"
O'Looney's Manuscript Life of St.
O'Looney's Manuscript Life of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Filled with grief for the deceased,
Molagga poured forth his prayers to the God of Mercy, that he might be propitious towards one taken away by so untimely an end. The attendant
was restored to life through these prayers. Immediately he resumed the duties of office towards God's holy servant ; but, on the second succeeding day, he was called from this life to the enjoyment of the next. " In com- memoration of this reputed miracle, it is said. Bishop David -nnshed our saint to assume the name of his dependant, called Lachinus or Molagga. ''3 In compliance with this request, our saint, heretofore baptized with a name, now unknown to us, assumed that by which he was afterwards called. "^
From this time fonvard, a mutual friendship is said to have been formed betweenSt. DavidandSt. Molagga. Asatokenofesteem,theholybishop made him a present of a bell, and at a place which, owing to this circum- stance, was afterwards called Boban Molagga. An angel had warned our saint, in a vision, he must return to Ireland, and, having previously made a tour to Clonmacnoise, that he should afterwards revisit his own part of the country. Taking with him this bell given by St. David, Molagga sailed from Menevia for Athcliath, now Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. Here, he healed a chieftain who then ruled over this place from some wasting ulcer.
English,"Thecleric'smistakeofhisbell. "— **In Professor O'Looney's Manuscript
Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life of St.
Molaga, pp. 10, II.
'* That part of Britain was called Alba,
in the old Irish language, and Albania, in Latin.
Life, he is called Laichin Brethnach, or
'7 See his Life at the ist of March. 11. p.
»* " Menevia is situated in a most remote *»
comer of land upon the Irish ocean, the soil stony and barren, neither clothed with woods, distinguished by rivers, nor adorned by meadows, ever exposed to the winds and
"
Richard Colt Hoare's
bishop Baldwin through Wales, a. d.
mclxxxviii. ," by Giraldus de Barri, vol. ii. , book ii. , chap, i. , pp. i, 2.
'9 The English Martyrology states, that St. David lived only before the year 592.
Dr. Lanigan adds ;
live later than A. D.
asks, "could Molaga, who was alive after 665, have been the abbot of a monastery before David's death ? And, what comes still nearer to the point, we are told that Molaga was baptized by Cummin Foda, who was not born until 592 (chap, xv. , § 8). How can this agree with Molaga's being ac- quainted with St. David ? " See " Ecclesi-
and to the continually subject
then,"
tempests,
hostile attacks of the Flemings, on one side, and of the Welsh, on the other. " See
593.
Itinerary of Arch-
Wherefore, as our saint is assumed to have astical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap,
been a contemporary, Molagga must have lived before that date, were we to attach credit to our saint's acts and to the foregoing authority. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xx. Januarii, n. 22, p. 150.
xviii. , § iii. , p. 83, and n. 23, p. 85.
*3 A Welch name.
"< Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
xx. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xiii. , xiv. , xv. , p. 147.
'•
Laichin the Briton. "
*' Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life states, that he died between the Cuchtair
(cooking-house) and the Airecul (pantry),
visit to St. David is, however, thought to be quite irreconcilable with the rest of his history, and with the respective times in which both saints lived. In a note, that St. David did not " How he
Molagga's
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 347
Under this the chieftain had long laboured. In gratitude towards Molagga,
the toparch assigned him a place, in Fingall,^s where he erected a church, and an annual tribute was paid for its support. ^^ It is said, our saint re-
moved to this spot the bees, which were brought by St. Modhomnoc,^? from Wales. Inconsequence,thislocalitywasafterwardsnamed,LannBeachaire,''^
" Church of the Bees. "^9 Some are of
with Breemore, where the remains of a castle, belonging to a branch of the Barnewall family, and situated a little to the north of Balbriggan town, in the parish of Balrothery and barony of Balrothery East, in the county of Dublin, may be seen. 3° Here too are the ruins of an old church, or chapel,3* sur-
or,
opinion,
that this is identical place
^'^W-^^/t^u RuinsofBremore,nearBalbriggan,Co. Dublin.
rounded by a graveyard, still much used for interments. 3» In the year 1200,
the Archbishop of Dublin gave the chapel of Lambecher, at Bremore, to the religious house of the Blessed Virgin of Kilbixy, and to the canons there serving God. 33 Another conjecture has been offered, that Lann Beachaire
"5 The Calendar of Cashel, at the 20th of January, has a notice that St. Molaga had been revered at Lann Beachaire in Fingall.
^ Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life
-' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," XX. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xvi. , xvii. , p. 147.
3° The site is represented on the ' ' Ord- states, that the tribute of a pingin (penny) nance Survey Townland Maps for the
from every one in Ath Cliath (Dublin) v/as ordered by the King of Dun Dubhline to be
paid every third year to Molaga, while he was decreed to have a Baile (home) in Fine
Gall (Fingal), i. e. , Lann Bechuire, page 12. °7 The reader is referred to the 13th of February, on which day the Natalis of St. Modomnoc is kept, for notices of this holy
man, and likewise to the i8th of May, when another festival was observed in his honour.
County of Dublin. " Sheet 2.
3' The accompanying view of Bremore
ruins was drawn on the spot, by Martin O'CarroU, L. R. C. S. I. , Dublin: the en- graving is by George A. Hanion.
32 We are told by Mr. D'Alton, that in early times the chapelry of Lambecher at Bremore was subservient to the church of Lusk, and that a pension was paid thereto, long after its disunion.
33 See D'Alton's " of the History
County ^* Lann has the same meaning in Welch of Dublin," pp. 458, 459, and pp. 479,
as Kill in Irish, and Beach is the Irish for 480. "bee. "
348 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
stood on or near the site of the present All-Hallows' Missionary College,34 at Drumcondra, near Dublin. ^s This, however, is incorrect, although, meta-
"
cincts of this truly noble and national establishment. This college was founded in the year 1842, for the education of students destined for foreign missions. The spiritual requirements of millions in Great Britain, in the British Colonies, and in the United States of America, demanded that an effortshouldbemadetoimparttothemtheconsolationsoftheFaith. Toac- complish this great work, God raised up one full of zeal and charity ; a man whose desire was to co-operate with his Saviour in the salvation of his fellow- men. TheVeryRev. JohnHandwasthezealousandholyoriginatorofthis greatwork,whichprosperedsomuchunderhismanagement. 36 Hediedthe death of the just, in the year 1847. He was succeeded in the office as pre- sident over the college, by the subsequently distinguished Bishop of Kerry, the Right Rev. Dr. Moriarty. Under his care, the institute developed still
phorically speaking,
the church of the bees" could not be assigned to any
where the " industrious hive" and " of doctrine and honey" religious
place,
discipline are more in operation and diffusion at present, than within the pre-
AH-Hallows' Missionary College,^Drumcondra.
farther its sphere for usefulness, and many young priests went forth from its walls, to cheer and console their poor fellow-countrymen in the backwoods
34 On Sheet 18 of the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin," the site of the college may be traced as Drumcondra House and Park,
No.
