XL.  HOW CIARAN RECOVERED HIS GOSPEL

33.  It happened that the gospel of Ciaran fell into the lake from the hand of a heedless brother, and it was a long time in the lake.  Upon a day in the time of summer the kine went into the water, so that the strap of the gospel attached itself to the hoof of one of the kine, and she brought it dry [from below][33] to haven.  Thence is “Port of the Gospel” in Inis Aingin.  When the gospel was opened it was in this wise—­white and clean, dry, without the loss of a letter, through the grace of Ciaran.

XLI.  HOW CIARAN WENT FROM INIS AINGIN TO CLONMACNOIS

34.  A certain man of Corco Baiscind came to Ciaran, Donnan his name, brother’s son of Senan mac Gerginn; and he had the same mother as Senan.  “What wouldest thou, or wherefore comest thou?” said Ciaran.  “Seeking a place wherein to abide and to serve God.”  Ciaran left Inis Aingin to Donnan.  Donnan said, “Since thou hast a charity towards me, leave me somewhat of thy tokens and of thy treasures.”  Ciaran leaves him his gospel—­that which was recovered from the lake—­and his bell, and his bearer Mael Odran.  Three years and three months was Ciaran in Inis Aingin.

He came thereafter to Ard Manntain, close to the Shannon.  When he saw the beauty of that place, thus he spake:  “If we dwell here,” said he, “we shall have much of the wealth of the world, and there shall be few souls going to heaven from hence.”

Then he came to this town; Ard Tiprat was its name at that time.  “Here will we stay, for there shall be many souls going to heaven from hence, and God and man shall visit this place for ever.”

On the eighth of the calends of February Ciaran settled in Cluain, the tenth day of the moon, a Saturday.  Eight men went with him—­Ciaran, Oengus, Mac Nisse, Cael-Cholum, Mo-Beoc,[34] Mo-Lioc, Lugna maccu Moga Laim, Colman mac Nuin.  Wondrous was that monastery, set up by Ciaran in Cluain with his eight men after coming from the waves of the water, as Noah son of Lamech took the world with his eight after coming from the waves of the Flood.

XLII.  THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

35.  Then Ciaran set up the first post in Cluain, and Diarmait mac Cerrbheil along with him.  Said Ciaran to Diarmait when they were planting the post, “Warrior, suffer my hand to be over thy hand, and thou shalt be over the men of Ireland in high-kingship.”  “I permit it,” said Diarmait, “only give me a token thereof.”  “I will,” said Ciaran; “though thou art solitary to-day, thou shalt be King of Ireland this time to-morrow.”  That was verified; for Tuathal Moel-garb King of Ireland was slain that night, and Diarmait took the kingship of Ireland on the morrow, and he bestowed a hundred churches on Ciaran.  Wherefore to prove that, it was said—­