ver have rest from persecution
and complaints.
Patrick went from Tara until he met Dubhtach Mac Ui-Lugair at
Domhnach-mor of Magh-Criathar, in Ui-Cinnse-laigh, who believed for
Patrick. Patrick requested from him a handsome youth who would not be of
low family--a man of one wife, for whom but one son was born. "Hem,"
said Dubhtach, "that is Fiacc, son of Ere, I am afraid--the man of those
qualities, who went from me to the territory of Connacht with poems for
the kings." At these words he (Fiacc) came. "What are you considering?"
asked Fiacc. "Dubhtach for the crozier," said Patrick. "That will be a
blemish to many, indeed," said Fiacc; "why should not I be taken in place
of him?" "You will be received, indeed," said Patrick. He was tonsured,
baptized, an alphabet was written for him, and he read his psalms in one
day, as has been related to me. He was ordained in the grade of bishop,
and the bishopric of Leinster was given to him by Patrick; and his only
son, Fiachra, was also ordained. This Fiacc was, therefore, the first
bishop ordained in Leinster. Patrick gave Fiacc a case--viz., a bell, a
reliquary, a crozier, and a book-satchel; and he left seven of his people
with him--viz., Mochatoc of Inis-Fail, Augustin of Inis-Bec, Tecan, and
Diarmait, and Nainnid, Paul, and Fedilmidh.
He (Fiacc) afterwards resided in Domnach-Feic, and he was there until
threescore of his people died with him. Then the angel went to him, and
said to him: "It is on the west of the river (Barrow) thy (place of)
resurrection is, in Cul-maighe"; and he said that where they would meet a
boar, there they should build their refectory; but where they would meet
a hind, there they should place the church. Fiacc said to the angel that
he would not go until Patrick would come to mark out the boundary of his
place, and to consecrate it, and that he might get the place from him.
Patrick went then to Fiacc, and marked out his place with him, and fixed
his site. And Crimthan presented that place to Patrick, for it was
Patrick that baptized him; and it is in Sleibhte he is buried. It was
there, afterwards, Fiacc was ordained.
They (the Ui-Ercan) were at that time persecuted by the King of Leinster,
Crimthann, son of Enna Ceinnselach, so that they went into exile. Of
them are the _manachs_ in Hy-Crimthann, and the _manachs_ in Ulster, and
Cenel-Enna in Munster. Of them is Fiacc, of whom we have spoken before.
Fiacc, Aengus, Ailill Mar,
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