Chapter One #

¹ Wonderful is God in His saints, and so forth.

² “In the Holy Spirit [who enlightens every spirit, in the Spirit],” He caused to flourish in the Church of both Testaments—namely, the patriarchs and the prophets—by the grace of wisdom and prophecy. It is He who spoke these words in the royal prophet David, through whom they are spoken for praise and for glorification which is offered to God through His saints and through His righteous ones, as he says: “God is wonderful in the saints” [Ps 67:36].

³ One of the saints and of the righteous through whom praise and glorification came to the Lord before men—through the miracles and through the wonders which God worked for him on earth—is the noble and venerable saint who is celebrated and commemorated in the course of this present month and season, namely Saint Senán the bishop.

⁴ It is then that the Christians celebrate with brightness and solemnity the feast of Saint Senán on the eighth day before the Kalends of March, on a Friday, the day of the sun; that is today, on the weekday which occurs in the year at this time. The learned testify concerning the origin and the birth of this saint Senán, through the prayer and through the teaching granted by the grace of the chief prophet and the archbishop of the island of Ireland, namely Saint Patrick, concerning the birth of Senán and concerning the miracles and wonders which God worked for him, namely:

⁵ Senán son of Gerrginn, son of Cobthach, son of Builc, son of Dece, son of Imchad, son of Corp, son of Roduind, son of Lugaid, son of Ailill, son of Eochaid, son of Aengus, son of Fiachra Finn, son of Coirpre Bascain, son of Conaire son of Mogha Lámha, son of Lugaid Allad, son of Cairpre Cromcinn, son of Dáire Dornmár, son of Cairpre Finnmór, son of Coirpre, son of Eterscél, son of Eógan. Coimgell, daughter of Ernán son of Golbán, mother of Senán, was of the Alltraige.

⁶ Now the chief prophet and chief apostle whom God sent to preach to the men of Ireland, namely Saint Patrick, foretold beforehand the birth of Senán. For when Patrick was preaching to the Uí Fhidgeinte and baptizing them in Domhnach Mór of the Cenél Diúne, the Corco Baiscinn came to him with their king, namely Bole son of Dece. A great fleet came over the Shannon northwards to Patrick, and they begged Patrick to preach to them that same day and to baptize them at once.

⁷ Patrick said to them then that it should be deferred until morning, for he was weary that day. The Corco Baiscinn said to Patrick: “We cannot [wait], for our land behind us is empty, with no one guarding it, and our fleet is without anyone watching it; and we must return quickly and urgently back to our land.”

⁸ Patrick then went afterwards in his chariot so that all might see him and hear his voice and the preaching of the word of God from him, and then they believed in God and in Patrick. Patrick then performed the baptism for them in the river which was near them, and all the multitudes were baptized in it. And they gave great alms to Patrick.

⁹ Patrick blessed them, and he said that there would be abundance of wealth and prosperity in the land of Baiscinn forever. The Corco Baiscinn asked Patrick to come with them to bless their land to baptize their women and their children and their servants whom they had left behind. Patrick said to them: “It is not time for me to go with you and to travel with my household across the river Shannon.”

¹⁰ The Corco Baiscinn said: “We have,” they said, “a great fleet with us to carry you across the sea, and we will bring you across with all your household on dry feet, and we will bring you back again.”

¹¹ Patrick again refused to go with them, and he said: “I cannot leave the land until it has all been consecrated and blessed.” And Patrick gave a blessing upon the Corco Baiscinn, and he left upon them the victory of fleets. Because of that Patrick sang this quatrain:

¹² It is not evil for the Corco Baiscinn, it is not false:
though swords be upon their fame,
no hostility shall seize them evermore.

¹³ Patrick said to the Corco Baiscinn: “Is there among you a place from which it would be clearer for me to see your land myself, so that I might view it from my seat and bless it from that place?” They said, “there is indeed-the hill over there, namely Findine.”

¹⁴ Patrick then went with them afterwards onto the summit of Findine, and he said to them: “Is this your land, from Limerick in the north as far as the western ocean?” They said, “it is.”

¹⁵ “Does it reach,” said Patrick, “to the mountain there to the north, namely Sliabh Elbha, in the land of Corca Mruadh in Nindois?” They said, “it does not reach”. Patrick said, “it will reach at the Judgment. Does your land reach to the mountain over there to the east, namely Echtge, in the land of Uí Deisce?” They said, “it does not reach.” They said, “it does not reach.” Then Patrick said “It will reach after a long time.”

¹⁶ Patrick then blessed the Corco Baiscinn and said to them: “It is not fitting for me to go with you to your own land, for there is a birth among you in the womb of a woman, and it is for that reason that God has given you this land: to be obedient, and it is of God that the obedience and submission of this people of the Uí Fhidgeinte shall be. He shall be your Patrick. And great will be the battle of the daughter who shall be born among you; great will be the ruin that shall be in her territory.

¹⁷ “And that island over there to the west, at the mouths of the sea— is there habitation on it?” said Patrick, namely Inis Cathaig. “There is not,” said they, “for there is a terrible beast in it which does not allow it to be inhabited, namely Cathach is its name.”

¹⁸ “Wonderful,” said Patrick, “is the precious diadem and the valuable stone and the venerable servant, greatly beloved by God and by men—the child who shall be born among you. For his sake the land of that island shall be cleansed in due time, for it is there that his resurrection shall be and the resurrection of a great multitude of saints along with him.” Then Patrick spoke, foretelling the birth of Senán:

¹⁹ A child shall be born in the western land,
on the island beyond the ocean;
the Corco Baiscinn shall be under his hand,
men, sons, and women.

²⁰ He shall be pure, noble, ordained,
with God and with men;
a people and a church shall be born
which shall be a protection because of that son.

