also known as Crínán abb Duine Caillenn was the grandfather of MALDRED OF WINLATON, who was hisself an ancestor of WILLIAM MEDECALFE DE DENT, forefather of David Walker's grandmother, JANE METCALFE.

Crìnan was descended from the Tir Conaill royalty of Ireland, in descent from the kin of St. Columba. His Arms consisted of St. Columba enthroned on two wolves. In the Orkenay Saga he or his father were called Hundi Jarl, Chief of the Dogs, being Chief of the Clan with the fighting qualities of the wolf.

Crìnan was Thane of the Isles, head of the House of Athole and secular Abbott of Dunkeld. While the title of hereditary 'Lay Abbot' was a feudal position that was often exercised in name only, Crinán does seem to have acted as Abbot in charge of the monastery in his time. He was thus a man of high position in both clerical and secular society and one of the wealthiest and most powerful temporal lords of the day in Scotland. The lands pertaining to the Abbacy of Dunkeld were extensive and fertile, and their value was further enhanced by their position in the center of the kingdom.

WikiTree reports about him:
"Cronan, 'Abbot of Dunkeld.' Though bearing this designation he was not an ecclesiastic, but in reality a great secular chief, occupying a position of power and influence not inferior to that of any of the native Mormaers. The effect of the incessant invasions and harassing depredations, directed as they were largely against the ecclesiastical establishments, had been to disorganise the Christian Church to a great extent, and to relax the power and sanction by which the constitution and the lives of their clergy were regulated. They became secular in their lives and habits, married and had children who inherited their possessions. The more important benefices passed into the hands of laymen, who, along with the name of the office, acquired possession of the lands attached to it, without taking orders or attempting to perform clerical duties, and these offices with the possessions attached to them became hereditary in their families. After the church of Dunkeld had been founded or at least reconstructed by Kenneth mac Alpin, we find mention of an abbot of Dunkeld, who was also chief bishop of Fortrenn, and whose death is recorded in 865. Eight years after the abbot is termed simply Superior of Dunkeld. In the following century we find Donnchadh or Duncan, abbot of Dunkeld, appearing at the head of his followers and taking part in a war of succession in support of one of the claimants to the throne. He was no doubt a lay abbot, and the possessions of the church of Dunkeld were sufficiently extensive to give him an important position among the mormaers of Alban. Crínán or Cronan, as lay abbot of Dunkeld, probably possessed, with the lands belonging to it and other foundations intimately connected with it, territories in the district of Atholl of great extent, including almost the whole of the western part of it, and must have occupied a position of power and influence. He had by the king's daughter a son, Duncan, and probably another son, Maldred, and the name of his eldest son leads to the inference that he was probably the son or grandson of Duncan the lay abbot who was slain in battle in 965, and in whose person the lay abbacy had become hereditary.
NOTE: Fordun calls Crínán "Abthanus de Dull et seneschallus insularum." There was no such title as Abthanus de Dull, but there was an Abthania de Dull, consisting of the possessions of that monastery. They were of great extent and embraced the whole of the present parishes of Dull and Fortingall. If this monastery had become secularised, they may have belonged to the lay abbot of Dunkeld, and if Malcolm had now reacquired part of the Western Isles, Crínán may have occupied some important position in connection with them also."


(Eskdale Valley)

In literature it is considered fairly certain that the lineage of Crìnan of Dunkeld is closely intertwined with the Irving family (Eryvine). Donald D. Erwin writes for exmple:
"Early in the third century AD, bands of Dalriatic Irish began raiding the area that would be Strathclyde in Western Scotland, which was across the North Channel from Ulster. The initial attacks were purely predatory, but over time settlements were established which resulted in a gradual inter-mingling of the cultures of the Irish and the native Celtic and Pictish tribes. According to ancient Irving/Irvine family traditions in Scotland, the early Erinvine/Eryvine family roots go back to the 'Irveni tribe' in what is now Ulster in Northern Ireland. One of the Irveni was Niall Noigialach. Niall was a “High King” who lived during the late 300s and early 400s, and is thought to be the progenitor of our family. During his active years he made frequent marauding expeditions into Scotland. Niall died in 406 AD, but his descendants in Scotland were the Duncans (Eryvines).

For about four hundred years, beginning about 400 AD, the Erinvine (Eryvine) clan is believed to have lived in an area facing the Firth of Clyde where the town of Irvine now stands. Under the MacAlpin kings in the ninth century most of the clan was induced to move south to the border area to help defend the kingdom. Starting about 848 AD the Duncan chief became the hereditary abbot of the old Celtic Monastery in Dunkeld, which exists today as the Dunkeld Cathedral.

Dr. Christopher Irvine, who published 'The Origins of the Irvines or Erinvines' in 1678, was perhaps the first scholar to research and record Irvine family history. The Irvings of Bonshaw are descended from Duncan, known to the family as “Duncan of Eskdale.” Recorded history of the Eryvines seems to start in the mid-tenth century AD. It was in 965 AD that Duncan, who was the Earl and Governor of Strathclyde and who was known as “the first of the Erivine,” was killed at Dancrub while leading an army against a strong rebel force of fellow countrymen. His eldest son, also Duncan, inherited all of his father’s titles, including Abbot of Dunkeld. This Duncan was killed at the Battle of Lancarty, about 990 AD, while commanding the left wing of Scottish forces. This Duncan had three sons; Crinan, Grim and Duncan.

Recorded history of the Eryvines seems to start in the mid-tenth century AD. It was in 965 AD that Duncan, who was the Earl and Governor of Strathclyde and who was known as “the first of the Erivine,” was killed at Dancrub while leading an army against a strong rebel force of fellow countrymen. His eldest son, also Duncan, inherited all of his father’s titles, including Abbot of Dunkeld. He was killed at the Battle of Lancarty, about 990 AD, while commanding the left wing of Scottish forces.