35 "It is conjectured, that on the site of
adjoining the old graveyard to the east.
The college had not been founded when Dublin. " See " The Dublin Builder," vol.
those maps were first engraved. The poet's Thomas Furlong's, and the antiquary's Francis Grose's tombs are to be seen in
the adjoining graveyard, where both lie in- terred. See " Dublin Penny Journal," vol.
ii. , No. 23, p. 262.
3* He was born at Oldcastle, Co. Meath,
and he was encouraged to study for the
priesthood, by the Very Rev. George Leonard, P. P. , Oldcastle, who discovered
i. ,
6, 1832.
this building Saint Molaga had a church and religious establishment, called in the Annals, Laonn Beachaire, in Fingall, near
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 349
of America and on the distant shores of Austraha. 37 Upon his lordship's elevation to the episcopacy, he was succeeded by the present learned and estimable rector of the Catholic University of Ireland, the Very Rev. Mon- signorWoodlock. Thoseacquaintedwithhiscapacityforbusiness,hisgreat zeal and self-sacrificing spirit, will easily understand, that under him the college continued to progress, and everything was done fully to carry out the design of its pious founder. In the year i860, when it pleased the bishops of Ireland to appoint Monsignor Woodlock as rector over the Catholic University, the Very Rev. Dr. Bennett was elected president. Continued prosperity of the college, proved how judicious was his election. At the present time, the college is placed under the able direction of the Very Rev. \\'illiam Fortune, D. D. ,3^ and it continues to send forth each year many young priests to foreign lands. 39
After leaving Lann Beachaire, Molagga went towards the western con- fines of the Leinster province, and visited Clonmacnoise. ''° A deputation from Feramugia,4^ afterwards waited upon him, and requested his return to I'ulach-mhin Monastery. 'I'hey offered various presents and inducements to procure his return, all of which the servant of God undervalued. *^ But to the moving representations of certain most respectable inhabitants of his native place, the tears and entreaties of women and children were added, imploring his return. Being affected with these indications of sincere love and penitence, at length our saint yielded assent to their prayers. Moreover, conceiving it to be the will of heaven, that he should again rule over Tulach- mhin Monastery, he returned to his native country. There he was received by the entire people, with demonstrations of most unbounded joy and respect. Their heart-felt gratitude found substantial expression, in bestowing gifts and landed possessions which were added to that monastery, with a view to in-
in him, at an early age, manifest signs of a Divine vocation. Owing to the kindness of his beloved pa^. tor, Mr. Hand was enabled to enter Maynooth, where, by constant at- tention to duties, through his modest de- portment,andthesanctitymanifestedinall his actions, he gained the good-will of all. Immediately after his ordination, the Rev.
Mac Cirthy, Esq. , architect, M. R. I. A.
33 For information communicated in the text, the writer feels indebted to Rev. J. O'Brien, D. D. , Professor in All-Hallows'
College.
''^ Colganpromisedtosayagreatdealre-
garding it, in his notes on the life of St. Kicran, which was to appear at the 9th of
Mr. Hand conceived the idea of estabhshing
a college, to educate young priests for the
foreign missions, and especially for those there only barely indicating its former missions wiiere poor Catholic emigrants splendour. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- from Ireland had been located. Owing to
untiring exertions, he raised the college to a
prosperous position, and left behind him a
memory which must remain perpetually in
benediction.
37 It is one of the largest missionary es- tablishments in the world, and it lias already
educated over 70c priests. The number of students at present in the college exceeds
130 ; and although in the beginning, this great work, was undertaken %\ithout worldly
wealth, the generosity of the Irish people enables its directors to continue, by means of their young priests, the increase of God's kingdom on earth.
3^ To Dr. Fortune, the writer is indebted
for the accompanying engraving, executed by William Oldham, of Dublin, from a drawing of the extensive college buildings, by J. J.
sented on the " Ordnance Survey Townland IMaps for the County of Cork. " Sheet 35. It lies within the parish Ijearing the same name, in the baronies of Condons and Clan- gibbon.
*^ The people of Fermoy are said to have offered him as a tribute every year, a screa- pall from each person, with fifty cows as a tribute from them all, besides alms (gifts) and o—fferings of allegiance too, as the poet
said
September. Colgan calls it a poor town in his day ; the ruins which were to be seen
nian," XX. Januarii, n. 26, p. 150.
'' The present town of Fermoy is repre-
:
"
. Molaga is entitled to get
From the men of Muigli of gentle rules
Fifty white cows, ever fruitful—,
Every successive year.
"
O'Looney's Manuscript Life of St. Molaga, page 12.
Professor
350 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
crease its means for affording better and more enlarged facilities, to ensure religious observances and monastic discipline/^
CHAPTER III.
KING CUI GAN MATHUIR WISHES TO RESIGN HIS REGAL POWER—HE IS DISSUADED THEREFROM BY HIS CHIEFTAINS—A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY CONVENED AT TEARMAIN MOLAGA—GRANT OF LANDS AND IMMUNITIES TO ST. MOLAGA - A MIRACLE AT LEAMHANCHIA—THE SAINT'S MISSION TO CORCOBHAISCIND—HIS DEATH—SUP- POSED INTERMENT AT LEABBA MOLAGA—HIS VENERATION THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH OF IRELAND—CONCLUSION.
