About the same time there came messengers from the king of Leinster to the king of Munster praying the latter, by virtue of league and alliance, to come to his assistance as Leath-Chuinn and the north were advancing in great force to ravage Leinster.  This is how Failbhe was situated at the time:  he had lost one of his eyes and he was ashamed to go half-blind into a strange territory.  As soon as Mochuda realised the extent of the king’s diffidence he blessed the eye making on it the sign of the cross and it was immediately healed in the presence of all.  The king and Mochuda took leave of one another and went each his own way.  The king and his hosting went to the aid of Leinster in the latter’s necessity.

Mochuda journeyed on through Muscraige Oirthir the chief of which territory received him with great honour.  Aodhan was the chief’s name and he bestowed his homestead called Isiol [Athassel] on Mochuda, who blessed him and his seed.  Next he came into the Decies.  He travelled through Magh Femin where he broke his journey at Ard Breanuinn [Ardfinnan] on the bank of the Suir.  There came to him here Maolochtair, king of the Decies, and the other nobles [or one noble, Suibhne] of his nation who were at variance with him concerning land.  Mochuda by the grace of God made peace amongst them, and dismissed them in amity.  Maolochtair gave that land to Mochuda who marked out a cell there where is now the city of Ardfinnnan, attached to which is a large parish subject to Mochuda and bearing his name.  The wife of Maolochtair, scil:—­Cuciniceas, daughter of Failbhe Flann, king of Munster, had a vision, viz.:—­a flock of very beautiful birds flying above her head and one bird was more beautiful and larger than the rest.  The other birds followed this one and it nestled in the king’s bosom.  Soon as she awoke she related the vision to the king; the king observed:  “Woman you have dreamed a good dream and soon it will be realised; the flock of birds you have seen is Mochuda with his monks coming from Rahen and the most distinguished bird is Mochuda himself.  And the settling in my bosom means that the place of his resurrection will be in my territory.  Many blessings will come to us and our territory through him.”  That vision of the faithful woman was realised as the faithful king had explained it.

Subsequently Mochuda came to Maolochtair requesting from him a place where he might erect a monastery.  Maolochtair replied:  “So large a community cannot dwell in such a narrow place.”  Mochuda said:  “God, who sent us to you, will show you a place suited to us.”  The king answered:—­“I have a place, convenient for fish and wood, beside Slieve Gua on the bank of the Nemh but I fear it will not be large enough.”  Mochuda said:—­“It will not be narrow; there is a river and fish and that it shall be the place of our resurrection.”  Thereupon, in the presence of many witnesses, the king handed over the land, scil.:—­ Lismore,