Plummer, Bethada Náem nÉrenn I (1922) — translated from the Irish, with the Latin preface.

¹ “Ego sitienti dabo de fonte aquae uitae gratis” (Rev. 21:6) — that is, to him that thirsts for the truth I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life. “Qui uicerit possidebit hec” (Rev. 21:7) — that is, to him that overcomes shall these things be given. “Et ero illi Deus” (Rev. 21:7) — and I shall be a God to him. “Et ille erit mihi filius” (Rev. 21:7) — and he shall be a son to me. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord of all creatures, the third person of the Godhead, the one who brings peace between the people of heaven and earth, the healer of the human race — it is He that spoke these words to teach the great goodness He bestows on His saints and His righteous, and on the folk that give Him great love in the church here below.

² Now John, son of Zebedee, heir of virginity, one of the twelve apostles whom Jesus chose into His apostleship, the fourth man who wrote the divine gospel, he that fixed the fountain of true wisdom on the Saviour’s breast — it is he that wrote these words, that they might remain in memory with the church to the end of the world, saying here: “Ego sitienti dabo de fonte aque uitae gratis” — to him that thirsts for the truth I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life.

³ The tying-together of these words that John has, moreover, is from what Jesus said before: “Ego sum alpha et ó, Ego initium et finis” (Rev. 1:8, 21:6) — that is, I am the beginning of all creatures and I am the ending. So that it is upon his Master’s saying that Jesus [John] (follows): “Ego sitienti dabo de fonte aquae uitae gratis” — to him that thirsts for the truth I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life. “Qui uicerit possidebit hec” — to him that overcomes shall these things be given. “Et ero illi Deus” — and I shall be a God to him. “Et ille erit mihi filius” — and he shall be a son to me.

⁴ It is from this fountain, then — from Jesus Christ, who is the fountain of true wisdom — that every saint has been filled with the grace of wisdom and prophecy, with miracles and marvels, with divine powers, with the driving out of demons and unbelievers, and the crushing of persecution and idol-worship, and [the destruction] of the son of cursing; as that one was filled for whom there is festival and commemoration at the occurrence of this season and time — the blazing flame, and the shining lamp, and the radiant beam, and the precious stone, and the fruitful branch with noble offspring — Berach son of Nemhnall, son of Nemargen, son of Fintan, son of Mál, son of Dobtha, son of Aengus, son of Erc Derg, son of Brían, son of Eochaid Muighmedhóin. Finmaith daughter of Carthach — sister to Cruimther Fráech — was Berach’s mother. And now there shall be told somewhat of the miracles and marvels of Saint Berach.

⁵ Great indeed was the honour and reverence God gave Saint Berach, that it was revealed through the prophecy Patrick uttered when preaching to the Connachtmen, and at their baptising. Now Patrick came to the house of Dobtha son of Aengus. Then Dobtha made great welcome to Patrick; and his wife and children did the same to him.

⁶ After that his wife told Dobtha to go hunting. Then Dobtha went with his sons hunting. Then the Lord bestowed on Dobtha at once three wild oxen and a wild pig, and on his sons. And they bore them to their house, to the place where Patrick was with his clerics.

⁷ Then the day declined with them, and the darknesses of night came, and no lamp or candle was found wherewith to trim the hunt, or to serve it in the court or house of Dobtha. Dobtha and his people were very sorrowful at that. Then Patrick did the great miracle: the sun shone back over the western ridge, and lit the men of Ireland, and Dobtha with his people made ready the meal for the clerics, and the clerics and Dobtha with his people ate the meal; and they gave thanks to God, and greatly praised the Lord, both cleric and layman; therefore Achadh n-Gréine (the Field of the Sun) is still named from that.

⁸ Now while the cauldron was on the fire, and Dobtha’s sons about the fire, Dobtha arose to kindle the fire, and put a flame on it at once. Then Patrick said to Dobtha: “There shall be no unity of headship of your own seed over your race till doom come.” “Shame on you, O cleric,” said Binén, “for it was well done of Dobtha what he did — in obedience to us.” Then Patrick said that there should be a head over them, and that every noble warrior of his seed should be a prince, so that for the number of good warriors they would not be under one head.

⁹ On the next day Patrick made the preaching of the catholic faith from the conception of the Son of God to His resurrection to Dobtha. When the preaching was finished Dobtha said to Patrick: “Let me be baptised at once, and let my people be baptised.” “Not so,” said Patrick. “How then?” said Dobtha. “A son who shall be born of the fourth man of the fruit of your loins at the end of sixty years,” said Patrick, “it is he that shall baptise you, and Ireland and Alba shall be full of his fame and his miracles and marvels; he shall be a venomous serpent, a terrible dreadful burning bolt, a wave of doom to slay, and to burn, and to drown the persecutors; he shall be humble, lowly, gentle, forgiving, bounteous to the people of the Lord; he shall be a chosen vessel of gold, full of wisdom and reverence and virginity and all virtues and good deeds.”

¹⁰ Though Dobtha was glad of that prophecy, yet he was sad, and made a great grumbling to Patrick. Said Patrick to Dobtha: “There shall be grumbling for ever after you.” Said Binén to Patrick: “It was in goodwill to you Dobtha made the grumbling.” Said Patrick: “If a warrior helps the grumbling, victory of valour on him; if a woman, prosperity of fortune(?); if a cleric, victory of learning and piety. And moreover Dobtha shall not go from the world until the promised child baptise him.” And Dobtha was very glad of that; and it is from that grumbling the grumbling of Berach’s people is today; and it is becoming to them.

¹¹ Then Patrick left many good legacies to Dobtha and his children: he left to them in their territories victory of generosity and prosperity on their women, and victory of valour on their warriors, victory of generosity and piety and learning on their clerics, victory of near daughters and near sons and fosterlings with them, provided they did the promised child’s will. And he left that there would always be ordained warriors and clerics of his seed.