This Duncan had three sons: CRÌNAN, Grim and Duncan of Eskdale', progenitor of the Irvings of Bonshaw" , who "moved to the borderlands in 1018 as Governor of Cumbria. His eldest son Eruini, born circa 1020, married Beatrice, an heiress of the ancient British royal line of Coel Hen. Eruini and Beatrice took up residence at her ancestral home, the ancient hill-fort of Dumbretton. Soon afterward, however, a new castle was built about two miles east of the present site of Bonshaw, and they named it Irwyn. The inheritance of Beatrice also included the lands between the Kirtle and the Esk Rivers southeast of Lockerbie. These lands included the area where the current Bonshaw Tower now stands, and would become the ancient home of the Eryvine (Irving, de Irwyn, Irvine) clan."

Later on William de Irwyn of the Irvings of the Bonshaw Clan was a neighbour of the Clan de BRUS from Kincardine in Scotland. The Irvynes supported their powerful neighbours, the Bruces, and William followed the changing fortunes of the king, Robert the Bruce (fl. 1306-1329). He was with him when he was routed at Methven ; shared his subsequent dangers ; and was one of the seven who were hidden with him in a copse of holly when his pursuers passed by. When Bruce came to his own again, he made William de Irwyn Master of the Rolls, and gave him c. 1325 in free barony the forest of Drum, near Aberdeen as a reward. This then became the seat of the chief of Clan Irvyne. There was already a tower at Drum which was built before the end of the 13th century as a royal hunting lodge. From this grew Drum Castle (Wikipedia, taken in 2007), seat of the chief.

DUNCAN, 1st of ERYVINE, hereditary Abthane of Dule and lay abbot of Dunkeld was the paternal grandfather of CRÌNAN OF DUNKELD. He was of the kin of St. Columba (see below), descended from the Cineal Conaill, the Tyrconell branch, a direct descendant of 'Niall of the nine hostages', who was high King of Ireland early in the 5th century. The Duncan, as Abthane of Dule was of more consequence than any one of the seven Pictish ‘Mormaers’, being second only to the king himself in power and importance. He appears to have been appointed Governor of Strathclyde, when that region was conquered by the Saxons and given to Malcolm I of Alba (Remark: the early name of Scotland) in 946. His residence in Strathclyde is supposed to have been the old fort of Eryvine, or Orewyn, where the town of Irvine now stands. That is, why he is refered to as '1st of Eryvine'. Both, Duncan and his neighbour Dubdon, Mormaer of Athole, were killed at the battle of Duncrub c. 965, while leading their forces against a strong rebel army of their fellow countrymen.

Duncan was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, DUNCAN, 2nd of ERYVINE, about whom only little is known except that he also seems to have succeeded Dubdon as Mormaer of Athole, as he is called ‘Lord of Athole’. At the battle of Luncarty (of uncertain date), where the Danes were routed, Duncan commanded the left wing of the Scottish forces, under King Kenneth III. It is recorded that he died 1010 in the Battle of Mortlac.

"Crìnan, the eldest son, inherited his father’s titles as Seneschal of King’s Rents, Abthane of Dule and Abbot of Dunkeld, and stood second in rank only to the King." He shall have maintained the residence at Eryvine, too.

CRÌNAN was married to BETHOC OF SCOTLAND, daughter of Malcolm II., King of Scots. Both had children:  
(1) Duncan I. of Scotland, who ascended to the throne of Scotland in 1034. He was named after his grandfather, Duncan, 2nd of Eryvine.
(2) MALDRED OF ALLERDALE, who held the title of 'Lord of Cumbria'. He was the father of
        (2.1) Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria and Dunbar
        (2.2) MALDRED OF WINLATON
(3) a daughter, who is supposed to be the mother of Moddan, Earl of Caithness (killed 1040)

The monastery of Saint Columba was founded on the north bank of the River Tay in the 6th century or early 7th century following the expedition of Columba into the land of the Picts. Probably originally constructed as a simple group of wattle huts, the monastery - or at least its church - was rebuilt in the 9th century by Kenneth I of Scotland (reigned 843-858). Kenneth I brought relics of Columba from Iona to Dunkeld at the same time others were taken to Kells in Ireland, to protect them from Viking raids. Dunkeld became the prime bishopric in eastern Scotland until supplanted in importance by St Andrews since the 10th century.

The magnificent semi-ruined Dunkeld Cathedral (photo), built in stages between 1260 and 1501, stands today on the grounds once occupied by the monastery. The Cathedral contains the only surviving remains of the previous monastic society: a course of red stone visible in the east choir wall that may be re-used from an earlier building, and two stone 9th century-10th century cross-slabs in the Cathedral Museum.


Duncan's authority was challenged by Macbeth (reign 1040-1057), who slew him in 1040 and drove his infant sons into exile. On Duncan's death, Macbeth became king. No resistance is known at this time, but it would be entirely normal if his reign was not universally accepted. Crìnan of Dunkeld seems to have raised a rebellion against Macbeth in 1045 to avenge his son's death and perhaps with a view to place his grandson, Malcom III (1031-1093) on the throne. He may have attacked Macbeth with help of Siward, Earl of Northumbria, who was sheltering Crìnan's grandson, 'Malcolm Canmore' at this time. Crínán of Dunkeld was killed in this attempt. The Celtic chronicler, in the Annals of Tighernac, says he was slain in battle "with nine times twenty heroes".

(Margaret of Wessex and Malcolm Canmore - Detail from a frieze in the entrance hall of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh)