44 However, he is more
generally
called Molingus or Moling.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, among the Manuscripts, fol.
43.
17 of Rev. Dr.
l8 and of Rev. S. 10 who have Baring-Gould,
Butler,
Rose and the Shamrock," we may well apply—to her the apostrophe of an English
The Christian's hope, morality, and name. "
authorship concealed—" Insula Sanctorum, the Island of Saints ; a Title applied cxelu- sively to Ireland. " Proved by Historical Evidence from the ninth century to the pre- sent, sect, ii. , pp. 6, 7. London. R. Wash- bourne, 18 Paternoster Row, 1S72, 1 21110.
3 This may be inferred from the following
vol. vi. , there is a story of St. Moling, at
2 See an admirable little work—
p. 121. 13 "
Catalogus aliquorum Hibernise. "
Sanctorum
"
loved
about the holiness of our most blessed patron, of which, up to the present time, lie has
without doubt, given us many proofs. "
* At fol. 71 to 74.
s St. Francis, on Merchants' Qu. y.
6 The Codex, containing it, is intituled,
"Vitae Sanctorum," ex Cod. Iniseiisi, pp. 39 to 42.
' See Dr. George Petrie's " Ecclesiasiical
Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland,''
u See " De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib. i. , op. iii. , p. 22, and cap. xiii. , pp. 88, 89. The same writer declares, that what he had writ- ten about St. . Moling, as also about Ids pre- decessor, St. Edan, had been taken from Manuscript Lives in the collection of Aicli- bishop Ussher. See "De Pr;esulibus La-
tianslated passage :
Let us, my dearly be-
genLe," pp. 54, 55.
' 5 See the Bollandists' "Acta
brethren, speak
to
you, further,
Sanctorum,"
part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, ii. , p. 348. 8 See vol. xxii. The Vita S.
commencesatfol. 200.
9 Its title is Oecha tttollmcc.
Junii xvii. , tomus iii. , pp. 406 to 410. 1 >e
S. Molingo sive Dayrgello Lpiscopo lar- nensi in Hibernia. "
"> See '• Britannia Sancta," part i. ,
June 17, p, 372.
''See ''Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June xvii.
,8 See " Ecclesiastical I Iist< >ry of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. , pp. 132 to 135.
Lanigan,
Molingi
'9 See *' Lives of the vol. Saints,"
vi. ,
pagan
" Island of
which was bestowedonherbytheuniversalacclaimofChristendom. Shehadanother
"
title to respect added, being called, also, the
learned men. As the present holy man was distinguished both for sanctity and learning, we deem his Acts worthy of insertion, were it but to illustrate a characteristic phase of her former condition.
Several Manuscript Lives of St. Moling have come down to our times,
and those appear to have been compiled at rather an early period. What
appears to have been a panegyric 3 on St. Moling, is set down as a Life, in
the Codex Kilkenniensis,* of Marsh's Library, Dublin. Among the Francis-
can Records of the Convent,5 Dublin, there is a similar Life. 6 The cele-
brated Irish scholar, historian, and antiquary, James Hardiman, Esq. ,
M. R. I. A. , possessed an ancient vellum Manuscript, containing an Irish"Lire
transcript of St. Moling's Life, bv Michael O'Clery, is to be found in the
Burgundian Library of Bruxelles. ' 1 Other legends referring to him are found
in the Royal Irish Academy. " It was Colgan's design, to have pub-
lished the Acts of St. Molingus, at this day, as we find from the list, '3 which has survived his time. Various accounts of St. Moling have appeared in the
the
'-
Among the O'Longan Manuscripts,
Island of Doctors," meaning
14ofthe 15 of 6 ofRev. Bollandists, Bishop Challenor,'
worksofSir
Alban
notices of St. Molingus, or Moling, at the J7ih of June. The Most Rev. Bishop Michael Comerford, D. D. , has given a very excellent compendium of the Life
James Ware,
Moling.
10 A Latin
June 17, p. 249.
-° See "Collections relating to the Dio-
June 17. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 693
20 in his valuable diocesan historical work. A Life of
of this
or Taircell, otherwise Moling, has been written by Rev. Thomas Olden, and
saint,
22
Daircell,
ofNational 21 The Acts of St. Biography. "
in the
Moling, written in Latin, have been inserted in that collection of Irish Saints'
published
"Dictionary
Lives, lately published at the expense of the Marquis of Bute.
Patrick O'Leary of Graignamanagh, county of Kilkenny, has published in
It differs not, however, from that published by the Bollandists. Very lately, Mr.
" The Ancient Life of St. Translation of an old Manu- Moling, being
English
script preserved at Marsh's Library, Dublin;''"23 and, it is very learnedly annotated, with copious notes, giving local traditions regarding the Patron. 2* From the foregoing varied fountains, we have endeavoured to compile the
following biography, which, no doubt, is largely intermingled with fable ; but, as the legends abound, and yet serve to illustrate old customs and practices, it may not be advisable wholly to omit them.
