op to discuss, that it is impossible for Christianity at that
early date to have found its way to this distant island, beyond the
boundary of the world. An argument on a different plane is (I.), the
undoubtedly contradictory and inconsistent character of the Life. It is
easy however to exaggerate the importance of this point. Modern critical
methods were undreamed of in the days of our hagiographer, who
wrote, moreover, for edification only in a credulous age. Most of the
historical documents of the period are in a greater or less degree
uncritical but that does not discredit their testimony however much it
may confuse their editors. It can be urged moreover that two mutually
incompatible genealogies of the saint are given. The genealogy given by
MacFirbisigh seems in fact to disagree in almost every possible detail
with the genealogy in 23 M. 50 R.I.A. That however is like an argument
that Declan never existed. It really suggests and almost postulates the
existence of a second Declan whose Acts and those of our Declan have
become mutually confused.

(II.) Absence of Declan's name from the Acts of Patrick is a negative
argument. It is explicable perhaps by the supposed irregularity of
Declan's preaching. Declan was certainly earlier than Mochuda and yet
there is no reference to him in the Life of the latter saint. Ailbhe
however is referred to in the Tripartite Life of Patrick and the
cases of Ailbhe and Declan are "a pari"; the two saints stand or fall
together.

(IV.) Motives for invention of the pre-Patrician myth are alleged,
scil.:--to rebut certain claims to jurisdiction, tribute or visitation
advanced by Armagh in after ages. It is hard to see however how
resistance to the claims in question could be better justified on the
theory of a pre-Patrician Declan, who admittedly acknowledged Patrick's
supremacy, than on the admission of a post-Patrician mission.

That in Declan we have to deal with a very early Christian teacher of
the Decies there can be no doubt. If not anterior to Patrick he must
have been the latter's cotemporary. Declan however had failed to convert
the chieftain of his race and for this--reading between the lines of the
"Life"--we seem to hear Patrick blaming him.

The monuments proper of Declan remaining at Ardmore are (a) his ORATORY
near the Cathedral and Round Tower in the graveyard, (b) his STONE on
the beach, (c) his WELL on the cliff, and (d) ANOTHER STONE said to have
been found in his