COENISfi IDEDICATIONS. 25 



Happily so much, rain had fallen on Slieve Bloom that the 

 river was in flood, and this interfered with military operations. 

 Kieran took advantage of the occasion to pass over the stream in 

 his coracle, and to negotiate a suspension of hostilities. This 

 must have taken place shortly after 489, but we cannot determine 

 the exact date. 



Lugaidh had not embraced Christianity, and he favoured 

 the reaction which was setting in against the new faith. "When 

 he died by a flash of lightning, it was boldly asserted by the 

 Saints that this was due to the vengeance of Heaven for his 

 obstinate paganism. 



He was succeeded by the turbulent Murtogh Mac Earca, 

 who had been mixed up in internecine war in Ireland ever since 

 his return from Britain in 488. 



As Saighir grew in importance, and its daughter establish- 

 ments increased, it became, inevitably, a centre of resort for all 

 the disaffected and discontented. Members of the Hy Duach 

 and the Hy Conaill took refuge within its territory and enjoyed 

 the privileges of sanctuary. Kieran had, moreover, extended 

 his authority north over the Hy Fiachach, and the king of 

 Munster and the intrusive king of Ossory perceived that Saighir 

 was a danger to them. This, we can hardly doubt, was the 

 moving cause of Kieran abandoning his foundation and quitting 

 Ireland. Carthagh had returned from his rambles and it might 

 be hoped had mended his morals ; and Liadhain, the younger, 

 had grown up, and was capable of governing a convent. 

 Although not told that Kieran received so much as a hint to quit, 

 and make room for Carthagh, we cannot hesitate in admitting 

 that it was so. 



When he left Ireland, he took his pupil Bruinech with him, 

 as also, (if I am right in my identification of Ladoca and Kew 

 with Cuach), his faithful fostermother, to organise the female 

 education in Cornwall, where already many Ossorian families 

 were settled. A companion, Medhran also accompanied Kieran, 

 and Medhran' s brother is probably the Saint of Lanhydrock, 

 [see Madron and Hydroc). 



With one exception, the Irish hagiographers have nothing 

 to tell lis about the close of the life of S. Kieran. The lives 

 terminate abruptly, and his name does not occur, after the time. 



