Baíthéne (Conín) (c.536–600), son of Brénainn, was second abbot of Iona in succession to Colum Cille (qv), to whom he was a first cousin and foster-son (alumnus). Our primary source for the life of Baíthéne is Adomnán's ‘Vita Columbae’. There is a late Life, which is largely a list of virtutes and is of doubtful historical value, though in some respects it confirms Adomnán's portrayal. According to Adomnán (qv), Baíthéne accompanied Colum Cille on the voyage to Iona in 563; his name does indeed appear at the head of a seventh-century list of Colum Cille's companions. He was given charge of the penitents attached to a monastic community on the island of Hinba, and was made prior (praepositus) of a monastery on Mag Luinge in Tiree. On occasion, he visited Iona, where he was in charge of the work rota (dispensator operum) at harvest time; he also acted as amanuensis to Colum Cille (iii, 18) and as proof-reader of psalters in the scriptorium. He was nominated by Colum Cille as his successor (iii, 23) and died, according to tradition, on the same date (9 June). According to William Reeves (qv), he was the founder and patron saint of the church of ‘Teach-Baethin’ (Taughboyne) in the territory of Tír Énna in Tirconnell, the present Co. Donegal.
W. Reeves (ed.), The Life of St Columba (1857), 372; Kenney, Sources, 443; Bibliotheca Sanctorum 2 (1962), 701–2 (C. McGrath); M. Herbert, Iona, Kells and Derry (1988); A. O. Anderson & M. O. Anderson (ed.), Adomnan's Life of Columba (2nd ed., 1991); ODNB (Iona, abbots of)