¹² Then Dobtha said to Patrick: “What monks’ fee do you leave to this child?” Said Patrick: “A tree from every fire on his hearth; and a tree from my fire on his hearth” — that is, Ída mac Aengusa, for it was Patrick that baptised Ída. And he left the beginning of Berach’s monks’ fee. Then Patrick ordained that it should be in the Meadow on the lake’s brink that the promised child should build his city. And he ordained that his sanctuary should be what lies between the bog and the lake — the plain with its meadows and wooded bogs. And he left that there would be prosperity in that city, and that there would be a living fire in it to the end of the world; and that it would be the last of the three fires that would be in the west of the world.

¹³ Then Dobtha said: “The place is hard and rough.” Said Patrick: “What is hard with men is easy with God, and his labour shall be with the child; and His united saints shall be defending his city. And his city shall be a head of many cities. And whatever land goes against this child, heaven and earth shall be upon it, and on its children and its posterity, unless it make quick repentance.”

¹⁴ Patrick then bade farewell to Dobtha, and left a blessing on him, and on his children, and on his posterity, and on his land, and on his ground, and on the promised child before all, and alike on all, and after all. And he went on his preaching circuit.

¹⁵ Now Dobtha spent his life in an excellent life to the end of sixty years. Of this Dobtha a son was Mál; of him a son was Fintan; of him a son was Nemhnall. It was that Nemhnall, moreover, to whom Finmaith daughter of Carthach was given as wife. It is she that bore to Nemhnall the son Patrick had prophesied sixty years after the prophecy — Saint Berach.

¹⁶ It was at his mother’s brother — Cruimther Fráech mac Carthaigh — in Gort na Luachra near Cluain Conmaicne, that Saint Berach was born. And there is a pillar-stone and cross in that place; and there is the flagstone on which Saint Berach was born. And Cruimther Fráech afterwards gave that land to Berach. Now it was Cruimther Fráech who baptised Saint Berach, and it was he who reared him till it was time for him to learn. Now Berach’s baptismal name was Fintan, as the sage said in the verse:

¹⁷ Fintan, the victorious man of sharpness(?),
Though proud in Cluain Cairpthe,
He suffered, et reliqua.

¹⁸ Now Berach was the name he got through the sharpness of his point(?) and through the keenness of his miracles and marvels.

¹⁹ Now Finmaith bore a daughter to Nemhnall — a noble venerable holy virgin, Midabair; and it is she who is blessed at Buimlinn. Now Berach was the only person in the world dearer to Cruimther Fráech than anyone who received humanity, save Christ alone. Therefore Cruimther Fráech gave the three blessings Colum Cille gave him to his near sons, and to his sisters’ sons, and to his fosterlings, for the sake of Berach.

²⁰ Now when Saint Berach was seven years old, he was taken to Daigh mac Cairill to learn, and he learned the wisdom of the Son of God, till he was a sage; and God’s grace was upon his increase in his company in miracles and marvels every day. And he used to do obedience to his tutor — to Daigh mac Cairill.

²¹ At one time noble guests came to Daigh, and neither the monks nor the serving-folk were in the church at that time, and there was none else but Daigh and Berach alone. And Berach did obedience and service to the guests, and there was no food in the church save two measures of wheat-grain. And Berach was told to go to the mill in Magh Muirtheimhne to grind those two measures. And Berach went with that obedience to the mill.

²² Then the Lord did great miracles and marvels through Berach: a certain woman was at the mill with her lad, and he was the son of a man of good family — of the Conailli Muirtheimhne — and his father owned the mill and the land it stood on. And the woman had a purple(?) bag under the mill; and Berach said to the woman: “Stop the mill, and take your grain to you, till this little be ground; for we have noble guests at our minster, and they without food.”

²³ Not only did the woman not allow Berach to grind his grain, but she rebuked him greatly and rebuked the elder from whom he came. Berach arose quickly and put his grain into the mill’s mouth, and the woman and Berach were turning the mill together, for neither let it to the other. Then the divine powers separated the wheat’s meal on one side of the mill and the oats’ meal on the other side.

²⁴ And then the lad fell into the mill’s pool and was drowned. And a sudden swoon came to the woman so that her soul and body parted. Other folk who were at the mill arose, and the woman’s people came and the lad’s, and they wished to kill Berach. Then their feet and hands dried up and withered, and their strength was taken from them, so that none of them was bolder than a girl.

²⁵ Then those tidings reached the lad’s father, and he came with his suppliant(?) to Berach. He knelt at his feet and wept grievously. Berach healed his people and revived the lad and the woman. Then the boy’s father offered his mill to Berach, and the steading with it. So that is Berach’s Ráen in Magh Muirtheimhne, and Muilend Eilend. And God’s name and Saint Berach’s were magnified by those miracles and marvels.

²⁶ Then Berach went to Inis Cáoin with his ground grain. And the guests and the monks and the poor were satisfied. And Daigh was shown the miracles and marvels Berach had done. Then Daigh said to Berach: “O son, you will not be fostered here henceforth because of the number of your miracles and wonders; and go to another road.” Then Daigh gave the short crozier to Berach, and gave the little bell that was left of the hundred and forty-seven relics; and Daigh left the grace of all those relics on the little bell — and that is Berach’s Bell today in Glendalough. Then Daigh gave a great blessing to Berach and sent him to Caoimhghin.

²⁷ Then Berach went over Magh Muirtheimhne into the district of Ross, over the Boyne in Brega. Then a great feast was made by the king of Brega for the king of Tara. Now Berach happened to reach the stead where the feast was, and went to the banqueting-hall. Fifty vats were on the spouts in the banqueting-hall. Berach asked a drink from the ale-steward, and it was not given him. Then Berach said: “The feast will be no less though drink be given to a true man of the Lord’s people.”

