Read the copy these stories were drawn from on the Internet Archive.
- 28
- stories drawn from it
- 28
- placed on the map
- 10
- counties: Clare, Armagh, Galway and more
- 4,832
- words in the passages on this page
The stories, best first
28 in all
Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.
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The First Harp Made at Camas
Commas · townland · Cavan
Marbhan the hermit told how the first harp was made: a woman fleeing her husband fell asleep on the strand at Camas listening to wind through a whale's bones, and her husband then crafted the first harp using whale sinews as strings.
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wood, and he was following after her ever and always. One day now the woman came to the sea at Camas, and she was walking along the strand and she met with the bare bones of a whale, and she heard the sounds of the wind passing through the bones and the sinews, and with listening to those sounds she fell asleep. And her husband came there and saw her sleeping, and when he knew it was through those sounds that sleep had fallen upon her, he went on into a wood and he made a shape like the hard high breast¬ bone of a crane, and he put strings into it of the sinews of the whale ; and that was the first harp of all the harps of the world. MOCHAE AND It was on the Island of THE BIRD One Ridgeon Loch Cuan that Mochae the Beautiful, saint of the Gael, built his church and the dwelling of the brothers. He went out, now, one day, and seven score young men with him, cut¬ ting rods to build the church, and hehimself was working like the rest of them. He had his load ready before the others and he sat down beside it ; & just then he heard a bird singing on the branch of a blackthorn that was close at hand ; and it was more beautiful than any of the birds of the world. ‘This is
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Battle of Almhuin and Fergal's Death
near Allen · population centre · Kildare
King Fergal of Ireland gathered his forces at Almhuin to fight the men of Leinster, where the battle was fought and nine thousand men including Fergal were killed. Donnbo, who had gone to defend the king, also lost his life and his head was struck off along with the king's.
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morrow’ he said ‘I will make amusement for you if I am living. And let the king’s buffoon make sport for you to-night’ he said. So Ua Maighlinne the king’s buffoon was called and he began his stories of the battles and the triumphs of Leinster from the de¬ struction of Dind Righ down to that time. Anditwasnot much sleep they got that night because of their great dread of the men of Leinster, and because of a storm that arose; for that was the eve of the feast of Saint Finnain in the winter. The battle was fought the next morning & the men from the north were beaten, and nine thousand of them got theirdeath, and Tergal the king among them. And Ua Maighlinne fell into the hands of one of the men of Leinster, and he bade him give his buffoon’s roar, and he did that; and his head was cut off then, but the roar was heard in the air through the length of three nights and three days and it has stayed with the buffoons of Ireland to this day. And as toDonnbo,he lost hislifedefending the king, and his head was struck off, and the king’s head. Thesame night now the men ofLeinster were drinking wine and making merry, and every one telling the deeds he had done in the battle. And Murchad son of the king of
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
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The Birth Well of Saint Colman at Kiltartan
Kiltartan · townland · Galway
A blind man and a lame man dreamed of a well near an ash tree at Kiltartan, where they found the infant Saint Colman and a well sprang up to baptise him. Both men were healed by the water, and the well remains a place of pilgrimage for the blind and for emigrants leaving for America.
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and it having the mark of the rope that was put around it. And justat that timetherewas a blind man had a dream in the north about a well beside a certain ash tree, and he was told in the dream he would get his sight if he bathed in the water of that well. And a lame man had a dreamabout the samewell that he would find at Kiltartan,and that there would be healingin itfor his lameness. And they set out together, the lame man carrying the man that had lost his sight, till they came to the tree theyhad dreamed about. But all thefield was dry, and there wasno sign of water unless that beside the tree there was a bunch of green rushes. And then the lame man sawtherewas a light shining out from among the rushes; and when they came to them they heard the cry of a child, and there by the tree was the little baby that was afterwards Saint Colman. And they took him up and they said ‘If we had water we would baptize him.’ And with that they pulled up a root of the rushes, and a well sprang up and they baptized him ; and that well is there to this day. And the water in springing up splashed upon them, and the lame was curedof his lameness, and the blind mangothissight. And many thatwould have their blindnesscured go and sleep besidethat
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Columcille's Death on the Island of Hii
Iona · island or archipelago
Columcille, having comforted the brothers ploughing on the island of Hii, blessed the island and died that night in the church, surrounded by a great light of angels visible to the brothers.