²¹ “Venerable and greatly honored shall that son be,” said Patrick, “for he will grant them peace together with abundance of every good thing, and the removal of every unjust affliction, if they act according to that son, namely Saint Senán, with tithes and first-fruits and alms to God and to Senán. Woe, however, to the monks if they act in disobedience to that son, for God will then bring heavy vengeance upon them, so that there will be destruction upon men and upon cattle, and corn and milk and every produce will be taken from them thereafter, so that they will be under famine and deprivation, until each one sends his son and his daughter far into foreign lands for their sustenance, unless they are obedient to Senán. Honored and ordained shall his children be in this present world, if they are according to his will.”

²² When Patrick had spoken these words, foretelling the birth of Senán, and when he had blessed the land of the Corco Baiscinn, two noble and learned Romans who were with him—Maculatus and Latius were their names—went together with the Corco Baiscinn to be baptized. And on the night when they came to Patrick, that was the time when they preached the faith and belief of Christ and performed baptism and communion in the land of the Corco Baiscinn.

²³ It is then that those saints chose a church for themselves and a place of resurrection on the southern side of the harbor of Inis Cathaig, on the north side, opposite the Cemetery of the Angel of God. For they knew that it was in the Cemetery of the Angel in Inis Cathaig that the resurrection of Senán would be, and it pleased them that their resurrection should be near the resurrection of Senán, so that they might rise together with Senán when they should go to the judgment of doom.

²⁴ Not long after that, when the assembly of the Corco Baiscinn was in one place, a married couple came to the gathering. When they reached the assembly, the druid who was in the gathering rose up before them. When everyone saw that, the whole assembly rose before him, for great was the honor of that druid among them at that time. Then the assembly questioned the druid, and they said to him: “We would have liked,” said they, “that you had foretold to us concerning Gerrginn the churl and his wife Seitig, who are to bring forth.”

²⁵ The druid said: “It is not concerning the churl that I make my prophecy, but concerning the child who is in the womb of the woman over there, whom all the Corco Baiscinn have before them. It is to him that they shall be obedient. He shall be their lord forever.”

²⁶ Now when the time of the birth of that son came, namely Senán, his mother remained alone in her garden, facing the course of the sun, and an angel of God came to help her, so that there was no hardship for her in the bearing of her son, and the angel blessed the child who was born there. The rowan stake (uaitne certhuinn) which was in her hand at the bearing of her son took root in the ground, so that it was at once under blossom and leaf, and that tree still lives.

²⁷ Not long after the birth of that son, his mother went for water, and she carried her child upon her bosom. Then the mother slipped on the smoothness of the marrow of a bush which was near the well, for it was at the beginning of autumn that Senán was born. Then the child spoke clearly from his mother’s bosom: “Enough of that, mother, for it is a meal before the proper time now.”

²⁸ At Mag Lacha, then, there was at first the dwelling and inheritance of the parents of Senán before Senán was born. There was also another inheritance for them at Trácht Termainn. There is a long distance between those two inheritances. When it was the wish of the parents of Senán to move dwelling, Senán would come one or two days before them to make houses and enclosures and fields and every necessary structure, so that nothing would be lacking to them when they arrived. Senán, moreover, did this out of love of helping every one who came to him in need, and he would be ready beforehand for the sake of his household, building a new house for them in advance. Once it happened that his mother grew angry with him about that matter, and this is what she said to him:

²⁹ “O son of my children and kindred,” she said, “little is the benefit to us.”
“O mother,” he said, “make allowance, and you will find provision.”
“That matter is troublesome for us,” said the mother.
“It is troublesome indeed,” said Senán.

³⁰ Now while they were upon those words, they saw coming toward them in the place of the enclosures and the fields and the ridges all the necessary structures which they had left behind in the place from which they had come. Until the witnesses were established in the place which they desired for their dwelling. The name of God and of Senán was magnified through that miracle.

³¹ At another time the Corco Baiscinn went on a hosting against the Corca Mruadh in Nindois. Now Senán bore the strength of protection of the prince in that land. When the hosts reached the land of the Corca Mruadh, they set about plundering the land. Senán, however, did this: he went into a barn of corn which was near him, and he slept there while the hosts were plundering the land.

³² The hosts then returned to their own land after plundering Corca Mruadh. Senán was left in the barn, sleeping still in the place where he was. Now when everyone came into the land after the hosts had gone home, thus they saw the barn in which Senán was: a mass of fire blazing upon it. When this was seen, great concern came upon them to rescue it. When they came near to the barn in which Senán was, they saw that it was sound from the fire. Some of them went into the barn and saw the youth sleeping. Others tried to wound him at once.

³³ “Stay your hand,” said a good man in the barn, “perhaps it is a friend or a guest who is there, and it is he who has preserved the barn.” They asked him who he was. Senán said that it was the host who had plundered the land who had left him there, and that he had neither friend nor guest in the land. When they perceived then that it was a man with the grace of God who had preserved it, they honored him and sent him from the land with honor.

³⁴ He then went to the house of another good man in the land of the people to seek drink, for he was weary and thirsty after following the host. There was a feast and readiness in that house for the king of the territory. It was offered to Senán, and he went without food or drink from that house. Immediately the king came to the house to partake of the feast after Senán had departed. Now when he saw the display of the food and of the ale, thus it was found: the water was foul and the food was foul. The hosts wondered at that deed.

³⁵ The king said: “Did anyone of you go after this food and ale?” They said, “no one went except one lad of the company of the plunderers who came here to seek drink, and nothing was given to him.” The king said: “Go after that man, for he is a man with the grace of God.”

³⁶ They went after Senán, and he was brought back to the house, and he blessed the food and the drink, and their proper savor returned to them, and all wondered at the witnessing of that miracle.

³⁷ On another day Senán went with his father’s oxen, with the Urres from the west, to drive them eastward from Mag Locha, and he saw the sea full before him. Now it was near evening at that time. He went to seek a house to lodge in at Dún Mechairbai, which was near him. Now Mechar was not in his fort that night, and his people refused Senán in his absence.

³⁸ Senán then went onward toward the sea, to the edge of the shore, and there was no other house near him into which he might go then. As his oxen went before him to the strand of the sea, he saw the sea-flood before him. He drove his oxen then across the strand. Then Senán lifted his feet across the tide up onto land, so that he heard the wave striking against his heels behind him. His mind was turned inward then, and this is what he said: “It is enough for me to be in you, O shore of heroism.”

