Áed Ua hOissín

Áed Ua hOissín (Hugh O'Hession), first Archbishop of Tuam, died 1161.

Ua hOissín was the first Archbishop of Tuam and one of four bishops granted pallia at the Synod of Kells by the papal legate Cardinal Archbishop Giovanni Paparoni in 1152. He played a part in the period of Cistercian-inspired church reform initiated by St Malachy immediately before the Norman invasion of Ireland.

He came from a family with some church connections: Aed Ua Oisin was also the name of a coarb of Iarlaith of Tuam (abbot of Jarlath's Monastery) in the late 11th century – this abbot is said to have died in 1085. With other clergy he actively intervened in the affairs of Connaught and Ireland more broadly, and though Connaught wasn't a centre of Cistercian inspired reform he was part of a renewal of the Church centred on the refoundation of Tuam by Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair in 1128. He was both preceded and succeeded as chief Bishop of Connacht by members of the prominent ecclesiastical family of Ó Dubhthaigh. O hOisins or Hession's still live in and around Tuam today.

Ua Oisin was closely connected with Kings Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, and with Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, Kings of Connaught and High Kings of Ireland. He is associated, as Abbot of Tuam (and therefore prior to his accession), with a spectacular High Cross in Tuam, which honours King Toirdelbach. The High Cross[1] is enscribed with the message

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