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himself has made known to it in some way that its master is going to leave it. And he gave his blessing to the horse then, and it went away very sorrowful. And on the night of the Sunday of Pentecost, Columcille was the first inthechurch andhekneltandprayed. And the brothers came in with their candles, but the whole church was full of light, and* Columcille opened his eyes wide and looked about him on every side with a great blush in his face, and they knew he was looking at the angels. And the light of the angels filled the church on every side, and he blessed the brothers, and the life went from his body, and there was a welcome before him in the household of heaven. But there are some that say he was not old when he died but young, because he had made requests of Axal the angel one time, and one of the requests was that he might die in his youth. ‘For in old age’ he said ‘the body is ugly.’ And the
angel granted him that and many other things. J
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
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Guaire's Submission to Diarmuid After Battle
Burren · townland · Clare
King Guaire, defeated in battle by Diarmuid Ruanaidh, was tested for the sincerity of his charity while lying with a sword at his throat; he gave away his last possessions to a beggar sent by Diarmuid, proving his generosity was genuine.
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beggar ; and Guaire gave him his golden pin. The beggar went from him then, but a man of Diarmuid’s people followed him and took away the pin and gave it to Diarmuid. Then the beggar came back to Guaire, complain¬ ing and telling how the pin was taken from him. And there was pity in Guaire’s heart and he gave him his belt that had on it golden ornaments, and that was all he had left to him of riches, and the beggar went away, and Diarmuid’s people followed him the second time and took away the belt and gave it to Diarmuid. Then the beggar came back with his story to Guaire where he was lying, having the sword between his teeth yet. And when King Guaire saw the poor man so sorrowful, great tears went rolling down his cheeks. Diarmuid asked him then ‘Is it for being conquered by me you are in that trouble ?’ ‘I give my word’ said Guaire ‘it is not, but it is for the sake of that beggar over there.’ And Diarmuid said ‘Rise up, it is not under my power you should be, or to me you should show submission, for you are under the power of a king that is better than myself, the King of heaven and earth.’
HIS KINDNESS One time there was a TO THE BUSH great troop of the poets
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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Colman's Hermitage in the Burren
Burren · townland · Clare
Saint Colman lived for seven years alone with only a mouse for company in a cleft of the Burren mountains, where the mouse would wake him for prayer. The site, between two blessed wells, is said to be so holy that thunder rarely falls there and does no harm.
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well; and many that are going to cross the sea to America, take with them a bit of a blessed board from an old tree that is in that field. HIS HOME He was a great saint after- 1N BURREN wards, and his name is in every place. Seven years he was living in Burren in a cleft of the mountains, no one in itbuthimself andamouse. Itwasforcompany he kept the mouse, and it would awaken him when hewasasleep andwhen the timewould come for him to be minding the Hours. And it is not known in the world what did the dear man get for food through all that time. And that place he lived in is a very holy place, being as it is between two blessed wells. No thunder falls on it, or if there is thunder it is very little, and does no injury. THE LITTLE LAD And if it is long since AND THE BIRDS Colman left this life and the churches he had made, it is well he minds the people yet, and there are many get their eyesight at the wells he blessed, and it is many a kindness he has done from time to time for thepeople of Aidhne and of Burren. There was a little lad in Kiltartan one time that a farmer used to be sending out to drive the birds offihis crops ; and there came a day that was very hot and he was tired, and he
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Columcille's Body Buried at Ardmacha
near Armagh · town · Armagh
Saint Columcille's body, found in a currach carried north by the sea, was brought to Ardmacha to be buried between Saint Patrick and Saint Brigit as instructed by writing on a stick. The ground opened of itself at Ardmacha to receive him between those two graves.