²⁸ He went on his way, and immediately the king of Tara came to the feast. Then at once the king said: “Let the ale be tested for us.” He went to the vats’ house, and not a single drink for the king was found in the fifty vats, and no trace of the ale was found in any vat, or on the floor, or on a vessel inside; and that was told the king. And the king asked who had caused it, and the ale-steward said he knew not, “save that a single poor scholar with a little bell and crozier came to us into the house and asked a drink in the Lord’s name, and it was not given him, and he went away sorrowful.”

²⁹ The king said: “It is he who spoiled the feast. Let the horses be taken and let him be followed swiftly, wherever he be found; and let no force be done to him, but let the Lord’s name be invoked on him, and he will come back”; and it was done so, and Berach came back, and the king knelt to Berach and gave him his submission(?); and Berach went to the banqueting-hall and blessed the vats, and made the sign of the cross with the bell and the crozier over the vats, and they were full at once of excellent ale. God’s name and Saint Berach’s were magnified by that miracle and wonder.

³⁰ Then the king offered the steading with its district and its land to the Lord and to Berach. Therefore it is Díseart Berach in Brega; and he gave his own royal clothing and the clothing of every king of Ireland after him for ever every third year, and a scruple of every church from Clann Cholmáin every third year henceforth for ever.

³¹ Then Berach went into Leinster to Glenn dá Lacha, and went into the guest-house, and his service was done there. At that time the cook who was with Caoimhghin was dead. And Caoimhghin was sad at that, for he knew not who was fittest for the monks’ table. Till the angel said to him to put it in the guests’ hand every night to prepare it, till God should send one fit for it. And it was done so by Caoimhghin, and that night it was brought to Berach, and Berach shared the meal between two, and prepared its half that night, and it was much better for the monks that night than every night in the year.

³² Then the night next the monks’ meal was brought to Berach to prepare. Then Berach said to the servant: “Here is half the meal from last night prepared for the monks, and take that with you.” And he did so. And though the first serving was good, the last night was much better.

³³ On the next day Saint Berach was taken to Caoimhghin. Caoimhghin welcomed Berach and asked him whether he would like to be over the monks’ table. And Berach said he would do whatever Caoimhghin ordered him. And he took to being over the monks’ table. And Caoimhghin greatly praised the Lord for the prosperity He put on the monks’ table through Berach’s grace. Therefore Caoimhghin said:

³⁴ Better is every meal well-judged
when it comes to eating;
better the increase of plenty
that wins ever-giving.

³⁵ Now at that time there were many legions of demons in Glenn dá Lacha battling against Caoimhghin and his monks; and they used to put trembling and fear on the weak folk, and did them harm, and put diseases and many sicknesses in the glen, and they could not be driven out until Berach came. Then Berach went round the city and struck his bell and sang psalms of cursing on the demons, and drove them out of the glen. Therefore the poet sang:

³⁶ Berach’s little bell — lasting the treasure —
makes war against the crooked hundred;
it is heard as far as Ferns of the hundreds;
it drives demons from its holy treasure.

³⁷ And for that reason Berach’s Bell is carried every day round Glenn dá Lacha, and there shall be no demon’s strength, or plague, or vengeance in it while Berach’s Bell is in it. God’s name and Berach’s were magnified by that miracle.

³⁸ Now Caoimhghin had a fosterling — Fáolán mac Colmain, son of the king of Leinster; and the lad was lamenting to the cleric — to Caoimhghin — asking for milk; and Caoimhghin found it hard. And while he was saying it, Berach blessed the mountain and said: “It is permitted to the hind with her calf that is on the mountain to come here”; and the hind came at once with her calf after her; and it is she that was milked every day for Fáolán.

³⁹ Now one day the wild hound came and killed the hind’s calf and ate it; and the hind gave not her milk without her calf. Caoimhghin was sad at that. Then Berach blessed the mountain and said: “It is permitted to the animal that did the disobedience to do obedience.” Then the wolf came and sat on his hindquarters in the hind’s presence, and the hind licked the wolf and gave him her milk; and the wolf used to come every hour till the hind was milked on him.

⁴⁰ At one time Fáolán was in the refectory asking Caoimhghin for butter. Caoimhghin found that hard, and spoke with Berach. Berach blessed the rock that is near the city on the mountain top, and it shed much butter through it, and it was given to Fáolán; and butter is still found in every crevice on the rock’s top, and shall be found till doom, in token of those great miracles.

⁴¹ At one time Berach and Fáolán passed a beautiful willow in Glenn dá Lacha. And Fáolán began to ask for an apple to be brought from the willow to him. “God is able even for that,” said Berach; and Berach blessed the willow, till it was full-laden with apples, and some of those apples were given to Fáolán. And whenever fruit is on every fruit-tree, it is full-laden still, and shall be till doom, in token of those great miracles.

⁴² Now when Caineach — Fáolán’s foster-mother — heard that Fáolán was an excellent boy, envy and jealousy seized her against him; for she feared that the kingship would be taken from her own children by Fáolán. She came with her powerful women to Glenn dá Lacha, to work sorcery and witchcraft and heathendom and devilish arts on the lad, to destroy him.

⁴³ And an angel revealed that to Caoimhghin, and Caoimhghin told Berach to go forbid those demonic powers; and Berach went at that. And he saw Caineach on the mountain-top worshipping devils and doing sorcery. And Berach knelt and prayed, and said to Caineach and her women: “You have leave to go under the earth.” The earth swallowed Caineach with her women at once. Therefore Laithrech Caineoch is named in Glenn dá Lacha. So that it is into the privy of the city’s hounds(?) henceforth for ever.

⁴⁴ Then Berach came to where Caoimhghin was. Caoimhghin asked how it had gone with Caineach. Then Berach said to Caoimhghin:

⁴⁵ you have put Caineach,
O noble cleric of faith,
with her female band
down under the flowing earth.