³⁹ He then broke the spear which was in his hand, and he made a cross of it, and he set it in the ground, and he knelt thrice beside it to God. Mechar then returned and they saw that night his fort destroyed, and his son was slain, and his wife was taken captive; and that fort was not inhabited from that time onward, and it shall never be built forever.

⁴⁰ Senán then went, leaving his oxen with his father, and he went on, and he took a staff from Cassidan, a dear friend who had taken the rule of a church in the land of the Urres. Senán went to Ciarraige Chuirche to Cassidan. Senán then read his psalms and the order of the Church with Cassidan.

⁴¹ Senán then went to read with Notáil, to Cell Manach Droichit in the land of Osraige. Now this was the rule which was in the school: that each man of the school should go on the day which came to him to guard the calves of the church. On the day when it happened that Senán came to guard the calves, when he drove the calves before him to one side, the cows would come after them. When he drove the cows to the other side, the calves would come after them.

⁴² This was the counsel that Senán made for himself then: he placed a staff between the cows and the calves and across the enclosure in which they were, and neither of the two would dare to go to the other side across that barrier; and Senán did that same thing every day when it came to him to guard the calves. Senán then went to do his reading afterwards until the time came for the giving of the cows back to their pasture.

⁴³ Senán remembered what Christ said to his apostles: “If anyone among you wishes to become greater, let him be your minister and servant” [Matthew 20:26–27; Mark 9:35]. He took hold with his hand of the school of humility [in the mill]. That year was a year of great scarcity and great famine.

⁴⁴ There were two robbers in that territory, striking everyone. They said to one another one night: “What shall we do tonight, to seek something?” “Let us go,” said one of them, “to the mill of Cell Manach; there is food there every night while the man is grinding barley, and we will kill that man and bring the grain with us.”

⁴⁵ They went then until they were at the door of the mill. They looked through a hole of the door and saw the two in the mill, one of them reading, the other attending to the mill. They said then among themselves: “What shall we do? Shall we attack the men?” “We shall not attack,” they said, “for the man who is grinding, the grain belongs to him himself, and they are not of one household, and he will go to his house when he finishes his grinding, and we will go after him, and kill him, and we will carry with us his grain and his clothing; and we will go afterward to the miller and kill him and take his grain from him.”

⁴⁶ They waited then until the grinding was finished. Then the young man who was grinding the barley in the mill stopped. Senán then went to his book and slept. His companion was without sleep. The robbers remained at the door of the mill until morning.

⁴⁷ When morning came, Senán opened the mill. The robbers came to him immediately into the mill and said to him: “Who was here beside you for so long while he was reading and sleeping?” “It was not difficult,” said Senán, “whoever it was that was there, for ‘he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep’” [Psalm 121(120):4]. Some of them said, “What is that?” Senán said, “It is near at hand, as it is said: ‘The Lord is near to all who call upon him’” [Psalm 145(144):18].

⁴⁸ The robbers then did penance, and they released the captives before Christmas, and afterward they served in his companionship as long as they lived, and they themselves were the ones who told that story.

⁴⁹ Another night Senán came to ask the cook for a candle so that he might grind the barley. “I have no dipped candles,” said the cook, “except one candle, and it is with difficulty it lasts, and candles are given only when they are dipped.” Senán went then to his mill, and his one candle with him. The cook then set his mind upon it, thinking it would not last a week.

⁵⁰ Then the cook said: “It is strange to us that the miller does not come to ask for a candle, and yet he is grinding every night.” He went then at the beginning of night to see what was grinding each night, and he looked through the hole of the door and saw the candle burning there and the mill grinding by itself alone, and Senán sitting making his reading. The cook then went to his house.

⁵¹ He came again on the next morning after rising early, to see how it was in the mill. He saw the same candle on the candlestick just as it had been at the beginning of night. The cook went then to his house that time, and he came again, and saw the same thing.

⁵² Then the grinding ceased, and the mill stopped by itself, and the candle was given to the cook. It was clear then to the cook that it was the same candle which had been taken from him that was with Senán, being used every night until the end of the week, and it had not diminished.

⁵³ The cook went then and told Notail that. “He is a son of grace to God,” said Notail, “the man of whom these stories are told. He will turn people to God. God will do many wonders and miracles through him. It is fitting that he be in obedience, for woe to him who would do his own will. May he who is obedient to Him be humble.”

⁵⁴ One day Senán went with Notail into the territory of Cill Mhóir Arad Tíre. As they reached the door of the church, they saw a great gathering of mourners weeping and sorrowing, that is, the only son of the chief of the territory had died, and they were carrying him to burial.

⁵⁵ When the clerics saw that, they stopped at once, and the woman said to them: “By the Lord whom you worship, O clerics, raise my dead son for me!” “Alas for you, woman,” said Notail, “for what you say: it is with God that the doing of that deed lies, and not with man.” “By faith and by mercy,” said the woman, “plead for me with that Lord, that He may raise my son for me,” and the son was brought into the presence of Notail then.

⁵⁶ “Do not bring the son to me,” said Notail, “but bring him to Senán.” “O my master,” said Senán, “it is not fitting what you say.” “It is fitting indeed,” said Notail, “for it is to you that God has granted the raising of the boy, and take the son under your protection, for it is permitted to you.”

⁵⁷ Senán did not dare then to resist Notail or his teacher. He took the son under his protection, and pressed him to his heart, and made earnest prayers with tears. It was not long then until the son was heard speaking under Senán’s protection, and Senán gave the living son to Notail. Notail gave him into his mother’s hands.

⁵⁸ The name of God and of Notail and of Senán was magnified through that miracle. The clerics then went to their own church after they had obtained the grace for which they had come.

⁵⁹ Then the fame of Senán spread throughout the territories on every side, on account of the wonders and miracles which God performed through him. The peoples and kindreds came from every direction to him: some of them with alms and offerings, others to ask alms, others to seek healing from sicknesses, others to take him as their soul-friend, others to place themselves under his rule and to desire that a place might be taken for them before him.