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out to sea. So they did that and the currach floated to the north of Ireland, but not one knew of it being there. And there were a few cows that had pasture near the sea, and one of them used to be going down to the shore every day, and to be licking a brown stick that was lying there. And the boy that was minding them took notice that the milk that cow gave was three times more than the milk of every other cow, and he wondered to see the cow that was the scarcest of all giving milk and butter like that, and it eating noth¬ ing, but only licking a bit of a stick. So they went and looked at the stick, and they read on it that Saint Columcille’s body was in the currach and theyfoundit there ; but whether it was only his bones they found, or 'whether he was embalmed, being such a great man, is not known. And the writing on the stick said he was to be buriedin Ardmacha, between Saint Patrick and Saint Brigit. And they did not know where those graves were, but they brought the body to Ardmacha, and the ground opened of itself, and they knew it was to let him rest between those two it opened. COLUMCILLE’S Bran, now, the hound VALLEY of Finn son of Cum-
hail, stopped one time at the hunting, and
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
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Conchubar High King's Death
Ireland · place
Conchubar High King of Ireland, wounded in the head with a ball, was tended by Fintain and warned against anger for seven years. On the day of the Crucifixion, hearing of Christ's death from his druid, his rage caused the old wound to burst, killing him.
Read the passage
at this time meeting with his death by the Jews. ‘Itisapity’saidConchubar ‘thathe did notcalloutfor thehelp of aHighKing. And that would bringme myself there’ hesaid ‘in the shape of a hardyfighter, my lips twitch¬ ing, until the great courage of a champion would be heard breaking a gap of battle between two armies. It is with Christ my help would be ; a wild shout going out; the keening of afulllord,afull loss. Iwouldmake my complaint to the trusty army of the high feats, their ready beautiful helpwouldrelieve him; beautiful the overthrowing I would give hisenemies; beautiful thefight Iwouldmake for Christ that is defouled; I would not rest althoughmyown bodywastormented. Why wouldwe notcry after Christ, hethat iskilled in Armenia, he that is more worthy than any worthy king ? I would go to death for his safety; it crushes my heart to hear the outcries and thelamentations!’ Andwith thathetook his sword and he rushed at an oakwood that was near at hand, and began to hack and to fell the trees; and it is what he said that if he couldbe among the Jews, that is thetreatment he wouldgive them. And from thegreatness of the anger that grippedhim, the oldwound in his head burst open and the ball started
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Dispute Over Columcille's Burial Place: Iona vs Armagh
near Armagh · town · Armagh
An old Irish saying held that although Columcille died in Hii (Iona), his soul is in Derry and his body lies under a flagstone in Armagh beside Brigit and Patrick; but the people of Iona angrily insisted he was buried on their island and no one had ever taken him away.
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It was AedhKing of Irelandgave seven cumhals for his name to be given in the praising of Columcille; and Aedh laid itdown to Forgaill that this song should be above every other song. But it was after death the reward and the praise were given to blind Forgaill; for it was Heaven that was given to him, as the price of the praising of the King. COLUMCILLE’S It is an old saying in BURYING PLACE Ireland that if Colum¬ cille died in Hii, his soul is in Doire and his body under a flagstone in Ardmacha beside Brigit and Patrick. But one time when some person that was looking at the church in Hii told that saying, the people of theisland were veryangry,and said the Irish were impudent liars to say such a thing, and that Sain t Colum¬ cille had been buried in their island, and none had ever come to bring him away, and if they had they would not have got him. But it is what the people of Ireland say to this day, that when he was dyinghe bade the brothers to put his body in a currach and to cut directions on astickand to putthecurrach
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
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Liban and the drowning of the plain by Loch Neach
near Lough Neagh · lake or lakes · Antrim
Eochaid settled by the Grey Thornbush in Ulster where a well broke out; when the well cover was left open the waters rose to form Loch Neach, drowning Eochaid and his children, while his daughter Liban survived beneath the lake for a year.