The renowned St. Molyng or Molingus descended from the race of
Cathaoir Mor, monarch of Erin, of the Leinsterman. 2s
26 or
who was baptized by St. Patrick, about the year 448. According to another statement,31 his father was named Faelan, who was the son of Feradach, son
to Ere, son of Fiachra, son to Eoghan, son of Deagh,32 son to Labraidh, son of Bresal Beolach, son to Fiach Baicheda, son ofCathair Mor. 33 It is stated in his Irish Life,3* that St. Moling's father had been a brugaidh or farmer at
Diocese Leighlin. By Comerford, vol. iii. , pp. 305 to 309.
21 Edited by Leslie Stephen. See vol.
xiii. , pp. 380, 381.
22 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," ex
Codice Salmanticensi nunc pnmum integre edita opera Caroli de Smedt et Josephi de Backer eSoc. Jesu, Hagiographorum Bol- landianorum ; Auctore et sumptus largiente Joanne Patricio Marchione Bothae. Acta Sancti Moling, cols 819 to 826. Edinburgi et Londini, Brugis et Insulis, 1888, 4to.
23 With Notes and Traditions by? . O'L. Dublin, 1887, i8mo, pp. I to 60. Messrs. Duffy & Co. , Limited.
2+ To Mr. John M'Caul, 25 Patrick-street, Dublin, the writer is greatly indebted for extracts from the " Book of Leinster," rela- ting to traditions in reference to St. Molyng, with other notices tending to elucidate his history.
Carraighiach, Ciarrige Luacra, the north part of Kerry, adjoining Limerick. Other authorities mention, that he was born near the River Burren, at a place called Luachair Boirrinn, or Luachair Deadhaidh, i. e. , the rushy land of the River Burren, county of Carlow.
2« Chapter ii. is quoted for this state- ment.
30 According to the Kavanagh Family
Pedigree, compiled by Sir William Betham.
31 Francis Shearman's See Rev. John
"Loca Patriciana," Genealogical Chart of
the Hy-Cinnselagh, No. 3, p. 38.
32 From whom the Ui Deagha-mor in Hy
Cinnselach are descended. The Ui Deagha of Hy Cinnselach were of somewhat more recent origin than their Ossorian namesakes. Their chief territory in Hy Cinnselach lay in the north-east part of Wexford, where their name is yet preserved, in that of the ecclesi- astical deanery of O'Dea, in the diocese of
the saint is denominated Mac
Faolain,
" the son of
Oilain,
Faolain. " NemhnatCiarraigheach 2 ? was his mother, 28 or Eamhnat, according to his Life. 20 According to one account, St. Moling was seventh in descent fromabrotherofCrimthann-Cas,thefirst ChristianKingofLeinster,30 and
otherwise,
—cese of Kildare and Leighlin. " Third Series. said, because his mother, Nemnadh, or Eam- of the Rev. M. hnat was from
25 According to the O'Clerys.
26 In Patrick O'Leary's "Ancient Life of Ferns. See John O'Donovan's LeabhAp
St. Molyng, being Translation of an old
Manuscript preserved at Marsh's Library, Dublin. " In the foot of the Manuscript, however, there is a pedigree, in which the name is given Mac Faolain, the initial con- sonant being omitted in consequence of pho-
na 5-CeA]\c, or the Book of Rights, p. 195. They were also located on the north- western side of Suide Laighen, or Mount Leinster, and near the River Burren.
33 Monarch of Ireland, A. D. 177.
netic spelling. See p. 3, and n. (b), Bruxelles.
2 V- 3 -
2 ? This latter word means "of Kerry. "
28 Our saint is called Moling Luacra, it is
35 A legend is here inserted, to account for
" of St. Moling's birth on the bleak upland
Lougher," and for St. Brendan of Clonfert—
31
That belonging
to the of Royal Library
His father is called
694 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17.
Luachair, now Slieve Lougher, a wild upland district near Castle Island in Kerry. Having accumulated considerable wealth, he returned to his native ter- ritory, Hy Degha, situated on the River Barrow. 35 Moling was born in Hy-
6 as stated in his Acts. This likewise seems to be the Kinsellagh,3 generally
received opinion. His birth may probably be referred to the earlier part of the seventh century. According to an Ossory tradition, however, he was born
in that territory, and at a place called Mullennakill,37 a portion of the parish
of West,38 and four miles north-west of Rosbercon. 39 A used Jerpoint patron
formerly to be held there, on the 26th of August; and, at some distance west of the church of Mullinakill, there is a cave, half-natural and half-artificial, inside of which there is a large fiat stone, on which pilgrims used to kneel/ Midway between the church and the cave St. Moling's well is shown, and in which,accordingtotradition,thesaintusedtobathe. 41 Withthisisconnected a local legend. 42 However, the Ossory tradition regarding his birth there is
chilla. He is said also to have descended from the Ui Deagha/s
When the holy infant Molyng was born, an angel of the Lord assumed human form, and appeared to all those who were present in their house. That angel immediately blessed the infant in the arms of its mother, and he made
not of much
Taircheall 4 3 ot Daircell was his first name. Another form of his name is Dayrchell.