Caius, sumamed Gan-mhathuir, King of Munster, having been seized vnih a grievous disease, which he supposed must terminate fatally, had resolved on dismissing those hostages, consigned to him by his subordinate chieftains. Thus he hoped to prepare himself for resigning the reins of government into
other hands. But the provincial chiefs and magnates apprehended a dis- turbance of public tranquillity, in case he should persevere in such a resolution. They demanded those reasons that influenced him to adopt this line of conduct. Their king declared, great crimes had burdened his con- science, and especially the perpetration of seven homicides,' in which his own relatives were included. Besides, he had resolved on a pilgrimage, that he might more effectually do penance to atone for those crimes. His chiefs vainly endeavoured to divert his mind from an intention of abdicating ; and, at length, he was advised to call a council of ecclesiastics, in order that his purpose might be submitted to them for adjudication. To such pro- posal, after a fast of the men of Munster,^ the king assented. 3 St. Molagga, in whose prudence and sanctity he reposed most unbounded confidence, was especially summoned for the occasion. Having taken counsel together, the chiefs sought an interview with our saint. * They entreated him, that he would become a just adviser to their monarch, by taking the latter under direction, and with a view to promote his eternal interests, whilst they also hoped, through his means, that the temporal affairs of the kingdom should be prudently adjusted. In order to prevail more effectually with our saint, they conferred upon his church a privilege of refuge, with other immunities.
Aware of the importance attached to their petitions, Molagga agreed to the
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
*3 See
" I said Cui wish,
Colgan's nise," XX. Januarii.
xviii. , p. 147.
Vita S. Molaggse, cap.
gan Mathair,
The good effectual prayer of Loche Linn-
Chap, hi. —' Seven Fingals (fratricides) are here mentioned in Professor O'Looney's
Manuscript Life.
'This is stated in Professor O'Looney's
Manuscript Life, p. 7.
3 The f^oUowings additions are in Profes-
sor O'Looney's Manuscript Life : Cui gan Mathair said he would not accept the king-
ship from them, unless they gave him a ""
honn,
The splendour, bright resplendent, In obviating my distress. "
This quatrain is given with some variations in the "Book of Fermoy," fol. 60, bb, and 61, aa. , top.
* This Council seems to have been cen- voked some brief term of years before Cui Can's death, which took place a. d. 640. If St. Fursey, Abbot of Lagny, was the eccle- siastic named as attending, the Synod must have been held during or before A. d. 636, when it has been supposed he finally left Ireland,
choice of anamchara," or souls' friend," who should be St. Laga (Mo naom Laga). He was a man to whom the wild deer were obedient, while he was in honour a—nd great
respect with God, as said the poet
:
1
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 351
necessity of convoking a public assembly, at which the Munster clergy and chiefs attended, as likewise the king. Besides other incidents connected with this meeting, various privileges and possessions were bestowed on the churchofSt. Molaga. s Thecouncilw—asheldatTearmainMolaga,andthe men of Munster"^ fasted to the saint
forgiveness, or for preferring a request, in the olden time. ? On this occasion, they asked him to take Cui gan mathair under the protection of his Gospel
for mercy and forgiveness. Cuan or Cuanna,^ son to Amhalgad, King of Aine Cliach,9 who descended from the celebrated Druid and hero, Mogh Roth, was present. This Druid received a grant of the territory of Feara- Muigh-feine, now Fermoy, from Fiacha Muilleathan, for the services he rendered to the Munster forces, when Cormac Mac Art, monarch of Ireland, had been driven from the province. Foremost among the ecclesiastics were Conangius 0'Daithil,'° Abbot of Emly ;" Russinus, or Ruisine," son to Lap, or Lappain ; Comorban of St. Barr,'3 from Claire southward ;'-* St. Cummin Foda;'5 St. Fursey, supposed to be the Abbot of Lagny;'^ with other renowned princes and clerics : all were subscribers to a charter, which con- firmed those grants. ^7 They were sureties also for carrying out all necessary conditions. '^ A certain prince named Flann, son to Ercus, from Gabria, or Gabhra territory, presumed to infringe on some of those privileges. He
s Mr. has furnished the '° Joseph O'Longan
some
of
subsequent statement from "The Book of notices of St. Conaing, or Connich Mic
Fermoy. " " At page 91, col. i, are re- lated, how he obtamed the freedom of his Termon from the king and men of Munster, with its boundaries north, south, east, and west, viz. , from Dairigh Mochua to Inis Gubain at the River Fuinnsion on the west, to Feirnn Leabhain, at or in the [river]
Uinnsinn, on the east, and from Ath na Lee to Dairmhach. "
^ Their grants are said to have been from Darach Muchua to Inis Goban, which was on the Uinsean westward, and from Fearan Leabain to the eastern Fuinsean, —and from Ath na Leac to middle Darmach. British Museum MS. Life.
7 We are told, that Molaga then stipulated
for the freedom or perpetuity of his Tear-
main, and th—at he obtained an Eitira or
security for it. Professor O'Looney's Manu-
script Life of St. Molaga, p. 7.
Luachair, supposed to be identical with the
present abbot.
" Colgan remarks, this account is exactly
in accordance with that contained in our
Annals, where it is stated, Conaingius O'Dathil, Abbot of Imleach lobhair, died in the year of Christ 660. See Mr. O'Dono- van's edition of the "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 270, 271.
'^ See some notices regarding a St. Rui- sen, of Inis Picht, or Spike Island, near Cork, at the 7th of April.
'3 As St. Barr founded the abbey and
of so this saint must episcopal see Cork,
have been his successor in the latter place. "
vol.
ters," i. , pp. 292, 293.
'^This latter adjunct is in Professor
*
This prince is thus named in Mr. O'Looney's Manuscript Life, p. 8.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 258, 259, when his death is
'5St, CumminFodadiedontheI2thof November, 661. See O'Donovan's " An- nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 270 to 273, and nn. (a, b), ibid.
about A. D. 636, he went over to Britain, and afterwards to France. See his life, already given at the i6th of this month, the day of his principal feast.
'? In Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life it is added, "Victor the Angel and Patrick came from Heaven to bind and confirm it, and Patrick then enjoined on Molaga to come every Thursday to con-
verse with himself into Heaven.
•^
" Cuana, son of Ailcin, chief of Feara-Maighe [Fer-
recorded as follows, at A d.
640.
He was
called] Laech Liathmhuine. This Cuana that St. Fursey flourished about this time is called Mac Cailchine by Dr. Jeoffray and in this part of the country. Thence,
moy] died.
[the person "
who was
Keating.