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LIBAN THE The time Angus Og sent SEA WOMAN away Eochaid and Ribh from the plain of Bregia that was his playing ground, he gave them the loan or a very big horse to carry all they had northward. And Eochaid went on with the horse till he came to the Grey Thornbush in Ulster ; and a well brokeoutwhere he stopped, and he made his dwelling-house beside it,andhe made acover for the well and put a woman to mind it. But one time she did not shut down the cover, and the water rose up and covered the Grey Thornbush, and Eochaidwas drownedwith his children ; and the water spread out into a great lake that has the name of Loch Neach to this day. But Liban that was one of Lochaid’s daughters was not drowned, but she was in her sunny-house under the lake and her little dog with her for afull year, and Godprotected her from the waters. And one day she said ‘O Lord, it would be well to be in the shape of asalmon, tobe going through thesea the way they do.’ Then the one hall of her took the shape of a salmon and the other half
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Rhinagh's Escape at the River near Coole
near Coole · field · Galway
Rhinagh, pregnant with Colman of Aidhne, was thrown into the river near Coole with a stone tied to her neck by order of the King of Connacht, but the stone floated and she survived. The stone bearing the rope's mark can still be seen there.
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THE BIRTH When Rhinaghthat was of OF COLMAN the race of Dathi was with OF AIDHNE child by Duach, it was told to the King of Connachtof that timethatthe son shewould bear would be greater than his own sons. And when he heard that, he bade his people to make an end of Rhinaghbefore the child would be born. And they took her and tied a heavy stone about her neck and threw her into the deep part of the river, where it rises inside Coole. But by the help of God, the stone that was put about her neck did notsink butwent floating upon the water, and she came to the shoreandwas savedfrom drowning. And that stone is to be seen yet,
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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Patrick's Church Founded at Armagh After the Fawn
near Armagh · town · Armagh
While walking up the hill of Armagh, Patrick found a doe resting with her fawn and stopped his people from killing it, carrying the fawn himself while the doe followed. The church of Armagh was later built on the very spot where he set the fawn down.
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HIS CHURCH Patrick was walking up AT ARDMACLIA the hill of Ardmacha one time with his people and they found a doe resting on the ground, and a fawn beside her. And his people were going to kill the fawn, but Patrickforbade them and he took it in his arms and carried it, and the doe came following after him. And it was in the place where he put down the fawn, the church of Ardmacha was built forhim after¬ wards.
HE IS WAKED BY When the time came THE ANGELS for Patrick to die it is
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 4
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The Beggar Boy Drowned Seeking a Cure
Burren · townland · Clare
A simple, unhealthy beggar boy in Burren dreamed twice that he would find his health at Saint Brigit's blessed well on the cliffs. He set out for the well but fell in and drowned, though the story holds he was innocent and in heaven.
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that was very simple like and had no health, and if hewould walkas much as afewperches it is likely he would fall on the road. And he dreamed twice that he went to Saint Brigit’s blessed well upon the cliffs and that he found his health there. So he set out to go to the well, and when he came to it he fell in and he was drowned. Very simple he was and inno¬ cent and withoutsin. It is likely it is inheaven he is at this time.
THE WATER And there is a woman OF THE WELL in Burren now is grate¬ ful to Saint Brigit, for ‘I brought mylittlegirl that was not four years old’ she says ‘to Saint Brigit’s well on the cliffs, whereshewasailing and pining away. I brought her as far as the doctors in Gortand they could do nothing for herandthen Ipromised to go to Saint Brigit’s well, and from the time I made that promise she got better. And Isaw the little fish when I brought her there; and she grew to be as strong a girl as ever went to America. Imade
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 2
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Marbhan's Hermitage in Burren
Burren · townland · Clare
Marbhan, brother of King Guaire of Connacht, left his inheritance to live a hermit's life in a lonely wild place in Burren, likely near where his kinsman Colman had lived, composing a poem praising his simple woodland cabin.