44 However, he is more generally called Molingus or Moling. He is given, likewise, the alias denomination of Dair-
Leslie Stephen's Biography," vol. xiii. , p. 380.
authority.
the sign of the cross, saying to his parents :
the world, there shall not be anyone born in this island of Ireland greater than this little boy, in sanctity, and justice, and truth, before God and men. "
who died long before Moling was born— so doing; her rebukes provoked »he ire of having adopted and protected both the the saint, who predicted that a fool or a mother and her babe. He is said to have rogue would be always found in Mullinakill. placed the latter under charge of one of his
clergy, who baptized him, and gave him the
name of Taircell, meaning "gathering," in
allusion to the manner, in which a dove
gathered him to her with her wings. See Rosbroc, now St. Molings, east of the
"
Dictionary of National
Barrow, where his patron day used to be celebrated, June 17 and July 25th, the feast of the dedication of his church.
43 In a note here by Dr. Todd, he says :
3* This territory is supposed to have been commensurate with the present counties of Carlow and of Wexford. This country likewise comprised more than the original diocese of Ferns. See John O'Donovan's teabhar* tiA g-Ceapc, or Book of Rights, pp. 208, 209, n. (g).
"
but one. "
3? It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kil- kenny," sheet 36.
44 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. , p. 132.
45 Besides the Hy Kinsellagh Ui Deagha, there was an Ossory tribe of that name
located at Rosbercon, in the south-east of Kilkenny County. The progenitor of this
tribe wasDeagh, son of Dodrai, son of Buan, or Donbuan, son of Eochaidh Lamdvit, son
of Angit, son of Laeghaire Birn Buadach, son of At-ngus Ossraide, who gave his rame to the territory of Ossory. The genealogy of St. Moling, in the Leabhar Breac, is quite correct till it reaches Bresal, whom the scribe by a mere oversight calls a man Brie, instead of Beolach ; to which he adds, " a quo the Ossorians, fourteen generations be- fore Bresal the of Cathair
38 In the barony of Knocktopher, county
of Kilkenny. This parish is within three
distinct baronies, viz. : Gowian, Ida and
Knocktopher. See ibid. , sheets 28, 32, 33,
36, 37-
39 This parish is in the barony of Ida, and
county of Kilkenny. See ibid. , sheets 37,
The town and townland are on sheet 37.
41.
40 See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
'*
Loca Patriciana," No. VI. , n. 3, p. 93.
41 A
patron
used to be held there, on the
Beolach, grandson
Mor, from whom St. Moling descends from
26th of August, until it was put down in
1867, by the parish priest of Rosbercon.
** A neighbouring woman chided him for
"
46 See " The Ancient Life of St. Molyng,"
" From this until the end of day
St. Moling chagrined at this rebuke, retired to Columcille near Thomastown ; he stayed there only six weeks, and as he did not find the people agreeable to him, he retired to
Taircheell or Daircell as in the next line
Bresal Beolach.
June 17. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
695
This prophecy of the angel was fulfilled in his subsequent conduct and life*6
After a short time there came to them a certain person, who apparently was
a priest, and he baptized the holy infant. His parents and friends were igno-
rant as to who the baptizer was ; and, although they saw him baptizing, they didnotknowwhencehehadcome. Theformofbaptismbeingcompleted,
that priest vanished from their eyes. Afterwards, they all knew that he was theangeloftheLord. *? Thatmostblessedchild,Molyng,wasnurturedwith all diligence, and he increased afterwards in good morals. He was subse- quently delivered up by his parents to the Church of God. He most diligently learned the Sacred Scripture and other religious discipline. *8 He was per- suaded by his brethren and by his master to embrace the ecclesiastical state. Having qualified himself by early training, and being instructed in the Holy Scriptures,hewaspromotedtotheEpiscopalgrade. Afterwards,takingwith him a few disciples, he proceeded to a place in the western district of the country of the Hy-Kinaselach, on the banks of the Berba or Barrow, over against the countryofOssory,andhebeganthereaholylife. 49 RossBruicorBroc,"Badger Wood," is supposed to have been the ancient name for Tech-Moling. 5° A poem,51 which describes this place, has been ascribed to the celebrated tra- ditionary hero, Finn Mac Cumhaill,52 and it also gifts him with the spirit of prophecy, for it announces the coming of St. Patrick into Ireland to preach Christianity, and the future sanctity of Ros-Broc, when it should become the peacefulabodeofSt. Molingandofhismonks. Itisstated,moreover,that the holy man himself composed a poem, on taking up his abode at Ross Brocc. 53
At an early period, St. Molyng embraced a monastic life. 5 * The saint founded a monastery, it is said, at Aghacainda,55 or Achadh Cainidh,s6 on the River Barrow. This occurred, about the beginning of the seventh century. Afterwards, it bore the name of Tegh Moling, or the " House of Moling. "5 ?
A to about city began grow
in course of time. 58 This place is now known it,
by Mr. Patrick O'Leary, p. 3.
47 The been a moll/mcc gives a totally
different account of his early career, and it states, that while living in Kerry at Lougher, he collected alms for the students, that he was sent to St. Maedoc of Ferns, that he visited St. Modinoc at Cluain Cain, that he
Professor O'Curry says, abundant reason to
passed on to Cashel, where the king promised
him a site for a church, that he proceeded
to Sruthair Guaire, and thence, he went Carlow.
southwards to Ross Broc, where he saw a
53 We find it thus translated
over it.
