Toimilin Ó Fágáin (816-) was the Abbot of Finian in Ailech during the late 9th century AD.
Biography[]
Toimilin Ó Fágáin was born in Ailech, Ireland in 816, and he became a Catholic monk and rose to be the abbot of the monastery at Finian (near Ballaghy, County Tyrone). In February 868, he sent a messenger to recruit the Viking warrior Bjorn Tall-Trunks to help him protect Ailech, offering Bjorn 1,000 peningas just to come and listen to him. When Bjorn arrived, Abbot Toimilin warned him that a dangerous robber and murderer had taken refuge in the land of the Picts and was recruiting an army at Scone with the intent of returning to Ireland as an invader. Toimilin offered Bjorn 5,000 peningas to kill the man, "the Snake", and he agreed to pay Bjorn 1,000 peningas up front to cover his transportation. Bjorn succeeded in killing the Snake, but Toimilin heard that Bjorn had spoken for too long with the Snake, and warned him not to pry too much into his future tasks.