⁴⁶ So thus Fáolán was saved, and Caineach was crushed through God’s grace, and Berach’s and Caoimhghin’s.

⁴⁷ One night the monks were in the refectory asking for hot water. Berach put every monk’s stone on the fire to make the water. And he put two stones too many. Caoimhghin asked the reason for the stones. Berach said: “There are two monks yet to come for the meal-reckoning here, and they will need those two stones to heat water for them.” And the hot water was made, and each monk’s stone was put in the water.

⁴⁸ And those two stones were on the fire burning. Caoimhghin said: “Let the stones be taken out,” and Berach did not bring them. Caoimhghin said again to take the stones from the fire. And Berach brought them not. And Caoimhghin said the same the third time. Then two monks came from distant lands to Caoimhghin’s place; and their service was done, and the hot water was brought to them, and the two stones were given them in it. And Caoimhghin greatly admired Berach for that.

⁴⁹ Many indeed are the tales and accounts of what Berach did of miracles and marvels in Glenn dá Lacha. Seven years he was in obedience to Caoimhghin. Caoimhghin went with Berach to Bishop Etcén. And Bishop Etcén gave orders to Berach, and they made union and compact there — Bishop Etcén and Berach.

⁵⁰ Then Caoimhghin and Berach went to Glenn dá Lacha. And whenever Berach intended to go to his land to fulfil Patrick’s word, Caoimhghin with his monks would detain him. Till an angel came to Caoimhghin one night and said: “It is time for Berach to go to his land, to fulfil Patrick’s word.” And Caoimhghin gave Berach leave to go to his land, and then they made their great union — Berach and Caoimhghin. And then Caoimhghin said the verse:

⁵¹ Berach’s monks — they are welcome,
both their young and their old;
though they come to me — men, women, children —
they shall not go to heaven till they visit(?) him(?).

⁵² Berach left good blessings in Glenn dá Lacha: he left victory of learning and piety in it; he left that there should be neither plague nor vengeance in it while his own bell was in it (and he left the honour of a plough-team man for the man of the house in it) provided he wash his hands from the Casán. Therefore the poet said:

⁵³ Berach the sweet-voiced left
in the glen of monks without doubt
the honour of a stately noble man
for the man who goes into the holy glen;

⁵⁴ though he be a fool, though a fool(?), though a jester,
till the bruised mighty doom come,
he shall not be without much honour,
provided he wash from the Casán.

⁵⁵ Then Caoimhghin put his chariot under Berach’s books, and blessed the mountain and gave the wild ox of it to carry the chariot. And Caoimhghin said that whatever stead the ox lay down under the chariot, there Berach should build his city. And he said that whatever want should come, he himself would be with Berach enduring it. And he gave him a great blessing.

⁵⁶ Then Berach went to his land, and Máel Moltach with him as gillie — of the Ciannachta was he by race. And the wild ox under the chariot carrying the books. And the ox lay not under the chariot until it reached the place Patrick had prophesied. And the ox lay there. And Berach said to Máel Mothlach: “Here it is ordained for us to stay. Arise and search the meadow.” So Máel Mothlach went at that and searched the meadow.

⁵⁷ That day a great slaughter befell there — two royal heirs made a battle in it that day — Donnchadh of Tara, and Tíopraite mac Taidhg of Cruachan; and both of them fell on the floor of the fort there, with a great slaughter about them. Tiopraite’s grace(?) was slain(?); and Donnchadh had a wound and could not rise from the battlefield. Now when Máel Mothlach saw the slaughter, great fear seized him. And he went quickly to where Berach was. Berach asked: “What manner of meadow is this meadow?” “It is no good meadow indeed,” said Máel Mothlach, “but a meadow of bodies all.” “That shall be its name henceforth,” said Berach, “Cluain Coirpthe (the Meadow of Bodies).” And he told the meadow’s tidings from then on; but Cluain mac Lilcon was its name till then.

⁵⁸ Then Berach went to the battlefield and revived all who had been slain in the battle. And he healed Donnchadh; therefore the poet said:

⁵⁹ Donnchadh and Tiopraite,
with their heavy host of two,
they fell in their blood
on the very floor of the fort.

⁶⁰ Every cloak pierced, every red tunic,
every wound after being struck,
save the corslet of the apostles(?)
that was on his back.

⁶¹ The host of pure brightness knelt…
[gap in exemplar]
save the corslet of the apostles
that was on his back.

⁶² Then Tiopraite gave the monks’ fee of his living and his dead, and the monks’ fee of his seed and progeny to Berach for ever, and committed his body and soul to his protection, and gave it in the time of doom and after doom. And he told Berach the great pain he had seen in hell, and thanked God for freeing him from it; and said that none had come into Ireland after Patrick who was more wonderful or humbler than Berach; and said: “He who gives names and gives(?) back to bodies again to life — woe to him who shall earn his anger, for heaven and earth shall come upon him, and on his seed and progeny for ever and after doom, unless he make fervent repentance.” And they greatly praised the Lord then — Berach with his clerics, and Donnchadh and Tiopraite with their great hosts. And Donnchadh and Tiopraite parted then, and each went to his land; and though their meeting had been greedy, their parting was united through the Lord’s powers and through Berach’s miracles.

⁶³ Thereafter Cruimther Fráech and Daigh mac Cairill came to Berach, and consecrated the city and built it. And they said that whoever of them persecuted any, the three of them would be enemies to him, and the Lord and the people of heaven. Then Cruimther Fráech said: “This shall be the west of the meadow, and my church shall be its east.” And those holy elders left a blessing with Berach, and each went to his own church.

⁶⁴ Then Berach went to where Dobtha was in his special old age. He preached to him and his children and his other race, and baptised Dobtha with his children and posterity, both men and women. And then the prophecy Patrick had prophesied to Dobtha was fulfilled. Then Berach went to his city.

