Baithéne mac Brénaind was an Irish monk, one of Saint Columba's followers who accompanied him to Scotland around 563, and was the first successor as Abbot of Iona Abbey. The Annals of Tigernach record his birth in 534, and his death was likely between 596 and 598 according also to the Annals of Ulster. Irish genealogical records indicate him to be the "son of Brendan, son of Fergus, son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach", thus being a member of the Cenél Conaill branch of the Northern Uí Néill, as the abbots of Iona Abbey following the death of Columba often were.
Companion to Columba
Baithéne is heavily featured in Adomnán's Vita Columbae, where he is featured as Columba's trusted companion and chosen successor. He is called Columba's alumnus, which has variously been translated as 'foster-son' and 'disciple'. The list gives Baithéne an alternative name 'Conin' and it mentions that he had a brother called Cobthach. ==Iona, Tiree, and Hinba==
Iona, Tiree, and Hinba
Baithéne's reign as abbot was fairly short as Columba died c. 597, and Baithéne's death is recorded as occurring c. 598, aged 66 according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise. No evident sources contemporaneous with Baithéne's abbacy survive. Baithéne served as prior over a monastery connected to Iona on the island of Tiree. The name of the place where his monastery was located on Tiree was Mag Luinge or Campus Luinge. The monastery was a house for penitents from Iona. Some historians have thought that it may have supplied food to Iona. In one story, Adomnán claimed that Columba went to Hinba and relaxed the penitential rules on one occasion. However, one monk named Neman refused to abide by the relaxation. Columba rebuked him and said 'Neman, Baithéne and I have allowed a relaxation in the diet and you refuse it. But the time will come when in the company of thieves in the forest you will eat the flesh of a stolen mare'. This monk eventually left the monastery and went back into the world, and one day found himself among thieves eating such meat. ==References==