'Colgan refers to various authorities for
a curious account relating to a contest of generosity between Cuana and his half-
Guaire Aidhne, and,
to an ancient manuscript of Clonmacnoise, called " Leabhar ua h Uidhre," which is
now preserved m the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, and copies of which have
been edited by Mr. Joseph O'Longan and by Professor Bryan O'Looney.
brother,
among others,
this a usual form for
being asking
See,
at the
23rd
September,
At A. D. 685, we find it stated
Abbot of Corcach-mor, died. " See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Mas-
'* Such is opinion, who says, Colgan's
In the Manuscript Life, the conclusion
:
Roisseni,
352 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
encamped an army at a place called Tulach-airdiir/:? when coming thither to transact important business with Caius. Resolved on defending the rights
already guaranteed to him and his possessions by treaty, the saint showed forth God's power, by which he was sustained in working a miracle. This
had the effect of bringing Flann, with true humilty and contrition, to ac- knowledge his fault. Throwing himself at St. Molagga's feet, and confessing his sin, he sought and obtained pardon. Afterwards, he submitted with
most exemplary resignation to a humiliating penance, imposed by Molagga.
To reward his humble and patient spirit, this saint was not only ready to
receive him again into favour, but he even showered blessings upon the
chieftain, while predicting, at the same time, that seven of his offspring
should become or ^° and should be for princes kings, distinguished many
illustrious actions. ^'
At a place called Leam-han-chia, in the eastern part of Munster, seven infidels or idolaters are said to have been taken off by a sudden death. ^^ Many holy persons grieved at the state to which their souls must be exposed in the next life. They offered up most fervent petitions to Heaven, and entreated the God of mercy to be propitious. They also joined a fast with these prayers. Their united suppHcations were of no avail, however, until St. Molagga had been addressed, and until his powerful intercession had been joined to their entreaties. A wonderful miracle resulted from those petitions of God's servant. The idolaters were immediately rescued from a mortal and from a never-ending death. "3 They were again restored to life,
of this Council is thus narrated. Cui gan could have been Prince of Gauria, at a time mathair then bowed to Molaga, and he gave indicated in the Life, as Caius was his alms (a gift), namely, his two steeds and grandson, the father of Caius being Cathald, his robe, and a cup full of silver and a dish as mentioned in the 9th chapter of our (or palena) of gold down upon it, and a saint's life, and by most of our Irish his- fully chased brooch with a Leisreach every torians. See, also, the account already year. The monarch agreed that he should
have the honour and dignity of the Anam-
chara of the King of Munster for ever, and
that it should descend to his Comoibas, ofMunster.
while the cain (injunctions) of his bell should take precedence of every other ex- cept the bell of St. Patrick. Molaga promised that this should be fulfilled, to- wards every king who should afterwards occupy Cashel, and that not one of them should ever die without an "anamchara" through his blessing. Page 8.
''This is said in Prolessor O'Looney's
Manuscript Life to have been at Tearmain
Molaga, p. 8.
'°
^' "
Coigan's Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
So the Life of St. Molagga calls them.
The term should most probably be rendered
Prince ; for the seven kings, who were pre-
dicted to succeed Flann, appear to have
ruled Gauria only, and not the whole of
Munster. For during the time of Caius,
King of Munster, no prince named Flann,
Flannius, or son to Ercus, or any other
princeofMunsterraceflourished,towhom wearenottounderstandthatthoseinfidels
the origin of any king of Ireland, or even of
Munster, could be referred, not to speak
of seven kings, as stated in our saint's life.
And although there issued seven kings of
Munster from the seed of Aldus, sumamed afterwards, being converted to the trae
Flann Cathrach, he was not, however, a faith, they departed happily to our Lord. son to Ercus, but to Amalgad. This Aldus Were we to attach implicit credit to this
given in the text. Colgan, therefore, con- cludes, that the predicted kings either ruled over Gauria, or some other larger principality
XX. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xix. , XX. , pp. 147, 148.
"This account seems to be wantingin the copy of our saint's life, preserved in the British Museum ; but Professor O'Looney
has supplied the following passage within brackets from the Book of Fermoy. [" One time that Molaga happened to be at Cathair Lemuine in West Mimster, a place where seven Gentiles with their followers con- tinued to make adoration to the Devil, and they died in the middle of the Cathair, and were buried in it, and the saints of Erin declined to resuscitate them for their people till Molaga came,"] b. fol. 60. It will be observed, that this somewhat varies the account given in the text.
'3 Here, as in similarly related miracles,
could have been rescued from eternal pu- nishment in the other life ; but rather, per- haps, it may be assumed they were rescued from a temporal death in extremis, and
January 20. ]
LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS.
353
and by the saint directed in those ways, which afterwards conducted them
to eternal happiness. *'^
Although the Acts of this saint, hitherto discoverable, make no mention
ofSt. MolagahavinggonesouthwardsfromFermoy,tofoundamonastery at Timoleague; yet, local tradition holds this to be a fact. ^5 it seems
reasonable enough to suppose this monastery was one of his establishments j and, the more especially, as the Acts of St. Molaga appear to have come down to us in an imperfect state.
Towards the close of this sainfs life, a dreadful pestilence, known as the
Buidhe Chonnuil,^^ devastated our whole island, and carried away the greater
part of the clergy and people, according to our annals. This plague occurred in the year 664 ; and among other places scourged with this visitation of Heaven, a district named Corcobhaiscind, in Munster, is specially named. In order to avert the Divine wrath, the courageous and zealous Molagga set out towards this district, and came to a place called Cam-Sioda. Here its inhabitants were all removed by death, with the exception of thirty-three men^7 and twenty-eight women. Moved by this piteous spectacle, the servant of God bestowed his benediction on those fewsurvivorsthatremained. Afterwards,notonlydidthemortalityentirely cease, but this small community increased to nine hundred souls, within a
few years. In gratitude for their preservation, St. Molagga was held in the greatest veneration by this people during life, and after death he was invoked as their chief patron. The saint appears to have survived this great plague. He must have been greatly advanced in years, at this particular period. Being distinguished for his many virtues and miracles, as also being loved by all his cotemporaries and countrymen, he resigned his happy soul to God, on the 2othdayofJanuary,^^|accordingtoourcalendars. ThecalendarsofSt. Mn^%,^^ of Marianus O'Gorman, of Cathald Maguire, and of Cashel, correspond. 3°
narrative, it would seem to prove, that these. " See also nn. (q, r, s, t, u, w),
idolatry or paganism lingered until the ibid.
seventh century among some of the people then living in the south of Ireland.
*^Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," XX. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xxi. , p. 148.
'^ The writer has been assured of this by
Mr. Joseph O'Longan.