*8 "According to some accounts he was a
:
Here will I
vision of
angels
"
shall be my abode. " [a 32. ]
disciple of St. Maidoc of Ferns. If so, he make my prayers ; never will I depart from must have been very young at that time, as this dwelling till the Day of Doom shall St. Maidoc died, at the latest, in 632. "— come. " [305 a 26]. Cure-seo-ro-lalus, Sec. 5+ See Bishop Challenor s "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , June 17, p. 372.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. ,
Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
p_ I32>
'"9 According to the "Ancient Life of St.
Molyng," p. 4.
55 Sir James Ware designates it "Agha- "
s° William M. Note by
=6 The words Achad Cainyd are said to mean The Field of Kennedy,
* A copperplate engraving, from a draw-
ing by Lieutenant Daniel Grose, Esq. , a. d.
1792. of St. Mull. n s Church Ruins, appears
"
Hennessy, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , at Tech Moling, in his copy of the Martyrology of Donegal. Since he left Sruthair Guaire, he found no place^for a
Vm * The authenticity of this, there is, as
house until he came to Uorr branc
ofIreland, vol. 11. ,
ArAn Cecil moUm5 in canfc-. " 51 Ofseventeenquatrains.
in Grose's
"
the resort of warriors. " See the Leimter
Leader of Saturday, August 19th, 1882, for a Paper on Graig-na-managh, read before
the Ossory Archaeological Society, by the Very Rev. Michael Comerford, M. R. I. A. , V. F. , P. P. , Monastervan. In this Paper, reference is made to St. Mullins, county of
" I am Moiling of the Truth, and Teg Moiling
doubt. It begins:
Ross- Broc this day is
cainidse ad ripam Barroifi. "— DeScripto- ribus Hiberniie," lib. 1. , cap. 111. , p. 22.
Antiquities
5* The houses were very probably con-
pp-9>
10
-
.
. ,
696 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17
as St. Mullins, a large parish, 59 in the barony of Lower St. Mullins, and county of Carlow,60 as also in the barony of Bantry, county of Wexford. 61 St. Moling built his monastery, between the aforesaid river and a small rivulet, on an elevated spot. He constructed for himself a small cell apart, but lower down on the bank of the river, in which he devoted himself wholly to prayer. One of the religious was wont to come to him at certain hours, however, and
Site of St. Mullin's, County of Carlow.
at intervals the man of God visited the brethren. 62 Here, too, according to
6
a local tradition, he erected a mill, 3 and he is said to have been the first to
introduce rye into Ireland, one hard summer, not having corn or meal to
structed of timber, being most convenient, as the county was all under forest at the time ; this may account (or there being no traces left of the splendid city which we are told was once there.
side of the old ruins, and near the Protestant
church, where probably a little clearing
away of the masonry might bring some of the old walls to light.
ee the Legend related in Mr. Pal rick "
59 It contains over 11,200 acres.
60 This portion is shown, on the "Ord- A] 1 cndix, p. 50.
nance Survey Townland Mapi for the County of Carlow," sheets 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. The townland itself is on sheets 24, 26, ib'xd.
61 This portion is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps lor the County of Wexford,'' sheets 18, 2j. 24.
12 An old writer of Ins LTe adds, that in this place, there is now a splendid city in honour of the most holy Moling, which, from his small cell, is called Teach-Moling, i. e. , "the Hou-e of Moling. " See Mr.
"
In September, 1885, the Rev. James Craves, A. H. , pointed out the site of the nt mill of St. Moling to Mr. Patrick O'Leary. and at the same time, the latter discovered the fragment of an od millstone, which it was supposed belonged to tiie mill. The stone w—as placed in a safe place—as
w as thought to preserve it. At a subsequent time, when Mr. O'Leary visited the spot, some person unknown had rolled the stone down from the hill into the river. With the help of a friend, he had considerable difficulty in raising it again, and in placing it within thesmallestoftheoldbuildingsthere. Ac- cording to the heal tradition, St. Moling
Ancient Life of St. 63 Its site was on the declivity, at iheenst
Patrick O'Leary's Molyng,"p. 4
O'Leary's Ancient Life of St. Molyng,"
June 17. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS.
697
distribute the 6* For the he is said to have among people. mill,
course with his own hands ;
a water- and, even yet, these sites are known to persons
6 66 residing in the locality, s According to an ancient legend,
6? The base of a round tower 68 was discovered here, some few years ago, by persons employed by the Board of Public Works, while repairing the ruins of the
69 Thefactofits beencovered buildings. having
Gobban Saer built a Duirtheach or an of oak for St. Oratory
Molyng.
debris
in preserving it. ? ° St. Molyng had a curragh or boat on the river,? near the
entrance to his small cell.
A great concourse of strangers and of pilgrims
flocked to hear the word of God, and many came from the other side of the
river. Daily did the saint act as ferryman, in conveying these across, so that
theymightreceivefromhimlessonsofDivinewisdom. Here,heissaidto
have an eremitical in a hollow 2 and on herbs and water
spent life, tree,? fasting alone, for seven whole years. ? *
The holy man lived apart from others in the retirement of his small cell, after the manner of the early Irish ecclesiastics. ?