⁶⁰ When Notail heard this, he said to Senán: “My beloved brother, it is time for you to go and take a place before the people who are under your choosing.” Senán said then to Notail: “My father, O Notail, it is not fitting what you say, for what is ordained for me is nothing other than to be in obedience to you always.” Notail said: “It will not be so, but arise and take a place before the people who are destined for you.”

⁶¹ “O chosen father,” said Senán, “where shall I go, and in what place shall I take my dwelling?” Notail said: “My beloved son, He who is your choice [that is, God] will reveal to you the place in which you shall dwell.”

⁶² Senán then went to take counsel with his teacher (that is, Notail) at the end of six days, and Notail gave his blessing to him, and Senán took up residence in Inis Coirthe by the River Slaney, in the territory of Uí Chennselaig. He made friendship there with Moedóc of Ferns. Moedóc entrusted his place to Senán after himself and his staff, and Senán took the abbacy of Ferns after Moedóc.

⁶³ He went from his abbacy to Rome. He went from Rome to converse with Martin at Tours. It was there that Martin was writing the Gospel with his own hands. Then Senán said: “It would be wondrous to me if the hands which I see writing would give me communion on the day of my death.” “They shall indeed,” said Martin. And they made friendship there, that is, Senán and Martin, and Martin gave to Senán, as a sign of their friendship, the Gospel which he had written with his own hands. That is the Gospel of Senán today.

⁶⁴ Senán then went on a journey to Ireland, until he came to Cill Muine with Dáidé. They made friendship there, Dáidé and Senán, and Dáidé gave his staff to Senán as a sign of their friendship.

⁶⁵ Then Senán went over the sea to reach Ireland, and he came to the rock of Ardneim in the territory of Uí Liatháin, and remained there forty days and nights, during which God granted him a place of habitation in holiness. Then the archangel Raphael appeared to Senán and said to him: “Be strong, and let your heart be encouraged, for the Lord will gather to you so great a community. Arise, and take a place in the great population which God has destined.”

⁶⁶ “Where,” said Senán, “shall I go, and in what place shall I dwell in this population?” The angel said “You shall not go in haste, nor by force. Follow the guidance which God provides, and He will bring you to a suitable place in the population.”

⁶⁷ Senán then made ready his household there, and the angel led him to Inis Cara in the estuary of the River Luae, where he established a church for God. It was there that ships came from the lands of Letha to sail along the coasts of Ireland, fifty men in each ship, fully armed. Every craftsman brought with him a gift. They displayed them to his household to witness for themselves, and they provided them with food, lodging, and other necessities until every fourth day the holy men had their hands filled with supplies. Every gift was made by saints from different lands. Among them were Finnian, Senán, Brendan, Ciarán, and Bairre.

⁶⁸ One day, as the household of Senán counted the gifts brought by the travelers, the steward asked: “What day is this today?” They said, “Today is the day of Senán’s counting. Bring helpful assistance to them from those who can provide, for the collection of each gift will be accounted for.”

⁶⁹ A humble bishop approached, and he put his hand on the bones of the arm of the steward, for it had been struck in fasting. He blessed the air and said: “O Senán, let helpful assistance come, and may each gift be rightly given.” This is what Bishop Mola said about the handling of the gifts: it was done properly, in accordance with the law, so that it would be rightly distributed in Corcaige (Cork).

⁷⁰ The household remained with Bairre. Goods were brought to Senán at Inis Cara, and it was made known to him, and his household assisted him. Bishops (John) and Mola were present to supervise, and his household assisted them together with Finnian, Ciarán, and Brendan.

⁷¹ It was at that time that the king of Rathlin, Lugaid Cichech, sent a horse to Senán. He said to Senán in his house that there was no king in the land at that moment. Lugaid was pleased with that request, and he said to the household: “My best horse will be given to the cleric, and he shall ride it on his journey.”

⁷² The horse was brought to Senán, and water from the pool was given to him for washing, and the household of the cleric stayed near the horse in the pool. The place where this happened was called Inis Cara, which is also known as Tuaim n-Aba.

⁷³ Then Lugaid sent his horse to the ford, to go to Senán, and he received him courteously. Senán asked Lugaid for the gifts, and Lugaid’s retainers promised him the horse from the Uaib Echach, and they said to him that heaven and earth would protect him according to what was given to him.

⁷⁴ There were then two pupils with Lugaid, Aed and Leghaire, and he said to them: “Give the heir to the cleric.” Then Lugaid gave his heir to them and to Senán, and Senán accepted the order of blessing for the children of Lugaid. He gave Aed and Leghaire as heirs to Senán, and Senán entrusted them to the king of Uí Echach, sending them without any hindrance, doing what was fitting according to Senán.

⁷⁵ From this, the poet Colman mac Lenin composed in praise of God:

⁷⁶ Once Senán was upon the rock of Ardneim,
Acting justly, knowing no fault would reach him.
He exercised judgment every day among men,
Until Raphael, the archangel, appeared to him in form.

⁷⁷ Raphael spoke to him, giving guidance,
And sent him direction for Tuaim Aibhe.
He made an altar and took his seat on the mound,
Performing the work of God there on the hill.

⁷⁸ He remained under Lugaid, fully established,
With no harm coming to the king of Rathlin.
Senán said to those in the house:
“No one shall rule under a king of the land without right.”

⁷⁹ Then he came to Lugaid with his request:
“I see before me, without judgment, the rightful seat of the king of the land.”
It was a fine horse which Lugaid gave,
A man of strength, unmatched in all Ireland.

⁸⁰ “My horse shall go to the cleric, lightly bridled,
Through the judgment of those who bring offerings.”
Hence it was called Tuaim na hAbha,
Which is where the house was later established, Inis Cara.

⁸¹ Then he went from there to Rathlin, in great haste,
And all the people were astonished.
It was thus that Lugaid Cichech spoke across the river,
Where he had brought his heavy water supply.