⁶⁵ At that time Diarmait the poet and his seven brothers lived at Ráthonn — Diarmait, Tromra, Belech, Colum Derg, Cruinnicén, Brandub and Dubhán the cleric; of the Ciarraige of Connacht Luachra they were by race. Now Diarmait was a comely man, and chief-poet and high-master of druidry… at Aed’s death(?), the slaying of Aed mac Eachach Tírmcarna who was king of Connacht at that time. And it was he who gave Ráthonn to Diarmait in reward of the praise he made him.

⁶⁶ And Berach told Diarmait to leave the land Patrick had bequeathed to him. And Diarmait did not leave the land. Now Berach got much trouble in contending for that land from the Lord’s people, and from the sons of the church who would be after him in his city serving God. Then Berach and Diarmait went to the king of Connacht — Aed mac Eachach — to give judgement for them. And Diarmait said to Aed that if it were to Berach he gave the land, he would be cursed, so that three boils would rise on his face, and there would be shame and blemish and disgrace on it. Now Aed gave them no judgement, for he feared Diarmait’s lampooning him, and he feared Berach for the number of his miracles and marvels.

⁶⁷ And Berach and Diarmait searched Ireland (thrice), and found none in Ireland to judge for them, for the same reasons. “Let us go to Alba,” said Diarmait. “Let us go,” said Berach. So they went to Alba, to Aedán mac Gabráin, king of Alba, to give judgement for them.

⁶⁸ Now a great feast was with Aedán and the nobles of Alba at that time, and a great band of boys was playing on the green of the fort. Now Diarmait had a great covering of clothing about him, and he had the look of a good man. But Berach was occupied with clothing his soul, and not clothing his body, and was shabby. And Diarmait went quickly in front of the cleric and said to the boys: “There is the liar; get dung and sticks and stones for him.” And the boys took that in hand and made a rush at the cleric. The cleric looked at them. “You have leave,” said the cleric, “though you could not what you intend.” Their feet stuck to the ground and their hands stuck to the blocks and trees they were holding. And shape and form changed on them, and God held them in that way.

⁶⁹ And Berach and Diarmait went then to the door of the fort, and great cold seized them in the doorway. And there were two heaps or two great piles of snow at the fort’s door. Said Diarmait: “O liar, if you be a true cleric, make a fire of those two piles of snow, that we may warm ourselves by it.” “You have leave,” said Berach, “to make a fire of them. Go and blow them.” Diarmait went and blew the two piles of snow, and they blazed like dry wood, and Diarmait and Berach warmed themselves by them.

⁷⁰ Then those miracles and marvels were told to Aedán; and Aedán said to his druids: “Find out who did these miracles and marvels.” And the druids went on their rowan hurdles(?), and new ale was given them. Four was the number of the druids, and the first of them said:

⁷¹ Berach with lasting victories —
a golden glow from his assembly(?);
Ireland in its royal graces,
in its apportioned glorious share.

⁷² The second of them said:

⁷³ There is no saint brighter —
nor holy virgins wondrous —
who could work equal wonders
to ever-victorious Berach
from fair Badhgna.

⁷⁴ Then the third druid said:

⁷⁵ Berach mac Nemhnaill,
son of strong Nemargen —
not like an earthly race,
heavy, strong, violent, liberal,
against whom his anger tells.

⁷⁶ And the fourth druid said:

⁷⁷ The swifter it is declared,
the quicker the turning of ill —
the son of Aengus, son of Erc the Red.

⁷⁸ And the druids said to Aedán: “A noble venerable saint has come from the lands of Ireland — from Badhgna in the districts of Connacht. And a bold man with him coming to you to make a land-law for them. It is he who did these miracles and marvels, and they are at the fort’s door.” And they were brought into the fort at once; and Aedán gave his submission to Berach and knelt to him. And Berach healed the boys.

⁷⁹ And Aedán offered the fort to Berach. So that is Eperpuill — a city Berach has in Alba. And the king offered his own royal clothing, and of every king after him, and a great circuit of Alba, and his samhadh(butter-tribute) after him. And the boys offered their own monks’ fee, and the monks’ fee of their seed and progeny for ever, with their district and land, to Berach. And Aedán said that Aed mac Brénainn, king of Tethba, and Aed Dubh mac Fergna, king of Breifne, should give judgement for them in Ireland.

⁸⁰ And they went back to Ireland — Berach and Diarmait. Then they met Aed Dubh mac Suibne — king of Ulaidh. Now Aed Dubh received Saint Berach with great joy and gave them great honour. And he offered the fort he was in to Berach. So that is Cluain na Cranncha in Ulaidh, and there are many monks in it. And too many to tell are the miracles and marvels Berach did in it.

⁸¹ And then they went to Aed Dubh mac Fergna and to Aed mac Brénainn, for them to give judgement. And they made an assembly on a fixed day. And it was at Lios Ard Abhla in Magh Tethba they made that assembly. Berach and Diarmait went each to his own land the night before the assembly. And they made a counter-meeting the next day at the thorn-bush in Tír Troma at Ráthonn; and Berach went not to the counter-meeting but went at once to the assembly at Lios Ard Abhla.

⁸² Now a great company was at that assembly: Aed Dubh mac Fergna with the host of Breifne; Aed mac Brénainn with the host of Tethba; and a number of saints at that meeting — Daigh mac Cairill, and Cruimther Fráech, Mancán, and Cíarán, Máel and Ailitir, Failbe Find, and the two Cúas, Samthann and Arnáin; and many other saints were in that assembly.

