Fland Feblae mac Scandláin

Saint Fland Feblae mac Scandláin (also called Flan Febla, Flann Feabhla, Flann Febhla, Flann ffeaula, Flann of the Foyle, Flann Feapla, Flanno Feaplo, Flann Fewla, Florence Febla) b. c.640 - d. 715, was the Bishop of Armagh, Ireland from 688 to 715.

Fland Feblae was from Monaghan barony in the county of Monaghan. He was the son of Scandlán mac Fíngin, the king of the Uí Méith Macha (alias Uí Méith Tire) clan who ruled that district. Scandlán died in 674/5 (AT, AU, CS [AFM 672]). Fland Feblae was descended from Colla Fo Chrí as follows- “Flann feabhla m Scannlain m Fingin m Aodha m Fiachrach m Fiacha m Eogain m Briuin m Muireadhaig meith m Iomcadha m Colla da crioch”., which is also confirmed in the Naemsenchus Náemh nÉrenn as- “Flann Feabla mac Scandlain cain do síol Colla co ccatgail.”

Fland’s paternal uncle was Saint Maoldoid, Abbot of Muckno, Co. Monaghan, whose feast day is 13 May and who died in 665 (AT). Fland Feblae was probably a younger son as his brother Maol Murcair seems to have succeeded to the kingship on Scandlán’s death. The family of O’Hanratty or O’Hinnreachtaigh claim descent from Maol Murcair as follows- “Lornhar m Muirchertaigh m Duiblh dara m Scanlain m Innreachtaigh m Gairbith m Ainfeith m Mail brighde m Duibh innrechtaigh m Taidhg m Innrechtaigh m Muiredaigh m Maoil murcair m Scannlain”.

When he was a young boy Fland Feblae was sent to be fostered by Berchán, son of Micán. Berchán was a poet who composed the poem beginning “Ind ráth hi Comair in dairfheda” and possibly the poem “Celebrad én ar m’airi”. This fosterage under a poet probably explains why Fland Feblae was later referred to as a “súi epscop” (A scholar bishop).

On the death of Saint Ségéne, the Bishop of Armagh, on 24 May 688, Fland Feblae was appointed as the 18th coarb in succession to Saint Patrick. Fland Feblae reigned as Bishop for 27 years. When he was two years into his reign Armagh was burned in 690. The Annals of Ulster for 690 state- “The burning of Ard Macha”.

Before Bishop Ségéne died, Bishop Aed of Sletty, County Laois, placed his Leinster diocese of Sletty under the protection of Armagh using a procedure of surrender and regrant. This was an important event as it emphasized the primacy of Armagh over Kildare. Bishop Conchad, who was Aed’s successor in Sletty, subsequently went to Armagh when Fland Feblae was made Bishop in order to renew the vows of obedience to him. The Additamenta to the Book of Armagh record those events as follows- “Aed was bishop in Slebte. He went to Armagh. He brought his inheritance [i.e. The diocese of Sletty] to Ségéne in Armagh. Ségéne returned the inheritance to Aed, and Aed offered his inheritance and his kin and his church to Patrick for ever. Aed left his inheritance in the possession of Conchad (i.e. Conchad succeeded Aed as bishop of Sletty). Conchad went to Armagh, and Fland Feblae gave him his church (i.e. Sletty), and Conchad himself took the abbacy.”

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