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in some part of Burren, where Colman that was his kinsman had gone. And some say he was herding pigs for theKingthere,butanyway he was serving God. And King Guaire followed him there and asked him to come back where he could sleep upon a bed and not be laying his head upon a hard fir tree in the night time. But Marbhan would not leave the place he had chosen, for he said he was well content with the little cabin he had in the wood, and that no one had knowledge of except God. And he made a song praising it and it is what he said:
‘The size of my cabin is small, not too small; it is many are its lucky paths ; a beautiful woman, coloured like a blackbird, sings a sweet strain upon the roof.
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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Mochaemhog's dispute with the King of Munster at Cashel
Cashel · townland · Tipperary
When the King of Munster took Mochaemhog's meadow for his horses and ordered the saint banished, Mochaemhog went to Cashel of the Kings to dispute with him. The king then had a vision from the walls of Cashel of hosts of saints filling Magh Femen and Magh Mossaid, warning him to make peace with the saint.
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THE CLOUD OF The time Mochaem- WITNESSES hog, saint of the Gael, made his dwelling-place at Liath Mor, the King of Munster took a liking to a meadow belonging to him, and he put his horses into it; and when Mochaemhog got word of that hewent and turned them out of themeadow. There was great anger on the King then, and he gave orders the saint should be banished out of the country. But when Mochaemhog heard that, he went straight to Cashel of the Kings, and he himself and the King of Munster disputedfor a while. And after that in the night time the king had a vision, and in the vision an old man, very comely and shining, came to him and took him by the hand, and led him from the room to the wall of Cashel that was to the south side, and from it he saw the whole of Magh Femen filled with a host of white saints having the appearance of flowers. He asked what great host that was, and theold man said they were Blessed Patrick and the saints of Ireland that
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
As the companion tells it
Somewhere around here at Cashel of the Kings, Mochaemhog, saint of the Gael, came to dispute with the King of Munster. The king had taken the saint's meadow for his horses, and when Mochaemhog turned them out, the king ordered him banished from the country. So the saint came straight to Cashel and argued with him. That night the king had a vision. An old man, comely and shining, led him from his room to the south wall of Cashel, and from there he saw the whole of Magh Femen filled with a host of white saints having the appearance of flowers. The old man told him they were Blessed Patrick and the saints of Ireland, warning him to make peace with Mochaemhog.
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News of Columcille's Death Seen at the River Finn and Rosnaree
Rosnaree · street · Limerick
At the hour of Columcille's death, fishermen on the river Finn saw a great light in the east lighting the whole sky, and at Rosnaree the light of angels was seen and their hymns heard in the high air.
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the whole of the sky. And at Rosnaree the light of the angels was seen, and their hymns were heard in the high air. And at the same time the poets of Ireland were gathered at the yew tree at the head of Baile’s Strand in Ulster, and they were making up stories there of themselves. And the things that happened did not happen the way they told them, but it was to put them on the rough race, the men of Ulster, the poets made up those lying tales. Forgaill now that was a man of Connacht and of high race, was the chief of all those poets ; and newswas brought to him by an angel riding a speckled horse, that Columcille was dead.
FORGAILL’S This now is the poem of LAMENT praise &of lamentation that
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
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Saint Brigit's Well on the Cliffs of Burren
Burren · townland · Clare
The people of Burren, Corcomruadh and Kinvara go every year to Saint Brigit's blessed well near the sea. A little fish appears there every seven years, and whoever sees it is cured of every disease; a local woman recounts curing a pearl in her eye after seeing the fish.