17 of Rev. Dr.
l8 and of Rev. S. 10 who have Baring-Gould,
Butler,
Rose and the Shamrock," we may well apply—to her the apostrophe of an English
The Christian's hope, morality, and name. "
authorship concealed—" Insula Sanctorum, the Island of Saints ; a Title applied cxelu- sively to Ireland. " Proved by Historical Evidence from the ninth century to the pre- sent, sect, ii. , pp. 6, 7. London. R. Wash- bourne, 18 Paternoster Row, 1S72, 1 21110.
3 This may be inferred from the following
vol. vi. , there is a story of St. Moling, at
2 See an admirable little work—
p. 121. 13 "
Catalogus aliquorum Hibernise. "
Sanctorum
"
loved
about the holiness of our most blessed patron, of which, up to the present time, lie has
without doubt, given us many proofs. "
* At fol. 71 to 74.
s St. Francis, on Merchants' Qu. y.
6 The Codex, containing it, is intituled,
"Vitae Sanctorum," ex Cod. Iniseiisi, pp. 39 to 42.
' See Dr. George Petrie's " Ecclesiasiical
Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland,''
u See " De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib. i. , op. iii. , p. 22, and cap. xiii. , pp. 88, 89. The same writer declares, that what he had writ- ten about St. . Moling, as also about Ids pre- decessor, St. Edan, had been taken from Manuscript Lives in the collection of Aicli- bishop Ussher. See "De Pr;esulibus La-
tianslated passage :
Let us, my dearly be-
genLe," pp. 54, 55.
' 5 See the Bollandists' "Acta
brethren, speak
to
you, further,
Sanctorum,"
part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, ii. , p. 348. 8 See vol. xxii. The Vita S.
commencesatfol. 200.
9 Its title is Oecha tttollmcc.
Junii xvii. , tomus iii. , pp. 406 to 410. 1 >e
S. Molingo sive Dayrgello Lpiscopo lar- nensi in Hibernia. "
"> See '• Britannia Sancta," part i. ,
June 17, p, 372.
''See ''Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June xvii.
,8 See " Ecclesiastical I Iist< >ry of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. , pp. 132 to 135.
Lanigan,
Molingi
'9 See *' Lives of the vol. Saints,"
vi. ,
pagan
" Island of
which was bestowedonherbytheuniversalacclaimofChristendom. Shehadanother
"
title to respect added, being called, also, the
learned men. As the present holy man was distinguished both for sanctity and learning, we deem his Acts worthy of insertion, were it but to illustrate a characteristic phase of her former condition.
Several Manuscript Lives of St. Moling have come down to our times,
and those appear to have been compiled at rather an early period. What
appears to have been a panegyric 3 on St. Moling, is set down as a Life, in
the Codex Kilkenniensis,* of Marsh's Library, Dublin. Among the Francis-
can Records of the Convent,5 Dublin, there is a similar Life. 6 The cele-
brated Irish scholar, historian, and antiquary, James Hardiman, Esq. ,
M. R. I. A. , possessed an ancient vellum Manuscript, containing an Irish"Lire
transcript of St. Moling's Life, bv Michael O'Clery, is to be found in the
Burgundian Library of Bruxelles. ' 1 Other legends referring to him are found
in the Royal Irish Academy. " It was Colgan's design, to have pub-
lished the Acts of St. Molingus, at this day, as we find from the list, '3 which has survived his time. Various accounts of St. Moling have appeared in the
the
'-
Among the O'Longan Manuscripts,
Island of Doctors," meaning
14ofthe 15 of 6 ofRev. Bollandists, Bishop Challenor,'
worksofSir
Alban
notices of St. Molingus, or Moling, at the J7ih of June. The Most Rev. Bishop Michael Comerford, D. D. , has given a very excellent compendium of the Life
James Ware,
Moling.
10 A Latin
June 17, p. 249.
-° See "Collections relating to the Dio-
June 17. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 693
20 in his valuable diocesan historical work. A Life of
of this
or Taircell, otherwise Moling, has been written by Rev. Thomas Olden, and
saint,
22
Daircell,
ofNational 21 The Acts of St. Biography. "
in the
Moling, written in Latin, have been inserted in that collection of Irish Saints'
published
"Dictionary
Lives, lately published at the expense of the Marquis of Bute.
Patrick O'Leary of Graignamanagh, county of Kilkenny, has published in
It differs not, however, from that published by the Bollandists. Very lately, Mr.
" The Ancient Life of St. Translation of an old Manu- Moling, being
English
script preserved at Marsh's Library, Dublin;''"23 and, it is very learnedly annotated, with copious notes, giving local traditions regarding the Patron. 2* From the foregoing varied fountains, we have endeavoured to compile the
following biography, which, no doubt, is largely intermingled with fable ; but, as the legends abound, and yet serve to illustrate old customs and practices, it may not be advisable wholly to omit them.
