Cumméne Fota

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Cumméne Fota (also called Cummían or Cumméne Fada) was an Irish bishop and lector who lived around 591 to 661 or 662. He came from West Munster and was the son of King Fiachna. He became a monk and later the abbot of Keltra, a place on an island in the River Shannon near Limerick.

He is best known for his Paschal letter, De controversia paschali, written about 632 to Ségéne mac Fiachnaí, abbot of Hy. In it he urged the Irish church to follow the Roman date for Easter. The letter shows a high level of learning, with quotes from the Bible in Latin, early church writers, canon law, and church decrees. It also includes a rule saying that if necessary, Irish church leaders should go to Rome for guidance.

Cumméne Fota later became bishop of Clonfert. He owned a library of about forty manuscripts, including ten Paschal tracts; one is attributed to Saint Patrick and another possibly to Pelagius. He may have written a calculational manual (computus) and a commentary on the Gospel of Mark. Under the name Cummianus Longus he is thought to be the author of a penitential work and a hymn on the apostles.

In 1162 his relics, along with those of Bishop Maeineann of Clonfert, were moved to a shrine at Clonfert. He is said to have been a foster-son of Saint Ita.