Saint Fiachra (also called Fíachrach meic Colmáin; c. 500 – 25 July 558) was the Bishop of Armagh, Ireland from 548 to 558.
His genealogy is "Fiachra m Colmain m Eoghain m Baodáin m Oilella m Suibhne m Maoileduin m Fionain m Oilella m Muireadhaig meith m Iomchadha m Colla da crioch",[1] which is also confirmed in the Naemsenchus Náemh nÉrenn as "Sil na cColla.
Fiacra mac Colmain do siol Colla-Da-Croich coir do reir eolach ni heccóir"[2] His mother was an embroideress.
It is from his head,’ said he, ‘that the brain of forgetfulness was removed at the battle of Magh Rath, that is to say, he remembers all that he heard on the history of Ireland from that time down to the present day.
"[4] There has been considerable confusion generated for centuries among scholars by the following entries in the Irish Annals- All the oldest lists (contained in the Book of Leinster, Psalter of Cashel, Yellow Book of Lecan and An Leabhar Breac), make Fiachra the successor of Duach and have no mention of aforesaid David mac Guaire.
This option was mooted by Professor James Carney who stated "This David is obviously identical (although the annals do not recognize the fact) with the Duach (or rather Daui) who died in 548 (Dauid is apparently a Latinisation of O.I.
The obit of David Farannan, together with the statement that he was legatus, has apparently come into the annals from some unknown and rather late source".
[5] The objection to this view is that there already exists prior entries in the annals relating to Duach II.
Annals of Ulster 548- "Dubthach or Duach, of the seed of Colla Uais, abbot of Ard Macha, rested."
This option was proposed by John Colgan[6] who felt that Fiachra was his tribal name rather than his Christian name because Úi Farannán was the family name of the herenachs of Ardstraw, County Tyrone while the surrounding tribe was called the Úi Fiachrach of Arda Stratha (e.g. the entry in the Annals of the Four Masters for 949 AD- "Guaire Ua Forannain, airchinneach of Ard-stratha,[died]").