The renowned St. Molyng or Molingus descended from the race of
Cathaoir Mor, monarch of Erin, of the Leinsterman. 2s
26 or
who was baptized by St. Patrick, about the year 448. According to another statement,31 his father was named Faelan, who was the son of Feradach, son
to Ere, son of Fiachra, son to Eoghan, son of Deagh,32 son to Labraidh, son of Bresal Beolach, son to Fiach Baicheda, son ofCathair Mor. 33 It is stated in his Irish Life,3* that St. Moling's father had been a brugaidh or farmer at
Diocese Leighlin. By Comerford, vol. iii. , pp. 305 to 309.
21 Edited by Leslie Stephen. See vol.
xiii. , pp. 380, 381.
22 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," ex
Codice Salmanticensi nunc pnmum integre edita opera Caroli de Smedt et Josephi de Backer eSoc. Jesu, Hagiographorum Bol- landianorum ; Auctore et sumptus largiente Joanne Patricio Marchione Bothae. Acta Sancti Moling, cols 819 to 826. Edinburgi et Londini, Brugis et Insulis, 1888, 4to.
23 With Notes and Traditions by? . O'L. Dublin, 1887, i8mo, pp. I to 60. Messrs. Duffy & Co. , Limited.
2+ To Mr. John M'Caul, 25 Patrick-street, Dublin, the writer is greatly indebted for extracts from the " Book of Leinster," rela- ting to traditions in reference to St. Molyng, with other notices tending to elucidate his history.
Carraighiach, Ciarrige Luacra, the north part of Kerry, adjoining Limerick. Other authorities mention, that he was born near the River Burren, at a place called Luachair Boirrinn, or Luachair Deadhaidh, i. e. , the rushy land of the River Burren, county of Carlow.
2« Chapter ii. is quoted for this state- ment.
30 According to the Kavanagh Family
Pedigree, compiled by Sir William Betham.
31 Francis Shearman's See Rev. John
"Loca Patriciana," Genealogical Chart of
the Hy-Cinnselagh, No. 3, p. 38.
32 From whom the Ui Deagha-mor in Hy
Cinnselach are descended. The Ui Deagha of Hy Cinnselach were of somewhat more recent origin than their Ossorian namesakes. Their chief territory in Hy Cinnselach lay in the north-east part of Wexford, where their name is yet preserved, in that of the ecclesi- astical deanery of O'Dea, in the diocese of
the saint is denominated Mac
Faolain,
" the son of
Oilain,
Faolain. " NemhnatCiarraigheach 2 ? was his mother, 28 or Eamhnat, according to his Life. 20 According to one account, St. Moling was seventh in descent fromabrotherofCrimthann-Cas,thefirst ChristianKingofLeinster,30 and
otherwise,
—cese of Kildare and Leighlin. " Third Series. said, because his mother, Nemnadh, or Eam- of the Rev. M. hnat was from
25 According to the O'Clerys.
26 In Patrick O'Leary's "Ancient Life of Ferns. See John O'Donovan's LeabhAp
St. Molyng, being Translation of an old
Manuscript preserved at Marsh's Library, Dublin. " In the foot of the Manuscript, however, there is a pedigree, in which the name is given Mac Faolain, the initial con- sonant being omitted in consequence of pho-
na 5-CeA]\c, or the Book of Rights, p. 195. They were also located on the north- western side of Suide Laighen, or Mount Leinster, and near the River Burren.
33 Monarch of Ireland, A. D. 177.
netic spelling. See p. 3, and n. (b), Bruxelles.
2 V- 3 -
2 ? This latter word means "of Kerry. "
28 Our saint is called Moling Luacra, it is
35 A legend is here inserted, to account for
" of St. Moling's birth on the bleak upland
Lougher," and for St. Brendan of Clonfert—
31
That belonging
to the of Royal Library
His father is called
694 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17.
Luachair, now Slieve Lougher, a wild upland district near Castle Island in Kerry. Having accumulated considerable wealth, he returned to his native ter- ritory, Hy Degha, situated on the River Barrow. 35 Moling was born in Hy-
6 as stated in his Acts. This likewise seems to be the Kinsellagh,3 generally
received opinion. His birth may probably be referred to the earlier part of the seventh century. According to an Ossory tradition, however, he was born
in that territory, and at a place called Mullennakill,37 a portion of the parish
of West,38 and four miles north-west of Rosbercon. 39 A used Jerpoint patron
formerly to be held there, on the 26th of August; and, at some distance west of the church of Mullinakill, there is a cave, half-natural and half-artificial, inside of which there is a large fiat stone, on which pilgrims used to kneel/ Midway between the church and the cave St. Moling's well is shown, and in which,accordingtotradition,thesaintusedtobathe. 41 Withthisisconnected a local legend. 42 However, the Ossory tradition regarding his birth there is
chilla. He is said also to have descended from the Ui Deagha/s
When the holy infant Molyng was born, an angel of the Lord assumed human form, and appeared to all those who were present in their house. That angel immediately blessed the infant in the arms of its mother, and he made
not of much
Taircheall 4 3 ot Daircell was his first name. Another form of his name is Dayrchell.