⁸³ Then Berach did many miracles and marvels in that assembly, and Diarmait came to the assembly and denied Berach. And he said this: “O liar, the bush under which we made the meeting is at Ráthonn.” Then Berach said: “God is able to bring it here.” And the divine power lifted the bush up into the air, with a cloud about it, and brought it till it was above the assembly. And Berach said to Diarmait: “Look up”; and Diarmait looked and saw the bush, and his denial ceased(?). Then the bush was let down slowly to the ground, so that it landed on the mound where Aed mac Brenainn was sitting, and thus the bush was on the mound as though it had grown through the earth there.

⁸⁴ And Aed mac Brenainn showed great reverence there. And the hosts shouted at that, and greatly praised the Lord and Berach; therefore the poet said:

⁸⁵ Berach lifted the bush with him
from the plain where the hosts were;
on a rise to the fair mound
where Aed mac Brenainn was sitting.

⁸⁶ High Aed’s rush comes
at the majestic unwithering miracle;
the face of Tethba’s king, back to the ground —
till it landed in its red cluster.

⁸⁷ Thereafter a great sleepiness came to Aed Dubh mac Fergna, king of Breifne. “O Samthann, my head in your bosom, O nun, that I may sleep.” Said Samthann to Aed Dubh mac Fergna: “Go to Berach and ask him to change your colour.” So Aed went to Berach and said to him that he would do his submission if he would change his colour kindly. “God is able,” said Berach. “Come, and put your head under my cowl and sleep.” Aed put his head under Berach’s cowl and slept; and a shower of rain fell at once. And Aed lifted his head out of the cowl, and he was the fairest of the world’s warriors. Then one of his own people said to him: “I think it is Aed Finn (the Fair) now who was Aed Dubh (the Black) long since.” Said Berach: “Aed Finn shall be his name, and the name of his seed and progeny henceforth till doom come.” Therefore the seed of Aed Finn is named, to whom the kingship of Eastern Connacht came(?). And Aed Finn offered his royal clothing and the royal clothing of every king after him for ever, and a scruple of every church from his seed and progeny for ever to Berach.

⁸⁸ Then the hosts went in trust of the Trinity, that the true God might give a true judgement between Berach and Diarmait. Then the angel above the hosts said: “The land is Berach’s today till doom come.” Then Aed mac Brenainn said: “You hear that the angel has given the judgement — the land is Berach’s till doom come.” Diarmait grew angry at that with Aed mac Brenainn. “And I think you are saying it after him.” And Diarmait opened his mouth to make a fierce lampoon on Aed mac Brenainn. Aed mac Brenainn said to Berach: “Under your protection am I, O cleric, against the bold man.” Berach went to Diarmait and put his palm to his mouth and said: “Neither lampoon nor praise shall come over the mouth in this world, and its name shall be “the day” in a year’s time at your death(?);” and neither lampoon nor praise could be made by him from then on. And Aed mac Brenainn was freed there through Berach’s grace.

⁸⁹ And Aed offered his own royal clothing and the royal clothing of every king after him, and a scruple of every church from Eastern Tethba, and from his own seed and progeny to Berach for ever. Then Berach said: “The bush has leave to go to its own place again.” And God’s power lifted the bush to its own place again in Ráthonn. And the assembly scattered in that wise.

⁹⁰ Then Berach went to his city. Diarmait went to Ráthonn, sorrowful. On the next day Berach went to where Diarmait was and told him to leave the land. Diarmait left the land to Berach; and Cruinnicén left it, and Dubhán the cleric left it. Berach went to where Tromra was and told him to leave the land. And Tromra said he would never leave it. Berach said to Tromra: “you have leave to go under the earth.” The earth swallowed Tromra at once. Berach went to Belach and told him to leave the land. Belach said he would never leave it. “you have leave,” said Berach, “to go under the earth for your portion.” The earth swallowed Belach quickly. Berach went to Colum Derg and told him to leave the land. And he did not leave it. Berach put Colum under the earth. Berach went on to Brandubh and told him to leave the land, and he did not leave it. So Brandubh too was put under the earth.

⁹¹ Then Diarmait went under the protection of Bishop Soichill to Baislec. He stayed there a year. The day at a year’s end Diarmait began to deny Berach. And he said: “It was today the liar promised me death.” Bishop Soichill reproached Diarmait: “do you think there is not a night’s space in which death might come to you? Go into the church and shut it on you.” So Diarmait went into the church and shut it on himself.

⁹² Now a wild ox came from the people of the west of the land, and they went after it — on foot and on horse, both hound and man. The beast went into Baislec and stopped outside the church in front of the window. There was a great cry of everyone about the beast. Diarmait arose quickly to see what was there; and came to the window and was looking out through it. And a man of the folk who were after the beast cast a cast of a hunting spear at the beast. So that it went through the window into Diarmait’s throat, so that he fell on the church floor, and got death and destruction by Berach’s word on the day at the year’s end after the assembly. The beast escaped, however, safe.

⁹³ Now when Cú Allaidh mac Diarmata heard that, he went to see Ráthonn, and to curse it — that grain should not grow through earth there, and that cows should have no milk, and that there should be no mast on trees in its woods — to see his eyes(?). Nine robbers were with him.

⁹⁴ Now it befell that Berach was in Dún Imgáin in Magh na Fert, with Conchennán in his company. It was revealed to Berach that Cú Allaidh had gone on that errand. And Berach sent Coincennán after him. And Berach said to him: “Do you proclaim them first.” So Coincennán went after the robbers and came on them on the chariot-road; and he did not proclaim them then, but cast at them what was in his hand. So that Cú Allaidh turned his face, and it hit him in the crown of his forehead, and went through his head, so that he fell among his people. So that he said: “Lift me quickly to the mountain-top, that I may see from me Berach’s land, that I may curse it quickly from the mountain-top.” And they lifted him to the bare hill, and Cú Allaidh was dead there; and he saw nothing but a fruitless oak-wood, and it is barren ever since; and his people fled from him.