**In Mr.
Molagga poured forth his prayers to the God of Mercy, that he might be propitious towards one taken away by so untimely an end. The attendant
was restored to life through these prayers. Immediately he resumed the duties of office towards God's holy servant ; but, on the second succeeding day, he was called from this life to the enjoyment of the next. " In com- memoration of this reputed miracle, it is said. Bishop David -nnshed our saint to assume the name of his dependant, called Lachinus or Molagga. ''3 In compliance with this request, our saint, heretofore baptized with a name, now unknown to us, assumed that by which he was afterwards called. "^
From this time fonvard, a mutual friendship is said to have been formed betweenSt. DavidandSt. Molagga. Asatokenofesteem,theholybishop made him a present of a bell, and at a place which, owing to this circum- stance, was afterwards called Boban Molagga. An angel had warned our saint, in a vision, he must return to Ireland, and, having previously made a tour to Clonmacnoise, that he should afterwards revisit his own part of the country. Taking with him this bell given by St. David, Molagga sailed from Menevia for Athcliath, now Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. Here, he healed a chieftain who then ruled over this place from some wasting ulcer.
English,"Thecleric'smistakeofhisbell. "— **In Professor O'Looney's Manuscript
Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life of St.
Molaga, pp. 10, II.
'* That part of Britain was called Alba,
in the old Irish language, and Albania, in Latin.
Life, he is called Laichin Brethnach, or
'7 See his Life at the ist of March. 11. p.
»* " Menevia is situated in a most remote *»
comer of land upon the Irish ocean, the soil stony and barren, neither clothed with woods, distinguished by rivers, nor adorned by meadows, ever exposed to the winds and
"
Richard Colt Hoare's
bishop Baldwin through Wales, a. d.
mclxxxviii. ," by Giraldus de Barri, vol. ii. , book ii. , chap, i. , pp. i, 2.
'9 The English Martyrology states, that St. David lived only before the year 592.
Dr. Lanigan adds ;
live later than A. D.
asks, "could Molaga, who was alive after 665, have been the abbot of a monastery before David's death ? And, what comes still nearer to the point, we are told that Molaga was baptized by Cummin Foda, who was not born until 592 (chap, xv. , § 8). How can this agree with Molaga's being ac- quainted with St. David ? " See " Ecclesi-
and to the continually subject
then,"
tempests,
hostile attacks of the Flemings, on one side, and of the Welsh, on the other. " See
593.
Itinerary of Arch-
Wherefore, as our saint is assumed to have astical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap,
been a contemporary, Molagga must have lived before that date, were we to attach credit to our saint's acts and to the foregoing authority. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xx. Januarii, n. 22, p. 150.
xviii. , § iii. , p. 83, and n. 23, p. 85.
*3 A Welch name.
"< Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
xx. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xiii. , xiv. , xv. , p. 147.
'•
Laichin the Briton. "
*' Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life states, that he died between the Cuchtair
(cooking-house) and the Airecul (pantry),
visit to St. David is, however, thought to be quite irreconcilable with the rest of his history, and with the respective times in which both saints lived. In a note, that St. David did not " How he
Molagga's
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 347
Under this the chieftain had long laboured. In gratitude towards Molagga,
the toparch assigned him a place, in Fingall,^s where he erected a church, and an annual tribute was paid for its support. ^^ It is said, our saint re-
moved to this spot the bees, which were brought by St. Modhomnoc,^? from Wales. Inconsequence,thislocalitywasafterwardsnamed,LannBeachaire,''^
" Church of the Bees. "^9 Some are of
with Breemore, where the remains of a castle, belonging to a branch of the Barnewall family, and situated a little to the north of Balbriggan town, in the parish of Balrothery and barony of Balrothery East, in the county of Dublin, may be seen. 3° Here too are the ruins of an old church, or chapel,3* sur-
or,
opinion,
that this is identical place
^'^W-^^/t^u RuinsofBremore,nearBalbriggan,Co. Dublin.
rounded by a graveyard, still much used for interments. 3» In the year 1200,
the Archbishop of Dublin gave the chapel of Lambecher, at Bremore, to the religious house of the Blessed Virgin of Kilbixy, and to the canons there serving God. 33 Another conjecture has been offered, that Lann Beachaire
"5 The Calendar of Cashel, at the 20th of January, has a notice that St. Molaga had been revered at Lann Beachaire in Fingall.
^ Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life
-' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," XX. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xvi. , xvii. , p. 147.
3° The site is represented on the ' ' Ord- states, that the tribute of a pingin (penny) nance Survey Townland Maps for the
from every one in Ath Cliath (Dublin) v/as ordered by the King of Dun Dubhline to be
paid every third year to Molaga, while he was decreed to have a Baile (home) in Fine
Gall (Fingal), i. e. , Lann Bechuire, page 12. °7 The reader is referred to the 13th of February, on which day the Natalis of St. Modomnoc is kept, for notices of this holy
man, and likewise to the i8th of May, when another festival was observed in his honour.
County of Dublin. " Sheet 2.
3' The accompanying view of Bremore
ruins was drawn on the spot, by Martin O'CarroU, L. R. C. S. I. , Dublin: the en- graving is by George A. Hanion.
32 We are told by Mr. D'Alton, that in early times the chapelry of Lambecher at Bremore was subservient to the church of Lusk, and that a pension was paid thereto, long after its disunion.
33 See D'Alton's " of the History
County ^* Lann has the same meaning in Welch of Dublin," pp. 458, 459, and pp. 479,
as Kill in Irish, and Beach is the Irish for 480. "bee. "
348 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
stood on or near the site of the present All-Hallows' Missionary College,34 at Drumcondra, near Dublin. ^s This, however, is incorrect, although, meta-
"
cincts of this truly noble and national establishment. This college was founded in the year 1842, for the education of students destined for foreign missions. The spiritual requirements of millions in Great Britain, in the British Colonies, and in the United States of America, demanded that an effortshouldbemadetoimparttothemtheconsolationsoftheFaith. Toac- complish this great work, God raised up one full of zeal and charity ; a man whose desire was to co-operate with his Saviour in the salvation of his fellow- men. TheVeryRev. JohnHandwasthezealousandholyoriginatorofthis greatwork,whichprosperedsomuchunderhismanagement. 36 Hediedthe death of the just, in the year 1847. He was succeeded in the office as pre- sident over the college, by the subsequently distinguished Bishop of Kerry, the Right Rev. Dr. Moriarty. Under his care, the institute developed still
phorically speaking,
the church of the bees" could not be assigned to any
where the " industrious hive" and " of doctrine and honey" religious
place,
discipline are more in operation and diffusion at present, than within the pre-
AH-Hallows' Missionary College,^Drumcondra.
farther its sphere for usefulness, and many young priests went forth from its walls, to cheer and console their poor fellow-countrymen in the backwoods
34 On Sheet 18 of the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin," the site of the college may be traced as Drumcondra House and Park,
No.
