 Ludwig Bieler believes this can be seen through Muirchú's recorded last name, Machtheni.Muirchú, along with Bishop Aedh, is recorded to have been among the ecclesiastics who attended the Synod of Birr in 697 A.D. Their attendance at the Synod suggests that the two were concerned with the unification of the two churches in Ireland, the southern and northern churches, Romani and the Hibernenses, who had various differing customs and some opposing ideas on religious matters.Muirchú's "Vita sancti Patricii" only survives in four copies, none of which are complete versions, and some of which are only fragments.