⁹⁵ And Conchennán came to him and cut his tress off him and bore it with him as a token; and the cleric was afraid too, for he had not told him to kill a man. He plucked a rod and fixed the tress on it on the field when he came from the wood. Therefore Achad Cuileburr is named. Then Coinchendán went to where Berach was; and the deed Coinceandán had done was shown to Berach, and Berach took it very ill that a man had been slain; and Concendán did penance. Now Cú Allaidh’s people went astray and came to where Berach was, and knelt to Berach and did penance, and gave their monks’ fee to Berach; and those are the people of Cill Lallóg, and it is Berach who left them in it.

⁹⁶ One day Berach’s plough-team went mad out of the city at Ráthonn; and they went to Cluain Cairpthi, and over the Shannon at Cluain Deoinsi, and into Cluain Inchais, and into Cluain Dártha, and from there to Ath na n-Dam. Cíaran Máel turned them there; and hence Ath na n-Dam (the Ford of the Oxen) is named; and they went back to Túaim Usci, and over the Shannon westward; till they (the monks) were very weary thereof. And Berach said that however far the oxen wandered, they would do their day’s work before night.

⁹⁷ Now the oxen went under the wilderness in Eared Lara, and to Edargabhail, and to Ráith Fearchon, and to Cluain in Buicc Finn, to Caill na n-Glasán, and to Lios Dúnabhra, and to Fan na m-Bhachall, and to Clar Lis mic Cíaráin in Magh Ái, and to Cluain Ingreac, and to Cluain Cái, and to Léna Ghlúin Áin, and into the mountain, and into Dubhcaill, and into Rinn Daire Abréni, and into Tuaim Achad, and into Ráthonn again; and they did their day’s work before night. And their plough-gear was on them and the irons after them all that while, and they marked(?) in all those places; and every place they marked is Berach’s; and it is from the strip(sgat) that was torn off the oxen that day Sgathoch in Ráthonn is named.

⁹⁸ At one time Colum Cille mac Feidhlimidh, after the breaking of the battle of Cúil Dreimne, went to Berach, for he found no welcome with any saint he had reached till then. Now it happened that it was Saturday night(?). And the Sunday bell was rung early at Cluain Coirpthe. Then Colum Cille went over Magh Ráthoinn and sat at the south end of the causeway; and there is a cross and pillar-stone there. That was revealed to Berach, and he went to meet Colum Cille and blessed him. Colum Cille blessed him, and Berach made great welcome to Colum Cille and said to him: “Let us go together to the city.” “I shall not go on my feet tonight,” said Colum Cille, “for the Sunday has come.” “I shall bear you with me,” said Berach, “on my back.” “you shall not bear me,” said Colum Cille, “with your face before me tonight.” “I shall bear you,” said Berach, “you, with your back before you.” So Berach carried Colum Cille on his back, each with his back to the other, till they reached the refectory, and he let him down there.

⁹⁹ And an ox of the plough-team was killed for him that night, and Berach and Colum Cille made union and compact; and Colum Cille left many good legacies in Cluain Coirpthe: he left heaven to his priest and his abbot provided he pray thrice at Colum Cille’s cross with fellow-offerings(?); he left that there would be given chummaidh(?) with himself of heaven to every monk of Berach’s who should go on pilgrimage to them. He left the gospel he had written with his own hand, in token of his union with Berach; and he left a great blessing with Berach, and went on his way.

¹⁰⁰ At one time a great want came into Ireland. Then Laeghachán was on Loch Laeghacán in his own island, and he had no food. So he went to seek food with his band, and left his wife in the island, and she pregnant, and one woman with her; and he told her that if she bore a child after him(?), to kill it, for they had not the means of rearing it. And the woman bore a son after him(?), and the woman who was with her asked what should be done with the boy; and she said: “Kill him.” Said the other woman: “It is fitter to bear him to the cleric of this church westward to baptise him. And give him his monks’ fee for rearing him.”

¹⁰¹ Then they took that counsel, and he was brought to Berach; and Berach baptised the boy, and the name given him was Ineirge; and the monks’ fee of his living and dead, and the monks’ fee of his seed and progeny for ever, was offered to Berach for rearing him. And Berach said: “Let the boy be borne to his mother, and help of food and wealth shall come to them.” The little boy was borne to his mother by the cleric’s word.

¹⁰² As the women were there they heard the noise in the sigh(?). The woman went to look at it and saw nothing there. Then they heard the noise the third time, and the woman went the third time to look, and there was a great salmon there, and a water-beast drawing it to land. And the woman went and drew the salmon ashore, and could not carry it for its size, and called the other woman, and they both with difficulty bore the salmon, and made it ready, and boiled their fill(?), and at once the mother’s boy’s breasts filled with milk, and the boy was saved thus.

¹⁰³ Now Laeghachán went far away, and it chanced that his stead and all his people died, and his cattle and cattle all, and they brought him to his land(?), and he sent one before him to know whether his wife had borne a child, and if she had, whether it had been killed; and he found the boy alive, and went to where Laeghachán was and told him. And Laeghachán was glad of that news, and went to his island and asked the reason of the boy’s living, and his mother said that it was Berach who had saved him; and that his monks’ fee had been offered to him. And Laeghachán went to Berach with his submission, and confirmed the boy’s monks’ fee for ever to Berach.

¹⁰⁴ At another time h-Í Briuin of the Shannon and Cú Cathfaidh their king went to ravage the dependent folk who were under Berach’s protection. And they went to do the ravaging. Berach was at Cluain Coirpthe then, and that was revealed to him; and he went to meet the host(?). And they and the host met at Bun Sruthra. Thus was Berach — the Glasán in his hand — and he told Con Cathfadh and the host to stay there. And they stayed not, but went past him to violate him(?), till they reached the kilns(?) that were on the bog eastward of Bun Sruthra. Berach watched them from him. He struck his bell at them. The bog swallowed them at once with their king, and it made a loch of the bog without delay; and the king’s going of that host is seen(?), and their spears behind them(?).