⁸² He said to Senán, fully persuaded:
“Do not sail this way; the king of the land you shall not gain.
You shall not gain the prosperous king; the predatory king is not attainable.
Through the judgment of saints, the Uaib Echach cannot be seized.
But I shall give you my own; act without greed,
And what is decreed shall come from heaven and earth.”

⁸³ “Do not act unworthily, O Lugaid, with harshness,”
Said Senán the gentle, “but let justice prevail.”
He gave the heir to the cleric, properly formed,
Without speech, to complete the story of life.

⁸⁴ Lugaid then gave the order to Senán,
To teach and guide the household of Lugaid.
Then Senán distributed the Mass,
performing it for them according to the king of Rathlin,

⁸⁵ And spoke the words of the apostles and the king,
For it was not from Aed or Leghaire.
When battle came to their land,
No great child of the faithful was harmed among the pupils.

⁸⁶ The End.

Chapter 2: The Acts of Saint Senán after eight days with his people in Inis Carrach at Cillín and at Feichin, son of the noble king of Múscraige, and a student of Senán #

¹ Then Senán departed after consulting with them about choosing Inis Luinge, and he offered prayers there. It was there that the holy virgins of the daughter of Brenainn, king of the Déisi, came, and they devoted themselves to God and to Senán. That was the first branch of the Eóganachta Gabra under Senán. Thus Senán continued in this work with them.

² Senán then went aside to Inis Mór in the southern district. He had not yet reached the northern island. There he sat and offered prayers to God, and he made the island holy.

³ Senán then chose Inis Mór and offered prayers there. He sprinkled water over them, and a woman of the island came to wash her sons in it. A bishop named Sétna came to see, and he said: “Is this deed evil?” Liber, son of Dall, said, “what deed?” Liber said, “the sprinkling of water to wash her sons in the font from this offering. He will not harm the child.” It was there that the child was playing on the bank in the meadow with his friends. The child went into the water.

⁴ “Is the sprinkling harmful to them?” asked the sons. “It is evil for them to resist what is being done,” said Senán. “Put the headpiece on her,” they said. Senán commanded: “Take it, O bishop Sétna, so that you may see the child’s soul freed, and give it to Liber, and let him place it on the rock so that God may judge it, and let him bring the child to the woman.”

⁵ Bishop Sétna went with Liber to the rock, and he placed the child there, and he went after him, and found him unharmed in the meadow, and he was playing with the waves. And when the waves were raised, they carried the child with them. He was unharmed among the waves, and his death was preserved as if it were a lamb; the child remained there from that time until another.

⁶ Bishop Sétna brought the child to him safely and gave him to Senán, and Senán gave him to his mother. Then Senán said to Bishop Sétna: “Lift and place Liber on the Rock, for I have judged him fairly; let him not go into the sea beneath the staff of anyone.” Then Bishop Sétna went, and placed Liber on the rock under the protection and in the care of Senán.

⁷ Liber said: “It will not harm any who may be with water now.” Senán said, “Do it carefully, for the well is underfoot in this place. Stretch your boy’s feet on the ground and I will pour water over him.” Liber stretched the boy’s feet on the ground, and he poured the sacred water over him on the plain, and his name was Tipra Liber.

⁸ Bishop Dalann said: “This land is broken up; the sea will rise over it and bear him away on the waves: it is not good for the town to rise from this.” “That will not be,” said Liber, “but give me my base here over the sea, while my prayer is made, and God will not allow the sea to break over this ground”; and he performed it carefully.

⁹ Senán, Bishop Dalann, Bishop Sétna, Bishop Eirc, Liber son of Dall, and other holy men gathered together on Inis Mór, and Senán went to take Inis Ceirech [Céoil] and made it holy for his people there. Senán then went to choose Inis Connla in the territory of Ua Sétna, and he offered prayers there and made it holy for the people there, including Bishop Fiannai and Bishop Findein.

¹⁰ It was then that Raphael the archangel appeared to Senán and said: “Come with me, for I will show you a town that will rise from the dead, for it is pleasing to God that you see it.” Senán went with the angel to the top of Feis. There the angel said to him: “Look at the islands there; there is a resurrection, and a resurrection of great multitudes of the dead together. There is no other life in the west except what is holy. God will perform marvelous wonders there, giving them eternal protection from all harm or attack; they will live there in safety.”

¹¹ “The holy words say,” he continued, “that this is pleasing to God for you to cover it with prayer in that place. There will be a noble, powerful church there. There will be a head of authority and a learned leader of the west. [It will be a stronghold against the Gauls and the Gedalites.]” Senán said to the angel: “This pleases me, and it pleases God, for I see it done; this is good in God’s eyes.”

¹² Then the angels departed, and the stone on which they stood was firmly fixed in its place on the height of the island, which is called Ard na nAingel and Lec na nAingel in Inis Cathaig. Senán and the angels offered praise to God on that plain, and then they returned to sprinkle the holy water where the miracle occurred.

¹³ When they sprinkled the water, they observed the head, and the body was firm, the limbs strengthened, and the resurrection was visible. There was no violence, no disturbance, no wound on it, for it was pleasing to anyone who saw it in the island [even the blind]. They then placed it in its holy enclosure and church, and the land trembled underfoot. The event was strange, unknown, wonderful, and remarkable. [The body rested peacefully in its mound.]

¹⁴ Horses were offered: a shining, sparkling light on their heads, like twenty fierce warriors armed in armor, flowing with blood. It was visible to anyone who observed the shining light when it passed. Two feet extended forward, pressing down. Iron nails were placed in the stones of the altar. It was fastened there carefully, as though set in gristle. The abdomen was shaped like a fairy mound. The water of the sea flowed over it afterward. Nails were struck firmly into the stone. The ground could not resist the miracle of the holy water. It did not matter whether it was sea or land where it was set.

¹⁵ Then the miracle appeared to Senán in the plain; he lifted the head, placing it on a mound with its limbs at rest [so that it was visible] over the cross of the clerics. Senán laid his hand over it immediately and gave the sign of the Cross of Christ. The miracle remained visible afterward, and Senán said three times: “I bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; see this miracle, and no harm will come to it in any land where you go.”