35 "It is conjectured, that on the site of
adjoining the old graveyard to the east.
The college had not been founded when Dublin. " See " The Dublin Builder," vol.
those maps were first engraved. The poet's Thomas Furlong's, and the antiquary's Francis Grose's tombs are to be seen in
the adjoining graveyard, where both lie in- terred. See " Dublin Penny Journal," vol.
ii. , No. 23, p. 262.
3* He was born at Oldcastle, Co. Meath,
and he was encouraged to study for the
priesthood, by the Very Rev. George Leonard, P. P. , Oldcastle, who discovered
i. ,
6, 1832.
this building Saint Molaga had a church and religious establishment, called in the Annals, Laonn Beachaire, in Fingall, near
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 349
of America and on the distant shores of Austraha. 37 Upon his lordship's elevation to the episcopacy, he was succeeded by the present learned and estimable rector of the Catholic University of Ireland, the Very Rev. Mon- signorWoodlock. Thoseacquaintedwithhiscapacityforbusiness,hisgreat zeal and self-sacrificing spirit, will easily understand, that under him the college continued to progress, and everything was done fully to carry out the design of its pious founder. In the year i860, when it pleased the bishops of Ireland to appoint Monsignor Woodlock as rector over the Catholic University, the Very Rev. Dr. Bennett was elected president. Continued prosperity of the college, proved how judicious was his election. At the present time, the college is placed under the able direction of the Very Rev. \\'illiam Fortune, D. D. ,3^ and it continues to send forth each year many young priests to foreign lands. 39
After leaving Lann Beachaire, Molagga went towards the western con- fines of the Leinster province, and visited Clonmacnoise. ''° A deputation from Feramugia,4^ afterwards waited upon him, and requested his return to I'ulach-mhin Monastery. 'I'hey offered various presents and inducements to procure his return, all of which the servant of God undervalued. *^ But to the moving representations of certain most respectable inhabitants of his native place, the tears and entreaties of women and children were added, imploring his return. Being affected with these indications of sincere love and penitence, at length our saint yielded assent to their prayers. Moreover, conceiving it to be the will of heaven, that he should again rule over Tulach- mhin Monastery, he returned to his native country. There he was received by the entire people, with demonstrations of most unbounded joy and respect. Their heart-felt gratitude found substantial expression, in bestowing gifts and landed possessions which were added to that monastery, with a view to in-
in him, at an early age, manifest signs of a Divine vocation. Owing to the kindness of his beloved pa^. tor, Mr. Hand was enabled to enter Maynooth, where, by constant at- tention to duties, through his modest de- portment,andthesanctitymanifestedinall his actions, he gained the good-will of all. Immediately after his ordination, the Rev.
Mac Cirthy, Esq. , architect, M. R. I. A.
33 For information communicated in the text, the writer feels indebted to Rev. J. O'Brien, D. D. , Professor in All-Hallows'
College.
''^ Colganpromisedtosayagreatdealre-
garding it, in his notes on the life of St. Kicran, which was to appear at the 9th of
Mr. Hand conceived the idea of estabhshing
a college, to educate young priests for the
foreign missions, and especially for those there only barely indicating its former missions wiiere poor Catholic emigrants splendour. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- from Ireland had been located. Owing to
untiring exertions, he raised the college to a
prosperous position, and left behind him a
memory which must remain perpetually in
benediction.
37 It is one of the largest missionary es- tablishments in the world, and it lias already
educated over 70c priests. The number of students at present in the college exceeds
130 ; and although in the beginning, this great work, was undertaken %\ithout worldly
wealth, the generosity of the Irish people enables its directors to continue, by means of their young priests, the increase of God's kingdom on earth.
3^ To Dr. Fortune, the writer is indebted
for the accompanying engraving, executed by William Oldham, of Dublin, from a drawing of the extensive college buildings, by J. J.
sented on the " Ordnance Survey Townland IMaps for the County of Cork. " Sheet 35. It lies within the parish Ijearing the same name, in the baronies of Condons and Clan- gibbon.
*^ The people of Fermoy are said to have offered him as a tribute every year, a screa- pall from each person, with fifty cows as a tribute from them all, besides alms (gifts) and o—fferings of allegiance too, as the poet
said
September. Colgan calls it a poor town in his day ; the ruins which were to be seen
nian," XX. Januarii, n. 26, p. 150.
'' The present town of Fermoy is repre-
:
"
. Molaga is entitled to get
From the men of Muigli of gentle rules
Fifty white cows, ever fruitful—,
Every successive year.
"
O'Looney's Manuscript Life of St. Molaga, page 12.
Professor
350 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
crease its means for affording better and more enlarged facilities, to ensure religious observances and monastic discipline/^
CHAPTER III.
KING CUI GAN MATHUIR WISHES TO RESIGN HIS REGAL POWER—HE IS DISSUADED THEREFROM BY HIS CHIEFTAINS—A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY CONVENED AT TEARMAIN MOLAGA—GRANT OF LANDS AND IMMUNITIES TO ST. MOLAGA - A MIRACLE AT LEAMHANCHIA—THE SAINT'S MISSION TO CORCOBHAISCIND—HIS DEATH—SUP- POSED INTERMENT AT LEABBA MOLAGA—HIS VENERATION THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH OF IRELAND—CONCLUSION.
