ísu
- Michael MacLochlainn
- Dionysius
- John Taaffe
- Walter Jorz
- Roland Jorz
- Stephen Seagrave
- David Mág Oireachtaigh
- Richard FitzRalph
- Milo Sweetman
- Thomas Ó Calmáin
- John Colton
- Nicholas Fleming
- Richard Talbot
- John Swayne
- John Prene
- John Mey
- John Bole
- John Foxalls
- Edmund Connesburgh
- Ottaviano Spinelli de Palatio
- John Kite
- George Cromer
- Robert Wauchope
- George Dowdall
16th–21st centuries
- Donagh O'Tighe
- Richard Creagh
- Edmund MacGauran
- Peter Lombard
- Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil
- Hugh O'Reilly
- Edmund O'Reilly
- Oliver Plunkett
- Dominic Maguire
- Hugh MacMahon
- Bernard MacMahon
- Ross MacMahon
- Michael O'Reilly
- Anthony Blake
- Richard O'Reilly
- Patrick Curtis
- Thomas Kelly
- William Crolly
- Paul Cullen
- Joseph Dixon
- Michael Kieran
- Daniel McGettigan
- Michael Logue
- Patrick O'Donnell
- Joseph MacRory
- John D'Alton
- William Conway
- Tomás Ó Fiaich
- Cahal Daly
- Seán Brady
- Eamon Martin