Finnian of Moville (d. 579), abbot. Said to be of the royal race of Dal Fiatach, he was educated first at Dromore and later at Ninian's monastery of Whithorn. He then returned to Ireland, possibly bringing from Rome a biblical manuscript. He founded one monastery at Moville (Co. Down) c.550 and another at Dromin (Louth) and became famous as a scholar and teacher: among his pupils was Columba. It is possible that some Scottish dedications to Finnian are his, but little can be safely asserted about him, as he has been confused with either Finnian of Clonard or with Frigidian of Lucca. The Penitential of Vinnian has been sometimes claimed as his. Feast: 10 September.

Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.

• B.L.S., ix. 88–9; The Irish Saints, pp. 169–71

The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Copyright © David Hugh Farmer 1978, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2003, 2004. All rights reserved.