Caius, sumamed Gan-mhathuir, King of Munster, having been seized vnih a grievous disease, which he supposed must terminate fatally, had resolved on dismissing those hostages, consigned to him by his subordinate chieftains. Thus he hoped to prepare himself for resigning the reins of government into
other hands. But the provincial chiefs and magnates apprehended a dis- turbance of public tranquillity, in case he should persevere in such a resolution. They demanded those reasons that influenced him to adopt this line of conduct. Their king declared, great crimes had burdened his con- science, and especially the perpetration of seven homicides,' in which his own relatives were included. Besides, he had resolved on a pilgrimage, that he might more effectually do penance to atone for those crimes. His chiefs vainly endeavoured to divert his mind from an intention of abdicating ; and, at length, he was advised to call a council of ecclesiastics, in order that his purpose might be submitted to them for adjudication. To such pro- posal, after a fast of the men of Munster,^ the king assented. 3 St. Molagga, in whose prudence and sanctity he reposed most unbounded confidence, was especially summoned for the occasion. Having taken counsel together, the chiefs sought an interview with our saint. * They entreated him, that he would become a just adviser to their monarch, by taking the latter under direction, and with a view to promote his eternal interests, whilst they also hoped, through his means, that the temporal affairs of the kingdom should be prudently adjusted. In order to prevail more effectually with our saint, they conferred upon his church a privilege of refuge, with other immunities.
Aware of the importance attached to their petitions, Molagga agreed to the
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
*3 See
" I said Cui wish,
Colgan's nise," XX. Januarii.
xviii. , p. 147.
Vita S. Molaggse, cap.
gan Mathair,
The good effectual prayer of Loche Linn-
Chap, hi. —' Seven Fingals (fratricides) are here mentioned in Professor O'Looney's
Manuscript Life.
'This is stated in Professor O'Looney's
Manuscript Life, p. 7.
3 The f^oUowings additions are in Profes-
sor O'Looney's Manuscript Life : Cui gan Mathair said he would not accept the king-
ship from them, unless they gave him a ""
honn,
The splendour, bright resplendent, In obviating my distress. "
This quatrain is given with some variations in the "Book of Fermoy," fol. 60, bb, and 61, aa. , top.
* This Council seems to have been cen- voked some brief term of years before Cui Can's death, which took place a. d. 640. If St. Fursey, Abbot of Lagny, was the eccle- siastic named as attending, the Synod must have been held during or before A. d. 636, when it has been supposed he finally left Ireland,
choice of anamchara," or souls' friend," who should be St. Laga (Mo naom Laga). He was a man to whom the wild deer were obedient, while he was in honour a—nd great
respect with God, as said the poet
:
1
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 351
necessity of convoking a public assembly, at which the Munster clergy and chiefs attended, as likewise the king. Besides other incidents connected with this meeting, various privileges and possessions were bestowed on the churchofSt. Molaga. s Thecouncilw—asheldatTearmainMolaga,andthe men of Munster"^ fasted to the saint
forgiveness, or for preferring a request, in the olden time. ? On this occasion, they asked him to take Cui gan mathair under the protection of his Gospel
for mercy and forgiveness. Cuan or Cuanna,^ son to Amhalgad, King of Aine Cliach,9 who descended from the celebrated Druid and hero, Mogh Roth, was present. This Druid received a grant of the territory of Feara- Muigh-feine, now Fermoy, from Fiacha Muilleathan, for the services he rendered to the Munster forces, when Cormac Mac Art, monarch of Ireland, had been driven from the province. Foremost among the ecclesiastics were Conangius 0'Daithil,'° Abbot of Emly ;" Russinus, or Ruisine," son to Lap, or Lappain ; Comorban of St. Barr,'3 from Claire southward ;'-* St. Cummin Foda;'5 St. Fursey, supposed to be the Abbot of Lagny;'^ with other renowned princes and clerics : all were subscribers to a charter, which con- firmed those grants. ^7 They were sureties also for carrying out all necessary conditions. '^ A certain prince named Flann, son to Ercus, from Gabria, or Gabhra territory, presumed to infringe on some of those privileges. He
s Mr. has furnished the '° Joseph O'Longan
some
of
subsequent statement from "The Book of notices of St. Conaing, or Connich Mic
Fermoy. " " At page 91, col. i, are re- lated, how he obtamed the freedom of his Termon from the king and men of Munster, with its boundaries north, south, east, and west, viz. , from Dairigh Mochua to Inis Gubain at the River Fuinnsion on the west, to Feirnn Leabhain, at or in the [river]
Uinnsinn, on the east, and from Ath na Lee to Dairmhach. "
^ Their grants are said to have been from Darach Muchua to Inis Goban, which was on the Uinsean westward, and from Fearan Leabain to the eastern Fuinsean, —and from Ath na Leac to middle Darmach. British Museum MS. Life.
7 We are told, that Molaga then stipulated
for the freedom or perpetuity of his Tear-
main, and th—at he obtained an Eitira or
security for it. Professor O'Looney's Manu-
script Life of St. Molaga, p. 7.
Luachair, supposed to be identical with the
present abbot.
" Colgan remarks, this account is exactly
in accordance with that contained in our
Annals, where it is stated, Conaingius O'Dathil, Abbot of Imleach lobhair, died in the year of Christ 660. See Mr. O'Dono- van's edition of the "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 270, 271.
'^ See some notices regarding a St. Rui- sen, of Inis Picht, or Spike Island, near Cork, at the 7th of April.
'3 As St. Barr founded the abbey and
of so this saint must episcopal see Cork,
have been his successor in the latter place. "
vol.
ters," i. , pp. 292, 293.
'^This latter adjunct is in Professor
*
This prince is thus named in Mr. O'Looney's Manuscript Life, p. 8.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 258, 259, when his death is
'5St, CumminFodadiedontheI2thof November, 661. See O'Donovan's " An- nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 270 to 273, and nn. (a, b), ibid.
about A. D. 636, he went over to Britain, and afterwards to France. See his life, already given at the i6th of this month, the day of his principal feast.
'? In Professor O'Looney's Manuscript Life it is added, "Victor the Angel and Patrick came from Heaven to bind and confirm it, and Patrick then enjoined on Molaga to come every Thursday to con-
verse with himself into Heaven.
•^
" Cuana, son of Ailcin, chief of Feara-Maighe [Fer-
recorded as follows, at A d.
640.
He was
called] Laech Liathmhuine. This Cuana that St. Fursey flourished about this time is called Mac Cailchine by Dr. Jeoffray and in this part of the country. Thence,
moy] died.
[the person "
who was
Keating.
