CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



147 



S. FiNGAB, Martyr. 



Fingar or Griiaire the White was son of an Irish king, called 

 in the Latin legend Clyto. This has been supposed to be a mis- 

 rendering of Olylt, or Ailill Molt king of Connaught in 449, and 

 king of Ireland in 463, who feU in the battle of Ocha in 478. 

 But there is no other ground for this supposition than a guess 

 that Clyto stands for Olylt, and it is more probable — admitting 

 this, that the Olylt or Ailill, who was the father of Fingar, was 

 the son of Mac Dairre of the Hy Bairrche, who with his brothers 

 was expelled their patrimony by the Hy Cinnselachfrom Leinster. 

 When we read in a monastic account that one of the Celtic 

 saints left his country for the love of God, at the head of a swarm 

 of retainers, we may be pretty certain that he was kicked out. 

 In the legend there is much solemn fooling over Clyto and Fingar. 

 According to it Fingar was converted by S. Patrick, and when the 

 apostle appeared before his father to preach the gospel, he alone 

 stood up. This is an appropriation from the legends of S. Ere 

 and his half-brother, S. Fiacc. Clyto was so angry that he ordered 

 Fingar to leave the island. Several young men who believed 

 joined him, as did also his sister Ciara, or Piala. They took ship 

 and sailed for Brittany, where they were well received by the 

 reigning prince, whose name is not recorded. 



The place of landing is uncertain. S. Fingar is commemo- 

 rated at both Ploudiri in Finisterre and at Pluvinger in Morbihan, 

 but the latter place named indicates that it was there that he con- 

 stituted his plou or tribe. 



The chief of the land gave his consent to his settling there, 

 and Fingar diverted himself with hunting. One day he was in 

 pursuit of a stag, when he was separated from his companions. 

 He killed and cut up the stag and placed the carcase on his horse. 

 As he was covered with blood, he sought a fountain where he 

 could wash, but finding none, he drove the point of his spear into 

 the ground, whereupon a spring gushed forth. Here he cleansed 

 his hands and garments. In the process he saw his own face 

 refiected in the water, and fell into great admiration of his per- 

 sonal beauty. "I really," said he, "am too good-looking a fellow 

 for this world," and he forthwith resolved to devote his beauty to 

 religion ; and he set to work to erect a hut of branches near the 

 spring, where he might begin his life of mortification and solitude. 