Read the passage
the west she is forgotten, and the people of Burren and of Corcomruadh and Kinvara go every year to her blessed well that is near the sea, praying and remembering her. And in that well there is a little fish that is seen every seven years, and whoever sees thatfish is cured of every disease. Andthere is a woman living yet that is poor and old and that saw that blessed fish, and this is the way she tells the story: ‘I had a pearl in my eye one time, and I went to Saint Brigit’s well on the cliffs.
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 2
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Fintain's yew tree and his long memory at Teamhuir
Tara · parish · Meath
Fintain, summoned by Diarmuid King of Teamhuir to settle a land dispute, described planting a yew berry from west Munster that grew into a great tree sheltering a hundred fighting men before he made vessels from its wood.
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when there wasa dispute aboutland and about the old custom. And when Fintain came he had eighteen troops with him, nine before him and nineafter him, thatwereall of them his children’s children. Andwhen the king’s people askedhowfar did his memory goback ‘I willtell you that’ he said. ‘Ipassedone day through the west of Munster, and I brought home with me a red berry of a yew tree and I planted it in my garden and it grew there till it was the height of a man. I took it out of the garden then and I planted it in the green lawn before my house, and it grew in that lawn till a hundredfighting men couldcome together under its branches, and find shelter there from wind and rain and cold and heat. And I myself and my yew tree were wearing out our time together, till at last all the leaves withered and fell from it. And then to get some profit from it I cut it down and I made from itseven vats, sevenkieves, seven barrels, seven churns, seven pitchers, seven measures, seven methers,with hoops for all. I went on then with my yew vessels till the hoops fell
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Guaire and the Blackberry Bush
Burren · townland · Clare
King Guaire's cloak was caught by a bush in a field at harvest time; rather than pull it free, he left it there, and the bush later rewarded him by producing ripe blackberries out of season for a member of his household who desired them.
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in Guaire’s house in the winter time, and a woman of the poets’ household had a desire for ripe blackberries. But everybody said there were no blackberries to be got, ripe or unripe, at that time of the year. But as one of Guaire’s people was out in the fields he saw a bush that was covered with a cloak, and under the cloak the blackberries were ripe and sound, and they were brought in to the woman, and there was no reproach upon theKing’shouse. This nowwas the way that happened: King Guaire was going through the field at harvest time, and the thorns of the bush took hold of the cloak he was wear¬ ing, andheld it. And Guaire was not willing to refuse so much as a bush that asked any¬ thing of him, and he left the cloak there on the branches. And for that kindness he got his reward in the end.
THE MAKING OF It was Marbhan the THE HARP hermit that gave out
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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The Buffoon's Roar Heard for Three Days
near Allen · population centre · Kildare
After the buffoon Ua Maighlinne was captured and beheaded following the battle, his roar was heard in the air for three days and three nights, and this tradition has stayed with the buffoons of Ireland ever since.
Read the passage
morrow’ he said ‘I will make amusement for you if I am living. And let the king’s buffoon make sport for you to-night’ he said. So Ua Maighlinne the king’s buffoon was called and he began his stories of the battles and the triumphs of Leinster from the de¬ struction of Dind Righ down to that time. Anditwasnot much sleep they got that night because of their great dread of the men of Leinster, and because of a storm that arose; for that was the eve of the feast of Saint Finnain in the winter. The battle was fought the next morning & the men from the north were beaten, and nine thousand of them got theirdeath, and Tergal the king among them. And Ua Maighlinne fell into the hands of one of the men of Leinster, and he bade him give his buffoon’s roar, and he did that; and his head was cut off then, but the roar was heard in the air through the length of three nights and three days and it has stayed with the buffoons of Ireland to this day. And as toDonnbo,he lost hislifedefending the king, and his head was struck off, and the king’s head. Thesame night now the men ofLeinster were drinking wine and making merry, and every one telling the deeds he had done in the battle. And Murchad son of the king of
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
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A Cure at Saint Brigit's Well After Gort Doctors Failed
Gort · townland · Galway
A woman brought her ailing four-year-old daughter to the doctors in Gort who could do nothing for her, then promised to visit Saint Brigit's well on the cliffs, after which the child recovered. The mother also saw the little fish at the well during that visit.