¹⁶ The miraculous head was then taken by Senán from the mound to the Dubloch of Sliabh Collain, and no harm came to anyone who touched it, for no one dared approach it except by Senán’s blessing. Then Senán and the angels went southward around the islands and came again to Ard na nAingel. After the islands had been consecrated, the angel said to Senán:

¹⁷ “The sea is dangerous around this island, for it is a place difficult for people to navigate.”
“Though it is dangerous,” said the angel, “no monk who goes with a pure heart toward God will be harmed by it.”
“Go with God,” said the angel, “for nothing will happen to you after your passage over this new island.”

¹⁸ [The angel spoke this verse: “High is the sea, treacherous and stormy, though it is not ruled by any desire; you shall taste no peril, only the grace that comes to you from heaven.”]

¹⁹ When the story spread among the people, Senán returned to Inis Cathaig and consecrated the miracle. When Mac Tail, king of Ua Figeinti, heard the story, he was amazed and said: “Who has dared to consecrate my land without asking me?”

²⁰ He sent messengers to choose among the banners of Senán—on Chel and on Liath—until the brown banner was raised over the island. They brought it to the island to Senán, and he said to them: “It is by my judgment that this island has been consecrated, for it is under the protection of Hua Figeinte. The island shall speak to him and tell the people of Limerick what is to be feared.” “Indeed,” said Senán, “it is not for the island to speak, nor is it proper for evil to come to the islands except by my permission.” “Indeed, truly,” said his banner-bearer, “it is proper for us to exercise judgment over this island.”

²¹ Then each took it in his hands and struck it on a rock above the island. They were furious at this, and Cael began to quarrel with them, throwing stones that shattered all around. “Where are they?” asked Cael of Liath, “that this man fights against me?” “They are not,” said Liath, “for I know what he has done; there is no one who can oppose his work, for it is justly done. Where is it better to place the faithful land than to judge it for the servant in this land that is not his own? It is for me,” said Liath, “to find the men of Éire who oppose him.” “It is not proper,” said Senán, “for the children of the land will resist. A man who possesses the land cannot consecrate it himself, nor can his children; the land will remain under proper judgment.”

²² Then they departed, and Senán consecrated the island. As Cael had thrown his banner over the fort of Ochtar Maigi Fochailleach, he went to obey. When Liath saw this, he went to Senán again and begged pardon. Senán said to Liath: “You shall not gain anything by your resistance against Cael, for no harm has come to him in his cause, and the judgment has been given to him.”

²³ Liath said to Senán: “Shall we lay this wretched body before him?” “Do not lay it,” said Senán, “for the soul is not given to the devil, nor is the body mine; it shall be buried on the mound in torchlight.”

²⁴ Cael then returned to the plain, and his banner was struck down by them, and the land belonged to Senán. Then his banner-bearer went to Mac Tail and told him the story. Mac Tail was grieved at the news, and said: “This boy is my labor, for taking what is mine by right.” His druid replied to the king: “You shall not gain any advantage over him, for I bring him to you, and you will not take his land.”

²⁵ The king was astonished at this answer, and the druid went away, and brought a carpet to the king in his chamber for Senán, and the plain there became the best place for him on the island. Then he went to the fort where Senán was, and cast spells over it, and said: “See the land within this fort.”

²⁶ Senán said to him:
“From the head of the old man it spreads,
here is honey and abundance;
it is stronger than any fortified place;
you are not its owner.”

²⁷ “This old man is stronger than me,” said Senán, “and my work is better.”
“It shall not be so by my knowledge,” said the druid, “for what I do here will not fail.”
“It will not fail for good,” said Senán, “for every evil done, God will provide me a counterforce.”

²⁸ The druid then darkened the sun so that no one could see his hand in the island. Senán dispelled the darkness and made light shine in its place. The druid threw thunder and mixed a great storm over the island. Senán dispelled all of this and provided counterforce.

²⁹ Since the druid could not prevail against Senán, he departed from the island, and said to Senán: “Shall I not see this again when I come up?” “What will you do?” asked Senán. “I will come many times,” said the druid, “though you shall not see me or meet me, and I will strike you again.” “If you strike,” said Senán, “you shall not prevail in this land, and it will not be better for you here than in the land you rule.”

³⁰ Then the druid departed in anger, and he struck the fields around him where they were in Dairinis, the island that is called the high place of Inis Cathaig. He moved there, [raising his power] to undo what Senán had built, and to challenge the assemblies; but Senán’s blessing did not allow the assemblies to be undone.

³¹ While the druid was in the island, he struck across the sea, and the boy’s feet were fixed there, and that place became known as Carrac na n-Druadh (the Rock of the Druids). Mac Tail saw the druid there and became enraged at the outcome.

³² Then that man came to the king in Corcamruadh. He went with him to Inis Cathaig and said to Senán: “You shall receive my land by right, and what about my druid? Surely the offering shall be to them, for if a stone is placed under your feet in the middle of the sea, the work you do shall not fail.” “It is not yours,” said Senán.

³³ The king said to Senán: “Do not mount your horse among them.” “I shall not do so,” said Senán. “I will bring my horse to you on the journey,” he said. “God wills it,” said Senán, “so that I may come again to this land, and you shall know from the beginning how it is to be.”

³⁴ Then the ground swallowed the horses on the plain where they were at that time, in the Fán of the Horses, to the west of Inis Cathaig. The king was distressed by this, and it was not fitting for him to act further. “It is not right,” said the king’s son to the king, “to act against the cleric, for we shall be punished for it.” “It is not my decision,” said the king, “for the youth is strong in courage.” “If it be God’s will,” said Senán, “it is by this power that He shall act for him.”

³⁵ Then the king, in anger and rage, went to see. The boy had gone to the northern boundary of Baiscind, where the youth’s strong courage was seen under the hooves of the horses, until the horses were thrown violently against the stones. The king himself struck his head on a stone, but was not harmed. And by the mixing of Senán’s blessing, a marvel was worked on the plain, and the land was granted in faithfulness to Senán from that time onward.

