Congus
Congus | |
---|---|
Born | c. 680 |
Died | 750 |
Nationality | Irish |
Occupation(s) | Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland from 730–750 |
Congus (also called Congas, Conghas, Conghus; c. 680 – 750) was the Bishop of Armagh, Ireland from 730 to 750.
Genealogy and birth
Congus was from Cul Athguirt in the parish of Islandmagee, County Antrim. He was descended from Dá Slúaig, the son of Ainmere so he was a member of the Húi Nadsluaga clan who were one of the five prímthúatha of Dál mBuinne, east of Lough Neagh, County Antrim.[1] Congus was a scribe before being elevated to the See of Armagh.
Bishop of Armagh
On the death of Saint Suibne, the Bishop of Armagh, on 21 June 730, Congus was appointed as the 20th coarb in succession to Saint Patrick. Congus reigned as Bishop for 20 years.
Supremacy of Armagh
The primacy and influence of Armagh expanded greatly during the rule of Congus. This was mainly due to his influence over two successive High Kings of Ireland, Áed Allán whose spiritual confessor he was and Flaithbertach mac Loingsig whose bishop-abbot he was.
Before the reign of Congus the primates generally restricted themselves to the see of Armagh but afterwards they began to make circuits and visitations through the rest of Ireland for the collection of their dues. This was called the Cattlecess or "Law of St. Patrick".
Geoffrey Keating states- "It was about this time that a meeting took place between Aodh Ollan, king of Ireland, and Cathal, son of Fionghaine, king of Munster, at Tir Daghlas, in Urmhumha, where they imposed Patrick's rule and law and tribute on Ireland"
The Annals of Ulster have the following entries under the year 737-
"A meeting between Aed Allán and Cathal at Tír dá Glas. The law of Patrick was in force in Ireland"
A further impetus to the widening influence of Armagh was the fact that the High King of Ireland Flaithbertach mac Loingsig of the Cenél Conaill abdicated his throne in 734 and went to reside in Armagh monastery for the rest of his life
Battle of Fochart
The Battle of Fochart in 732 is alleged to have taken place between Áed Róin, king of Ulaid, and Áed Allán, High King of Ireland, as a result of a quatrain composed by Congus whilst bishop. It resulted in a devastating defeat for the Ulaid, to which Congus belonged, and resulted in the death of Áed Róin. An Irish proverb arose from this incident- "Torad penne Congusa" (the fruit of Congus's pen), i.e. the downfall of the Ulaid resulted from the letter of Congus.
Death
Congus died in 750. The Annals of Ireland give the following obits-
- Annals of the Four Masters 749- "Congus, the scribe, Bishop of Ard-Macha, died; he was of the race of Ainmire"
- Annals of Inisfallen 750- "Repose of Congus, abbot of ArdMacha"
- Annals of Ulster 750- "Repose of Congus, bishop of ArdMacha"
- Annals of Tigernach 750- "The rest of Congus, bishop of Armagh"
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. 23.
- v
- t
- e
- 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