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THE WATER And there is a woman OF THE WELL in Burren now is grate¬ ful to Saint Brigit, for ‘I brought mylittlegirl that was not four years old’ she says ‘to Saint Brigit’s well on the cliffs, whereshewasailing and pining away. I brought her as far as the doctors in Gortand they could do nothing for herandthen Ipromised to go to Saint Brigit’s well, and from the time I made that promise she got better. And Isaw the little fish when I brought her there; and she grew to be as strong a girl as ever went to America. Imade
U
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 2
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Cellach's lament in the hollow oak
near Clonoe · parish · Tyrone
Cellach, a saint and son of a king of Connacht, was captured by enemies and placed in a hollow oak tree overnight, where he composed a lament awaiting his death, naming the Ridge of the son of Dara nearby.
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‘The kite of the Yew Tree of Cluan Eo, it is he will be rough in the struggle; he will take the full of his grey claws; it is not in kindness he will part from me !
‘Little wren of the scanty tail, it is a pity the song you gave ; it is surely for betraying you are come and for the shortening of my life.
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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The Boy and the Birds at Kiltartan
Kiltartan · townland · Galway
A boy in Kiltartan set to guard crops from birds prayed to Saint Colman when exhausted by heat, and the saint called the birds into a barn so the boy could rest without the crop being touched.
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dared not go in or fall asleep, for he was in dread of the farmer beating him. And he prayed to Saint Colman, and the saint came and called the birds into a barn, and they all stopped there through the heat of the day till the little lad got a rest, and never came near the grain or meddled with it at all.
THE LITTLE LAD There was a boy fell IN THE WELL into the blessed well that is near the seven churches at Kilmacduagh, a little lad he was at the time, wear¬ ing a little red petticoat and a little white jacket. And when some of the people of the house went to draw water, they looked down in the well and saw him standing up in the water, and theygothim outand brought him in to the fire and he was nothing the worse. And he said it was a little greyman, that was Saint Colman, came to him in the well and put hishandunderhischin,andkept his head up over the water.
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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The Leaf of Heaven Brought to Kells
Kells · town · Meath
During Snedgus and Mac Riaghta's pilgrimage voyage, a wondrous bird on an island gave them a great leaf, the size of an ox-hide, that would never wither. They were told to place it on Columcille's altar, and it was later brought to Kells.
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by the strangers of this island.’ He put provision into the boat for them then, and they left a blessing and took a blessing with them. After that the wind brought them to an island where there was a great tree, and beautiful birds in it; and on the top of the tree was a bird having a head of gold and wings of silver; and it told them stories of the beginning of the world & it told them of the birth of Christ from Mary Virgin, and of his baptism and his passion and his rising again; and it told news of the judg¬ ment. And then all the birds beat their sides with their wings till blood dropped from them, with thedreadof thesigns of the judg¬ ment, and it is a very precious thing that blood was. And the bird gave to the clerks a leaf of the leaves of that tree, and it is the size of the hideof agreatoxthatleaf was and neither leaf nor stem of that tree withers. And he bade them to put that leaf on Columcille’s altar, and it is to Kells it was brought after¬ wards. It is sweet the music of those birds was, singing psalms & praising the Lord, for they were the birds of the plain of Heaven. Then they bade farewell to the birds, and they went on to a very fearful country where there were men having heads of dogs and
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 3
As the companion tells it
As you pass through Kells, this town holds a wonder from the old voyage of Snedgus and Mac Riaghta. On their pilgrimage they came to an island with a great tree, and at its top a bird with a head of gold and wings of silver told them stories of the beginning of the world, and of the birth of Christ from Mary Virgin, and of his baptism, passion, and rising again. All the birds there beat their sides with their wings till blood dropped from them, with the dread of the signs of the judgment. The bird gave the clerks a leaf from that tree, the size of an ox-hide, and neither leaf nor stem of that tree ever withers. They were bade to put it on Columcille's altar, and it was to Kells it was brought afterwards. Those birds were the birds of the plain of Heaven, singing psalms and praising the Lord.
