448 



tain is not only related in his own acts, but in those of St. Da^dd and 

 St. Cadoc. Eeturning with a company of Irish students to his native 

 country, he landed in Hy-Ceinnselach, now the county of Wexford, 

 where he founded a church. Being desirous to choose, according to the 

 custom of the day, an anmehara, or spiritual director, he crossed over, 

 and consulted St. David ; at whose instance he fixed upon St. Molua, of 

 Clonfertmulloe. 



We next find him at a port in Hy-Ceinnselach, called Ard-ladhrann, 

 where he founded a church; thence he proceeded to theDeise, now Decies, 

 in the county of Waterford, where he founded a church, called Desert 

 ]N"airbre ; here, among other monastic appendages, he erected a mill. 

 After some time, returning to Hy-Ceinnselach, he founded the church 

 of Cluain DichoUa, or Cluain-mor. While here, the territory was 

 invaded by Aedh, son of Ainmire, the monarch of Ireland ; but through 

 the intervention of Moedoc, he was induced to withdraw his troops. 

 Subsequently, when he renewed hostilities, he was met by Brandubh, 

 the king of Leinster, and slain at the battle of Dunbolg, in 598. This 

 Brandubh is said to have been half brother of Moedoc, and his success 

 is attributed to the saint's interference.^^ After this, king Brandubh fell 

 sick, and, having been restored to health, bestowed on St. Moedoc a 

 tract, called Fearna, or Alder-ground," wherein the saint should erect 

 his principal church, and whose cemetery should be the resting-place of 

 himself and his people. On its completion, a synod of the Leinstermen 

 was called together b}^ the king, both of laity and clerics ; and Moedoc 

 having been consecrated their bishop, it was ordained that henceforth 

 the primacy of the Lagenians should be fixed in the see of Moedoc at 

 Eerns. St. David^^ having expressed a wish that Moedoc should come 

 and receive his blessing before he died, the saint once more paid a visit 

 to Britain. Some time after his return, he travelled southwards to the 

 territory of Hy-Conaill-Gabhra, 3^ in Munster; and here he founded a 

 monastery, called Cluain-claidheach.^^ In 605, king Brandubh was 

 slain by Saran, the erenach of Templeshanbo, and was buried at 

 Ferns. St. Moedoc grieved bitterly for him, and cursed the hand that 

 slew him. Among St. Moedoc' s contemporaries and friends, his life 

 mentions St. Columba, St. Munna of Taghmon, and St. Mochua of 

 Lothra. Having founded many churches,^^ and acquired a high re- 

 putation for sanctity, he died on the 31st of January, in the year 625.^' 



32 Seethe tale Boramha Laighean, cited in 0' Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- 

 ters," at the year 694, vol. i., p. 218. 



33 He died after the middle of the sixth century. 



34 Now the baronies of Comiello, in the county of Limerick. 

 See his " Irish Churches," No. 7 infra. 



38 He is the patron saint of the diocese of Ferns, as also of the barony of Lurg, in Fer- 

 managh, and the territory of BreifFne, in the west. In the latter lie was especially 

 claimed by the great families of O'Reilly and O'Rourke. 



3'7 Tliis is according to Tighernach, who has Moedoc Ferna quies. The Annals of Ul- 

 ster, at 624, have Moedoicc Ferna gtrievit. The Annals of Boyle, at 600, have Moedoc 

 Ferna quievit. The "Four Masters" place his death at 624. 