44 However, he is more generally called Molingus or Moling. He is given, likewise, the alias denomination of Dair-
Leslie Stephen's Biography," vol. xiii. , p. 380.
authority.
the sign of the cross, saying to his parents :
the world, there shall not be anyone born in this island of Ireland greater than this little boy, in sanctity, and justice, and truth, before God and men. "
who died long before Moling was born— so doing; her rebukes provoked »he ire of having adopted and protected both the the saint, who predicted that a fool or a mother and her babe. He is said to have rogue would be always found in Mullinakill. placed the latter under charge of one of his
clergy, who baptized him, and gave him the
name of Taircell, meaning "gathering," in
allusion to the manner, in which a dove
gathered him to her with her wings. See Rosbroc, now St. Molings, east of the
"
Dictionary of National
Barrow, where his patron day used to be celebrated, June 17 and July 25th, the feast of the dedication of his church.
43 In a note here by Dr. Todd, he says :
3* This territory is supposed to have been commensurate with the present counties of Carlow and of Wexford. This country likewise comprised more than the original diocese of Ferns. See John O'Donovan's teabhar* tiA g-Ceapc, or Book of Rights, pp. 208, 209, n. (g).
"
but one. "
3? It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kil- kenny," sheet 36.
44 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. , p. 132.
45 Besides the Hy Kinsellagh Ui Deagha, there was an Ossory tribe of that name
located at Rosbercon, in the south-east of Kilkenny County. The progenitor of this
tribe wasDeagh, son of Dodrai, son of Buan, or Donbuan, son of Eochaidh Lamdvit, son
of Angit, son of Laeghaire Birn Buadach, son of At-ngus Ossraide, who gave his rame to the territory of Ossory. The genealogy of St. Moling, in the Leabhar Breac, is quite correct till it reaches Bresal, whom the scribe by a mere oversight calls a man Brie, instead of Beolach ; to which he adds, " a quo the Ossorians, fourteen generations be- fore Bresal the of Cathair
38 In the barony of Knocktopher, county
of Kilkenny. This parish is within three
distinct baronies, viz. : Gowian, Ida and
Knocktopher. See ibid. , sheets 28, 32, 33,
36, 37-
39 This parish is in the barony of Ida, and
county of Kilkenny. See ibid. , sheets 37,
The town and townland are on sheet 37.
41.
40 See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
'*
Loca Patriciana," No. VI. , n. 3, p. 93.
41 A
patron
used to be held there, on the
Beolach, grandson
Mor, from whom St. Moling descends from
26th of August, until it was put down in
1867, by the parish priest of Rosbercon.
** A neighbouring woman chided him for
"
46 See " The Ancient Life of St. Molyng,"
" From this until the end of day
St. Moling chagrined at this rebuke, retired to Columcille near Thomastown ; he stayed there only six weeks, and as he did not find the people agreeable to him, he retired to
Taircheell or Daircell as in the next line
Bresal Beolach.
June 17. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
695
This prophecy of the angel was fulfilled in his subsequent conduct and life*6
After a short time there came to them a certain person, who apparently was
a priest, and he baptized the holy infant. His parents and friends were igno-
rant as to who the baptizer was ; and, although they saw him baptizing, they didnotknowwhencehehadcome. Theformofbaptismbeingcompleted,
that priest vanished from their eyes. Afterwards, they all knew that he was theangeloftheLord. *? Thatmostblessedchild,Molyng,wasnurturedwith all diligence, and he increased afterwards in good morals. He was subse- quently delivered up by his parents to the Church of God. He most diligently learned the Sacred Scripture and other religious discipline. *8 He was per- suaded by his brethren and by his master to embrace the ecclesiastical state. Having qualified himself by early training, and being instructed in the Holy Scriptures,hewaspromotedtotheEpiscopalgrade. Afterwards,takingwith him a few disciples, he proceeded to a place in the western district of the country of the Hy-Kinaselach, on the banks of the Berba or Barrow, over against the countryofOssory,andhebeganthereaholylife. 49 RossBruicorBroc,"Badger Wood," is supposed to have been the ancient name for Tech-Moling. 5° A poem,51 which describes this place, has been ascribed to the celebrated tra- ditionary hero, Finn Mac Cumhaill,52 and it also gifts him with the spirit of prophecy, for it announces the coming of St. Patrick into Ireland to preach Christianity, and the future sanctity of Ros-Broc, when it should become the peacefulabodeofSt. Molingandofhismonks. Itisstated,moreover,that the holy man himself composed a poem, on taking up his abode at Ross Brocc. 53
At an early period, St. Molyng embraced a monastic life. 5 * The saint founded a monastery, it is said, at Aghacainda,55 or Achadh Cainidh,s6 on the River Barrow. This occurred, about the beginning of the seventh century. Afterwards, it bore the name of Tegh Moling, or the " House of Moling. "5 ?
A to about city began grow
in course of time. 58 This place is now known it,
by Mr. Patrick O'Leary, p. 3.
47 The been a moll/mcc gives a totally
different account of his early career, and it states, that while living in Kerry at Lougher, he collected alms for the students, that he was sent to St. Maedoc of Ferns, that he visited St. Modinoc at Cluain Cain, that he
Professor O'Curry says, abundant reason to
passed on to Cashel, where the king promised
him a site for a church, that he proceeded
to Sruthair Guaire, and thence, he went Carlow.
southwards to Ross Broc, where he saw a
53 We find it thus translated
over it.
