26 COENISH DEDICATIONS. 



in the accounts of contemporaries. John, of Tynemouth [circa 

 1360), says that he came to Cornwall, where he died, and he 

 represents the current mediaeval tradition. Leland quoting from 

 the legend of S. Piran preserved at Perranzabuloe, says : — 

 "Piran, who is also Pieran and Kyeran in Ireland, was horn in 

 the province of Ossory. His father's name was Domnel, and 

 that of his mother Wingela. He was a disciple of S. Patrick. 

 He came to Britain and died, and was buried in Britain." He 

 is mistaken in the names of the parents, and also in thinking 

 that because an Ossorian, he was born in Ossory. 



Some of the legends that attach to S. Kieran may be added. 

 S. Brendan was his friend, but a young one, as he was born in 

 483. Kieran hearing that Brendan was in bad straits sent to 

 ask him whether he had a supply of milk. Brendan in reply 

 sent him a bowl of water — that was his drink. He had not any 

 milk. Kieran at once sent him one of his cows. " God grant," 

 prayed the younger saint, "that to Kieran may be given a cow 

 in milk unto the end of time." 



The story of the milk is not told like this. In the 10th and 

 11th centuries it was regarded as pointless, unless miraculous, 

 accordingly it was fabled that Brendan had turned the water into 

 milk, whereujDon Kieran had reconverted it into water. 



The incident of Kieran and Grermoe has been already 

 noticed, {see Glermoc). 



One day S. Kieran, of Clonmacnois, and the two Brendans 

 visited the monastery. The steward came to the abbot in 

 dishiay and said, ' ' There is nothing to offer these distinguished 

 guests except some scraps of bacon and water." 



"Then serve up the bacon and the water," said the saint, 

 and when they were brought on the table, the guests assured 

 Kieran that his bacon tasted better than anything they had 

 hitherto eaten, and as to the water, it was as good as wine. But 

 there was a lay brother at the table, and he thrust his platter 

 away angrily, for he was tired of bacon, and had expected 

 something better, when distinguished visitors were present. 

 "Hah!" exclaimed Kieran flaring up, "The time will come 

 when you, son of Comgall, shall eat ass's flesh in Lent, and soon 

 after you will lose your head." 



