Macalisthu — The Mistory and Antiquities of tnis Cealtra. 95 



by no means the first to seek a retreat on this island. Colgan, who had 

 access to several lives of Caimin, says that he began to be distinguished by 

 his virtues and his miracles about the year 640. JSTow, a certain Stellan of 

 Inis Cealtra was already in existence at this time, and he predeceased Caimin 

 by three years. But Cohim of Inis Cealtra was earlier still, for he died in 

 the xJestilence known as the Crom-Chonaill in the year 551 (548, Four 

 Masters ; 542, Annals of Innisfallen). Even he was not the first, for, as we 

 shall see presently, he dispossessed a yet earlier occupant. 



Moreover, we cannot evade the difficulty by supposing Caimin's 

 predecessors to have been solitary hermits, thus preserving the truth of 

 the story that Caimin first founded the community. For Colum was 

 accompanied by a large number of followers : and a later abbot is described 

 by the Four Masters (a.d. 1009) as comharha or successor of Cohcm, not of 

 Caimin. 



The first historical document to which we shall allude in connexion with 

 these obscure personalities is the Acta Sandi Colicmhae de Tyre da Glass in 

 the Codex Salmaticensis. The Latin original of the paragraphs which specially 

 interest us will be found at col. 453 of the Marquis of Bute's sumptuous 

 edition of the Codex. We give here a translation : — 



"15. After this, (^olum went out into the territory of Connacht, and 

 there founded a place named Tir Snama, in the lands of Ui Maine ; and the 

 number of his followers was 740. He also held other places about the lake 

 called Loch Dercderc [Loch Derg], namely ' Aurraith Tophiloc,' and he dwelt 

 in ' Toim Bonden.' An angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying to him, 

 'Arise, and go to Inis Cealtra.' He found there a certain old man by name 

 Maccriche. To him the angel said, ' Leave this island to holy Colum, and go 

 to another place, and there be a monk.' And so he did. 



" 16. Now in the day of the arrival of holy Colum at Inis Cealtra, the 

 Lord made for him a supper. For there was in that island a tree by name 

 tilia,' whose juice distilling filled a vessel ; and that liquor had the flavour of 

 honey and the headiness of wine. And with that best of liquors were holy 

 Colum and his followers filled (saturati). 



" 17. ISTow Colum lived in Inis Cealtra for a long time, and the birds of 

 heaven were wont to have friendly intercourse with him, and to sport, 

 fluttering about his face. Then Nadcuimius [Nadchaoimhe], his pupil, said 

 to him : ' Master, wherefore do the birds not flee from thee, whereas us they 

 avoid ?' To him Colum answered, ' Wherefore should birds flee from a bird ? 

 For as a bird flieth, my mind never ceaseth to fly up to heaven.' 



' A glossator has inserted the words " scilicet leman." 



[15*] 