*8 "According to some accounts he was a
:
Here will I
vision of
angels
"
shall be my abode. " [a 32. ]
disciple of St. Maidoc of Ferns. If so, he make my prayers ; never will I depart from must have been very young at that time, as this dwelling till the Day of Doom shall St. Maidoc died, at the latest, in 632. "— come. " [305 a 26]. Cure-seo-ro-lalus, Sec. 5+ See Bishop Challenor s "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , June 17, p. 372.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xiii. ,
Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
p_ I32>
'"9 According to the "Ancient Life of St.
Molyng," p. 4.
55 Sir James Ware designates it "Agha- "
s° William M. Note by
=6 The words Achad Cainyd are said to mean The Field of Kennedy,
* A copperplate engraving, from a draw-
ing by Lieutenant Daniel Grose, Esq. , a. d.
1792. of St. Mull. n s Church Ruins, appears
"
Hennessy, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , at Tech Moling, in his copy of the Martyrology of Donegal. Since he left Sruthair Guaire, he found no place^for a
Vm * The authenticity of this, there is, as
house until he came to Uorr branc
ofIreland, vol. 11. ,
ArAn Cecil moUm5 in canfc-. " 51 Ofseventeenquatrains.
in Grose's
"
the resort of warriors. " See the Leimter
Leader of Saturday, August 19th, 1882, for a Paper on Graig-na-managh, read before
the Ossory Archaeological Society, by the Very Rev. Michael Comerford, M. R. I. A. , V. F. , P. P. , Monastervan. In this Paper, reference is made to St. Mullins, county of
" I am Moiling of the Truth, and Teg Moiling
doubt. It begins:
Ross- Broc this day is
cainidse ad ripam Barroifi. "— DeScripto- ribus Hiberniie," lib. 1. , cap. 111. , p. 22.
Antiquities
5* The houses were very probably con-
pp-9>
10
-
.
. ,
696 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 17
as St. Mullins, a large parish, 59 in the barony of Lower St. Mullins, and county of Carlow,60 as also in the barony of Bantry, county of Wexford. 61 St. Moling built his monastery, between the aforesaid river and a small rivulet, on an elevated spot. He constructed for himself a small cell apart, but lower down on the bank of the river, in which he devoted himself wholly to prayer. One of the religious was wont to come to him at certain hours, however, and
Site of St. Mullin's, County of Carlow.
at intervals the man of God visited the brethren. 62 Here, too, according to
6
a local tradition, he erected a mill, 3 and he is said to have been the first to
introduce rye into Ireland, one hard summer, not having corn or meal to
structed of timber, being most convenient, as the county was all under forest at the time ; this may account (or there being no traces left of the splendid city which we are told was once there.
side of the old ruins, and near the Protestant
church, where probably a little clearing
away of the masonry might bring some of the old walls to light.
ee the Legend related in Mr. Pal rick "
59 It contains over 11,200 acres.
60 This portion is shown, on the "Ord- A] 1 cndix, p. 50.
nance Survey Townland Mapi for the County of Carlow," sheets 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. The townland itself is on sheets 24, 26, ib'xd.
61 This portion is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps lor the County of Wexford,'' sheets 18, 2j. 24.
12 An old writer of Ins LTe adds, that in this place, there is now a splendid city in honour of the most holy Moling, which, from his small cell, is called Teach-Moling, i. e. , "the Hou-e of Moling. " See Mr.
"
In September, 1885, the Rev. James Craves, A. H. , pointed out the site of the nt mill of St. Moling to Mr. Patrick O'Leary. and at the same time, the latter discovered the fragment of an od millstone, which it was supposed belonged to tiie mill. The stone w—as placed in a safe place—as
w as thought to preserve it. At a subsequent time, when Mr. O'Leary visited the spot, some person unknown had rolled the stone down from the hill into the river. With the help of a friend, he had considerable difficulty in raising it again, and in placing it within thesmallestoftheoldbuildingsthere. Ac- cording to the heal tradition, St. Moling
Ancient Life of St. 63 Its site was on the declivity, at iheenst
Patrick O'Leary's Molyng,"p. 4
O'Leary's Ancient Life of St. Molyng,"
June 17. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS.
697
distribute the 6* For the he is said to have among people. mill,
course with his own hands ;
a water- and, even yet, these sites are known to persons
6 66 residing in the locality, s According to an ancient legend,
6? The base of a round tower 68 was discovered here, some few years ago, by persons employed by the Board of Public Works, while repairing the ruins of the
69 Thefactofits beencovered buildings. having
Gobban Saer built a Duirtheach or an of oak for St. Oratory
Molyng.
debris
in preserving it. ? ° St. Molyng had a curragh or boat on the river,? near the
entrance to his small cell.
A great concourse of strangers and of pilgrims
flocked to hear the word of God, and many came from the other side of the
river. Daily did the saint act as ferryman, in conveying these across, so that
theymightreceivefromhimlessonsofDivinewisdom. Here,heissaidto
have an eremitical in a hollow 2 and on herbs and water
spent life, tree,? fasting alone, for seven whole years. ? *
The holy man lived apart from others in the retirement of his small cell, after the manner of the early Irish ecclesiastics. ?