³⁶ Then Dondan mac Leith, a student of Senán, and two small sons who were learning with him to win property on the land, came. The sea carried them away, along with the sons’ heads, and they could not remain on the island to help the boys. The boys were taken onto a rock. They brought their bodies to the landing-place of the islands. They were saved there, and the boys were returned to those who had been entrusted to care for them.

³⁷ Senán said to Dondan: “Tell the boys to rise, so that I may bless them.” Dondan said to the boys: “Each of you shall rise, for Senán commands it.”

³⁸ They rose immediately according to Senán’s blessing, and he said to those who had carried them: “It is evil to place blame, for you were entrusted with this land.” “What is better for you,” said their mother, “in this land now?” “Mother,” they said, “everything has been granted to us—power, nobility, and wealth; we are alive and shall not die in prison but shall live in this land. We shall endure, for it is God’s will that we live in whatever way He determines.”

³⁹ Their guardians agreed willingly, and they returned to Senán with his blessing. He gave them sacred bread, and they went to heaven, and their bodies were consecrated to the blessing that Senán had given. This was the first great miracle of Inis Cathaig.

⁴⁰ Afterwards Brendan and Ciarán came, and they chose Senán as confessor for themselves, for he was older in age than they, and dearer in affection—namely Bishop Senán—and the other two were priests. There was not food prepared for them in common at the time when they arrived. They were three days without food there, both guests and household, and food was given by no one.

⁴¹ This was told to Nechtain Cennfhada, king of Uí Fhigente: that Brendan and Ciarán were on Inis Cathaig conversing with Senán, and that they were fully three days without food. Nechtain said to his steward: “Has anything come to you for the feast that you were making for me?” “It has come,” said the steward. “Bring with you a portion of food to Senán, with his guests who are without food on Inis Cathaig.”

⁴² That was done accordingly, and the king himself came until he was at the port of the island, for the king did not dare to land at the port without the permission of Senán. The feast was shown to the five, and he left it with them so that it was in the kitchen.

⁴³ Then the clerics were summoned to speak with the king at the port of the island, and this is what he said to them: “This is what I desire, if my wish is granted: that my land my household be under Senán’s protection.”

⁴⁴ Nechtain then knelt to Senán, and he pledged himself and his descendants after him to be in obedience forever to God and to Senán, in the presence of Brendan and Ciarán. After that, the clerics gave a blessing upon Nechtain and upon his seed, so long as they should fulfil the rule of Senán; and they said—that is, the clerics, Brendan and Senán—that kingship or lordship should not come to any descendant of Nechtain who would not act according to Senán’s rule.

⁴⁵ After that the king went to his house, and he carried blessings from the holy men. Then the clerics returned to their cell, and they blessed the feast that had been brought to them. Then Brendan said: “Truly, there shall be vengeance of God here and elsewhere upon those who consume the fruit of fasting and prayer of Senán unlawfully, when it is for me to spend it and Ciarán would not allow that we should consume the reward of fasting and prayer prematurely.”

⁴⁶ After that, a year of great drought came. His people complained to Senán that they were without water. Then an angel of God came to speak with Senán after prayer, as he rose early, and this is what he said: “Great is the complaint of your people to you at being without water. Rise, so that we may see the place where there is water near to them.”

⁴⁷ Immediately Senán rose and the angel, and they went to the place where the water is today. The angel said to Senán: “Dig here.” He took a hazel stake that was near him, and he dug the earth as the angel told him. As Senán dug, the angel cleansed it. The angel said: “The depth of the digging is sufficient; there shall be no lack of water in this well so long as this place remains a church, and it will heal every sickness that is brought to it.”

⁴⁸ Then Senán thrust the hazel stake that was in his hand upon the brink of the well, so that it took root immediately. When the brethren arose in the morning, they saw the well full of water and the hazel tree upon its brink.

⁴⁹ Once, Ciarán went to converse with Senán, and it happened that leprosy afflicted him on the Ochtar Sceith. They took pity on him so that his cloak was given to them. Then he went on his own, so that he was on the shore of the island to the north.

⁵⁰ It was revealed to Senán that Ciarán was at the port. Senán spent that night without sleep on account of Ciarán, for there was no one else on the island who would take care of him. Senán went until he was at the port, with his cloak under his arm to give it to Ciarán, so that he might not be ashamed to be without a covering.

⁵¹ When Ciarán reached the port, Senán said with joy: “Ciarán without a cloak.” Ciarán said “It will be a short while that I am naked, for I have a cloak for myself under your arm there.” Ciarán took the cloak about himself, and thus they came to the church, and that is Ciarán’s cloak today.

⁵² Brigit, daughter of Con Cathrach of the Uí Mac Tail, a holy virgin, took a church in Cluain Infide on the bank of the Shannon. She had a cloak as alms for Senán, and she had no messenger to send it with. So she made a small basket of hazel twigs and bound it firmly, and put the cloak into it, and added a knife for seeking alms, and then she cast the basket upon the Shannon, and said: “It is permitted for you to carry that with you to Inis Cathaig.”

⁵³ The next day the cloak reached Inis Cathaig. Senán said to his deacon: “It is permitted for you, if you find anything on the strand, to bring it with you.” The deacon went and found the basket on the strand brought it with him to Senán. He took the cloak out of it, and Senán put it about himself. Then two lumps of salt were put into the same basket, and the knife was given for almsgiving, and it was placed upon the same water. Senán said to him: “It is permitted for you to carry it until you show the knife and the salt to Brigit, to Cluain Infide, and [to give] the other salt to Diarmait, to Inis Clothrann.”

⁵⁴ When the basket reached Cluain Infide, Brigit went to it and took from it the knife and one of the salts. The current of the Shannon carried it from her to the basket, so that it left it with Diarmait on Inis Clothrann. Brigit and Diarmait then gave thanks to God and to Senán.

