Báetán

Báetán (d. 664) of the moccu Chormaic, abbot of Clonmacnoise, belonged to a prominent line of Conmaicne Mara. He became ninth abbot (653) in succession to Áedlug son of Camán, and held office into the twelfth year, which was quite a long period in power given that candidates were usually elderly on appointment. Although not so styled in his obit, he may have been an exegetical scholar; it has been argued that he was one of the teachers of Augustinus (qv) (Pseudo-Augustine) and can be identified with the Bathanus named by the latter in his ‘De mirabilibus sacrae scripturae’. He died in 664 on 1 March, his inclusion in the martyrologies under that date implying that he was considered (at least in some circles) as a man of saintly character. He was succeeded by Colmán Cass son of Fualascach, a member of the Corcu Moga.