¹⁰⁵ Then Dícholla and Toranach went from them after the host, and met Berach. “Shall we stay?” said Berach to Dícholla. “Stay,” said Dícholla; and he told Toranach to stay with him, and he stayed. Then they heard the host’s great cry being swallowed by the bog, and a loch coming over them. And they asked what had befallen. And Berach told them what had befallen. And great fear seized them at once, and they knelt to Berach, and Berach said to Dícholla: “The kingship Cú Cathbaidh was in shall be your and your seed’s to the end of the world.” And he gave a blessing to Dícholla and Toranach and to the households that were with them.

¹⁰⁶ Then one scholar alone came to them from the host. And he said to Berach: “Under your protection am I, O cleric.” Berach looked at him quickly and intended to strike the bell at him to put him under the earth, and Dícholla and Toranach besought God’s name on Berach that he would not destroy the scholar; and they said: “We are few now, and we shall need him.” And Berach destroyed him not. That man did penance and gave his submission to Berach. Berach left to him(?) that they should not go beyond nine(?), and a king’s bedfellow of them, provided they obeyed him. Then Díocholla and Toranach offered their monks’ fee to Berach, and he did not take it. Then they settled the royal clothing of their king, and a scruple of every church and of every near son and of every sister’s son, and of every fosterling they would give every third year; and they were freed thus.

¹⁰⁷ At another time, when Berach was in Cluain Coirpthe, he sent a monk to Ráthonn to do obedience from him — Sillén his name. Now nine robbers met him, who had come from Airther Tethba to ravage in Connacht, and they killed the monk and went between his head and his body. That was revealed to Berach, and he went quickly to them. And he found them over the dead man. Now when the robbers saw Berach, they resolved to kill him and seized their spears to kill him. Their hands stuck to their spears, and their spears stuck to the rock that was near them, and the marks of their knees are in it(?) for ever.

¹⁰⁸ They did penance and said to Berach: “Take not heaven from us, and our submission to you, O cleric.” Berach blessed them there(?). And he said to them: “Set the head to the body(?);” and they did so. And Berach took a rush-band from the rush-pool that was near, and prayed in it, and set it about the dead man’s neck, and he arose at once; therefore the simhne of Berach are for ever. And Berach left a great grace on them; and he left to the robbers that their seed should never go beyond nine, and he left a man of obedience from them in Cluain Coirpthe; and whenever it is, though there be but one man after another of them. And that is still fulfilled and shall be for ever. And a man of obedience went with Berach, and they parted thus.

¹⁰⁹ At another time Colmán Caol of Cluain Ingrech resolved to go to Rome; now he was a fosterling of Berach’s. And it was Berach who ordained him at Cluain Ingrech. He came to his tutor and master — to Berach. Berach tried to detain him and could not. Colmán Caol went, and Berach went with him a while on the road. They met Cíarán Máol at the end of the green. And Berach and Cíarán Máol tried to detain Colmán Caol again. And Colmán Caol said he would not stay till he saw Rome with his eyes. Berach blessed the air, and made the sign of the cross over Colmán Caol’s eye, and the three of them saw — Berach and Colmán Caol and Cíarán Máol — Rome itself; and they praised the Lord there, and a cross and pillar-stone were made there for Berach and Cíarán Máol and Colmán Cáol. And another cross was made for Paul and Peter; and it is the same for anyone who visits those crosses as to go the like measure of the road to Rome. And Colmán Caol stayed then.

¹¹⁰ But this much more: until the sand of the sea is numbered, and the stars of heaven, and the grass and all herbs that grow through the earth, and the dew that grows or stays on the grass and herbs — the miracles of Saint Berach cannot all be numbered. A righteous man was this man. A single nature of purity(?) like a noble father. A true pilgrim — from heart and soul — like Abraham; gentle and forgiving like Moses. A praising psalmist like David. [He forsook] wisdom and knowledge like Solomon. A chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like Paul the apostle. A man full of the grace and bounty of the Holy Spirit like John the youth. A fair garden with noble offspring, a fruitful vine-branch. A shining fire with the burning embers and warmth of God’s sons in mercy and almsgiving. A lion in strength and power; a dove for gentleness and simplicity; a serpent for prudence and craft for good; gentle, humble, kindly, lowly towards the sons of life; darkly righteous towards the sons of death; a slave of labour and service to Christ. A king for order and power to bind and loose, to free and enslave, to kill and make alive.

¹¹¹ After these great miracles, after raising the dead, after healing lepers and blind and lame and every disease besides, and after ordaining bishops and priests and deacons and folk of every grade in the church besides, after teaching multitudes and baptising them, after founding churches and monasteries, after crushing the arts of idols and druidry — the day of Saint Berach’s death drew near, and his going to heaven; and an angel came to him before going to heaven and told him that there was much haste of the Lord about him and about his monks and about his city; and said that whoever should ask a righteous perfect boon of him, it would be given him; and showed him the day of his going to heaven.

¹¹² Now Berach spent his life in vigils and prayers and alms in the Lord’s presence. Now Berach received communion and sacrifice from Talamh(?) and committed the order and headship of his city and his sons of the church to him. He sent his spirit to heaven, and his body was buried in the dark house with great honour and reverence, with miracles and marvels here. Greater still will he be in the assembly of doom when he shall shine like the sun in heaven in union with the apostles and disciples of Jesus, in the union of the humanity and divinity of the Son of God, in the union of the noble holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I ask the mercy of the Son of almighty God through the intercession of Saint Berach, for whom there is feast and commemoration in many noble churches on this day, that we may reach, that we may deserve, that we may dwell in the kingdom, in secula seculorum. Amen. Finis.