⁵⁵ Canir the devout, a holy virgin from Bantry in the south of Ireland, took a hermitage in her own territory. She was there one night after rising early in prayer, when she saw the churches of all Ireland, and a column of fire from each of them going towards heaven. The fire that rose from Inis Cathaig was the greatest of them, and the clearest, and the straightest towards heaven.

⁵⁶ “Fair is that church there,” she said; “it is to it that I shall go, for it is with it that my resurrection shall be.” She came before dawn without knowledge of the way, except for the column of fire which she saw burning without ceasing between day and night before her, until she reached it. When, however, she arrived so that she was on the shore of the Shannon to the south, she then went over the sea with dry feet as if on level land, until she was at the port of Inis Cathaig.

⁵⁷ This was revealed to Senán, and he went until he was at the port to meet her, and he welcomed her. “This is what has brought me,” she said. “O Canir, arise,” said Senán, “to my mother or to my sister who is on the island over there, so that hospitality may be made for you there.” “That is not why I have come,” said Canir, “but it is for this I have come: that I might have hospitality with you on this island.” “Women do not come to this island,” said Senán.

⁵⁸ “What is that to you?” said Canir. “Christ is no worse for it, for no less did he come for the redemption of women than for the redemption of men. No less did he exalt women than exalt men. Women were ministering and serving Christ and his apostles. No less, then, do women go into the heavenly kingdom than men. Why, then,” she said, “should women not be allowed to come to you on this island?”

⁵⁹ “It is difficult,” said Senán. “Why then,” said Canir, “that which I see: am I to have my dwelling on this island, and the sacrament from you?” “It shall be given,” said Senán, “your resurrection shall be here upon the brink of the wave, and I fear the sea will carry your body away.” “By my God,” said Canir, “it will not be that which will prevail: the sea will not carry from the island the place where I shall be.” “It is permitted to you, then,” said Senán, “to come to land.”

⁶⁰ For it was thus that she was while they were conversing: she standing upon the wave, and the wave beneath her as if she were upon dry land. Then Canir came onto land, and the sacrament was given to her, and she went to heaven immediately. God granted to Canir that whoever should bring a gift to her church before going upon the sea would not be drowned until returning again.

⁶¹ Many, then, are the wonders and miracles which God worked through Senán, for there is no one who could fully recount them, unless an angel of God were to recount them. Enough, then, is this little of them as an example: namely, his moderate life, his enduring labor every day, his humility, his gentleness, his long-suffering, his purity, his compassion, his charity, his mercy, his forgiveness, his fasting, his abstinence, his prayers, his constant vigilance, his steadfast mind in God always. There is no one who could relate it, except one from God.

⁶² Many, then, were the virtues of Senán. He was the pure fountain through which all the people are washed, which God bestowed upon him for the purity of his teaching. He was also the heavenly cloud through which the land of the Church and the souls of the righteous are watered by the rain of teaching to the growth of virtues. He is the golden lamp kindled by the Holy Spirit, through which darkness is dispelled and the dwelling of the Church of God is illuminated. He is the ever-victorious boat which carries the hosts of the righteous across the storm-fires of the world to the shore of the heavenly Church. This is the sacred veil of the heavenly King, which makes peace and tranquility and harmony between Him and the sons of men. This is the steward and messenger and distributor whom the heavenly High-King sent to dispense sweet tribute and good works to the many kindreds of the Gaels. He is the precious stone by which the heavenly kingdom is built up for the hosts of the earth. He is the pure vessel through which the wine of the words of God is poured out to the peoples. He is the great hospitaller, joyful and well-teaching, who sustains the poor and the naked. He is the branch of the truly-righteous vine, chosen of life, the nourishment of the world. He is the true physician who heals the sicknesses and wounds of the soul of every faithful person in the Christian Church.

⁶³ Now when the days of the departure of that holy man—Senán—were drawing near, after healing the blind and the deaf and the lame and the dumb and every other infirmity besides, after the founding of churches and cells and monasteries for God, and after ordaining in those places bishops and priests and people of every rank besides, with anointing and consecration and the blessing of the laity, it came into the mind of Senán to go to make prayer at the graves of Cassidán, his foster-father, and of his father’s sister, namely Scáth, a devout woman.

⁶⁴ He then went in that direction, and companions went with him to Cell Eochaille to converse with the daughters of Neir who were there—namely holy, devout virgins who had taken the veil under the hand of Senán and were under his spiritual direction. Those women then asked Senán to give them the body of a humble monk from his household to them, saying: “to bury him with us, so that his grave might be for our protection.”

⁶⁵ “It shall be given to you indeed,” said Senán, “provided that whoever neglects your protection does not escape punishment.” He then took leave of the holy virgins and went and made prayer at the graves of Cassidán, and he returned again until he reached the hawthorn which is in the place near Cell Eochaille to the west.

⁶⁶ There he heard the voice speaking to him from heaven, and this is what it said: “O holy Senán, come to heaven.” Senán answered and said: “When?” “Prepare yourself immediately in that place.”

⁶⁷ Then the angels of God lifted Martin from Tóirinis in a heavenly cloud and set him in the place where Senán was, and he gave him communion and the sacrament. When this was completed for him, God granted that the angels lifted Martin the monk in the same cloud and left him in Tóirinis on that same day. Then Senán said to his people: “My body will be here until early morning.”

⁶⁸ And Senán sent forth his spirit to heaven between the hands of angels, to the banquet of the Trinity, in the middle of the day on Tuesday. Senán’s body lay there meanwhile incorrupt, and although the light of the sun was lacking from them that night, they lacked neither the presence of angels nor the heavenly light.

⁶⁹ Then in the morning his people came from the island for Senán’s body—namely Odhrán and Mac Inill and Bishop Iúil and Bishop Mola Segda son of Báeth and the other saints—and they buried Senán’s body with great honor and reverence. And angels carried his soul to eternal rest in the unity of the Holy Trinity and the company of heaven.

⁷⁰ I beg the mercy of God through the intercession of Senán, that we may attain that same unity, for ever and ever. Amen.