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Colman Visits a Devoted Sick Man near Oughtmana
Oughtmama · townland · Clare
A man from beyond Corcomruadh who always visited the blessed well above Oughtmana on the saint's feast day fell ill and could not go; Saint Colman came to his bedside instead, saying it was now his turn to visit.
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to go to the blessed well that is above Oughtmana on the name day of the Saint. And at last it happened he was sick in his bed and he could not go. And Saint Colman came to himto the side of the bed andsaid ‘It is often you came to me, and now it is I myself am come to you.’ It is about forty years ago that happened.
AVERY Saint Colman’s well beyond
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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The Lake of Milk in Kildare
Kildare · town · Kildare
When the Seven Bishops visited Brigit at a place she had in the north of Kildare and there was no food, angels bade her milk the cows a third time that day. The milk overflowed all the vessels of Leinster and formed a lake still called the Lake of Milk.
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THE LAKE The Seven Bishops came to OF MILK her in a place she had in the north of Kildare, and she asked her cook Blathnet had she any food, and she said she had not. And Brigit was ashamed, being as she was without food before those holy men, andsheprayedhard to the Lord. Then angels came and bade her to milk the cows for the third time that day. So she milked them her¬ self, and they filled the pails with the milk, and they would have filled all the vessels of the whole of Leinster. And the milk overflowed the vessels till it made a lake that is called the Lake of Milk to this day.
THE THINGS BRI- These were the GIT WISHED FOR wishes of Brigit :
Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 2
As the companion tells it
Up here in Kildare, there's a lake that still carries the name the Lake of Milk. The story goes that the Seven Bishops came to Brigit at a place she had in the north of Kildare. She asked her cook Blathnet had she any food, and Blathnet said she had not. Brigit was ashamed to be without food before those holy men, and she prayed hard to the Lord. Then angels came and bade her milk the cows for the third time that day. She milked them herself, and they filled the pails, and they would have filled all the vessels of the whole of Leinster. The milk overflowed the vessels till it made a lake that is called the Lake of Milk to this day.
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Philip the Apostle's gathering on the hill of Sion
Sion · townland · Kildare
Philip the Apostle told the story of the making of heaven and earth at a great gathering that lasted four seasons under nine hundred canopies upon the hill of Sion, lit by thousands of candles and stones.
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In the old time the people used to be look¬ ing at the moon and at the sun and the rest of the stars, travelling and ever-travellingthrough the day,andattheflowing and ever-flowing of the world’s wellsand rivers, and at the sadness of the earth and the trance and the sleep of it with the coming of win ter, and the rising of the world again with the coming of the summer. But it was all like a head in abagto them or likeliving in adark house, until such time as Philip the Apostle told the whole story of the making of heaven and earth at the great gathering in the east of the world. It is the way that gathering was, it lasted through the four seasons under nine hundred whitegolden-crownedcanopies up¬ on the hill of Sion. And five thousand nine hundred and fifty tower-candles andprecious stones there were kindled andgivingoutlight that there might be no hindrance from any sort of weather. Late now upon Easter Eve there washeard aclearvoicethatwasspeaking
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 6
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Diuran offers silver at the altar of Armagh
near Armagh · town · Armagh
After the voyage's end, Diuran the half-poet took the five half ounces of silver he had taken from a net and laid them on the altar of Ardmacha in thanksgiving for the miracles and wonders God had shown them during their journey.
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And then Maeldune went tohisown district, and Diuran the half-poet took the five half ounces of silver he had taken from the net
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Internet Archive bookofsaintswond0000greg, Chapter 5
This book is in the public domain; how the books' rights are judged. The passages are quoted as the scan has them, spelling and all; a story's place is the gazetteer's best reading of the text and can be wrong.