'Colgan refers to various authorities for
a curious account relating to a contest of generosity between Cuana and his half-
Guaire Aidhne, and,
to an ancient manuscript of Clonmacnoise, called " Leabhar ua h Uidhre," which is
now preserved m the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, and copies of which have
been edited by Mr. Joseph O'Longan and by Professor Bryan O'Looney.
brother,
among others,
this a usual form for
being asking
See,
at the
23rd
September,
At A. D. 685, we find it stated
Abbot of Corcach-mor, died. " See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Mas-
'* Such is opinion, who says, Colgan's
In the Manuscript Life, the conclusion
:
Roisseni,
352 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
encamped an army at a place called Tulach-airdiir/:? when coming thither to transact important business with Caius. Resolved on defending the rights
already guaranteed to him and his possessions by treaty, the saint showed forth God's power, by which he was sustained in working a miracle. This
had the effect of bringing Flann, with true humilty and contrition, to ac- knowledge his fault. Throwing himself at St. Molagga's feet, and confessing his sin, he sought and obtained pardon. Afterwards, he submitted with
most exemplary resignation to a humiliating penance, imposed by Molagga.
To reward his humble and patient spirit, this saint was not only ready to
receive him again into favour, but he even showered blessings upon the
chieftain, while predicting, at the same time, that seven of his offspring
should become or ^° and should be for princes kings, distinguished many
illustrious actions. ^'
At a place called Leam-han-chia, in the eastern part of Munster, seven infidels or idolaters are said to have been taken off by a sudden death. ^^ Many holy persons grieved at the state to which their souls must be exposed in the next life. They offered up most fervent petitions to Heaven, and entreated the God of mercy to be propitious. They also joined a fast with these prayers. Their united suppHcations were of no avail, however, until St. Molagga had been addressed, and until his powerful intercession had been joined to their entreaties. A wonderful miracle resulted from those petitions of God's servant. The idolaters were immediately rescued from a mortal and from a never-ending death. "3 They were again restored to life,
of this Council is thus narrated. Cui gan could have been Prince of Gauria, at a time mathair then bowed to Molaga, and he gave indicated in the Life, as Caius was his alms (a gift), namely, his two steeds and grandson, the father of Caius being Cathald, his robe, and a cup full of silver and a dish as mentioned in the 9th chapter of our (or palena) of gold down upon it, and a saint's life, and by most of our Irish his- fully chased brooch with a Leisreach every torians. See, also, the account already year. The monarch agreed that he should
have the honour and dignity of the Anam-
chara of the King of Munster for ever, and
that it should descend to his Comoibas, ofMunster.
while the cain (injunctions) of his bell should take precedence of every other ex- cept the bell of St. Patrick. Molaga promised that this should be fulfilled, to- wards every king who should afterwards occupy Cashel, and that not one of them should ever die without an "anamchara" through his blessing. Page 8.
''This is said in Prolessor O'Looney's
Manuscript Life to have been at Tearmain
Molaga, p. 8.
'°
^' "
Coigan's Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
So the Life of St. Molagga calls them.
The term should most probably be rendered
Prince ; for the seven kings, who were pre-
dicted to succeed Flann, appear to have
ruled Gauria only, and not the whole of
Munster. For during the time of Caius,
King of Munster, no prince named Flann,
Flannius, or son to Ercus, or any other
princeofMunsterraceflourished,towhom wearenottounderstandthatthoseinfidels
the origin of any king of Ireland, or even of
Munster, could be referred, not to speak
of seven kings, as stated in our saint's life.
And although there issued seven kings of
Munster from the seed of Aldus, sumamed afterwards, being converted to the trae
Flann Cathrach, he was not, however, a faith, they departed happily to our Lord. son to Ercus, but to Amalgad. This Aldus Were we to attach implicit credit to this
given in the text. Colgan, therefore, con- cludes, that the predicted kings either ruled over Gauria, or some other larger principality
XX. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xix. , XX. , pp. 147, 148.
"This account seems to be wantingin the copy of our saint's life, preserved in the British Museum ; but Professor O'Looney
has supplied the following passage within brackets from the Book of Fermoy. [" One time that Molaga happened to be at Cathair Lemuine in West Mimster, a place where seven Gentiles with their followers con- tinued to make adoration to the Devil, and they died in the middle of the Cathair, and were buried in it, and the saints of Erin declined to resuscitate them for their people till Molaga came,"] b. fol. 60. It will be observed, that this somewhat varies the account given in the text.
'3 Here, as in similarly related miracles,
could have been rescued from eternal pu- nishment in the other life ; but rather, per- haps, it may be assumed they were rescued from a temporal death in extremis, and
January 20. ]
LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS.
353
and by the saint directed in those ways, which afterwards conducted them
to eternal happiness. *'^
Although the Acts of this saint, hitherto discoverable, make no mention
ofSt. MolagahavinggonesouthwardsfromFermoy,tofoundamonastery at Timoleague; yet, local tradition holds this to be a fact. ^5 it seems
reasonable enough to suppose this monastery was one of his establishments j and, the more especially, as the Acts of St. Molaga appear to have come down to us in an imperfect state.
Towards the close of this sainfs life, a dreadful pestilence, known as the
Buidhe Chonnuil,^^ devastated our whole island, and carried away the greater
part of the clergy and people, according to our annals. This plague occurred in the year 664 ; and among other places scourged with this visitation of Heaven, a district named Corcobhaiscind, in Munster, is specially named. In order to avert the Divine wrath, the courageous and zealous Molagga set out towards this district, and came to a place called Cam-Sioda. Here its inhabitants were all removed by death, with the exception of thirty-three men^7 and twenty-eight women. Moved by this piteous spectacle, the servant of God bestowed his benediction on those fewsurvivorsthatremained. Afterwards,notonlydidthemortalityentirely cease, but this small community increased to nine hundred souls, within a
few years. In gratitude for their preservation, St. Molagga was held in the greatest veneration by this people during life, and after death he was invoked as their chief patron. The saint appears to have survived this great plague. He must have been greatly advanced in years, at this particular period. Being distinguished for his many virtues and miracles, as also being loved by all his cotemporaries and countrymen, he resigned his happy soul to God, on the 2othdayofJanuary,^^|accordingtoourcalendars. ThecalendarsofSt. Mn^%,^^ of Marianus O'Gorman, of Cathald Maguire, and of Cashel, correspond. 3°
narrative, it would seem to prove, that these. " See also nn. (q, r, s, t, u, w),
idolatry or paganism lingered until the ibid.
seventh century among some of the people then living in the south of Ireland.
*^Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," XX. Januarii. Vita S. Molaggae, cap. xxi. , p. 148.
'^ The writer has been assured of this by
Mr. Joseph O'Longan.
**In Mr.
