Affraic (d. 743) was abbess of Kildare 733–43. Her rare personal name, a borrowing of the Latin Africa, was also borne by a later abbess of Kildare who died in 834 and by an obscure minor saint, daughter of one Cumlachtach, associated with Imlech Tuascirt (LL 353d). The first Affraic of Kildare is described in her obit (AU) as dominatrix (lady abbess), the earliest holder of that office to be so styled. The implication would seem to be that she belonged to a noble lineage. Her predecessor, Sebdann (d. 733) daughter of Corc, and her successor, Marta (d. 758) granddaughter of Dubán, both belonged to lineages of the Fothairt, to which dynasty it was claimed that the foundress St Brigit (qv) had belonged. An unnamed male ecclesiastic who was contemporary with Affraic, a grandson of Corc (d. 750), was also a member of the Fothairt. It would appear that after a period of Uí Dúnlainge dominance of Kildare in the time of Bishop Áed Dub (qv) (d. 639), and before the later Uí Dúnlainge king Fínshnechtae Cetharderc (qv) (d. 808) would re-establish a strong dynastic presence in the late eighth century, the local nobility had emerged to claim control.
Sources
AU; AFM; P. Ó Riain, Corpus geneal. SS Hib. (1985), §670.47.76