37. Saint Columba, on hearing of the death of Saint Kiaranus, said,
"Blessed be God, Who hath called to Himself most holy Kiaranus from
this life in his youth. For had he lived to old age, there would have
been envy of many against him, for he would have had a firm hold on
the parish of all Ireland."
Saint Columba made a hymn to Saint Kiaranus; and when he set it forth
in the settlement of Cluain, the successor of Saint Kiaranus said unto
him, "Shining and worthy of praise is this hymn; what reward then,
father, shall be rendered unto thee?" Saint Columba answered: "Give me
my hands full of the earth of the grave of your holy father Kiaranus;
for I wish for and desire that, more than for pure gold and precious
gems." And Saint Columba receiving earth from the grave of Saint
Kiaranus, made his way to his own island of Hya.
When Saint Columba was voyaging on the sea, there arose a storm in the
sea, and the ship was thrust towards the whirlpool which is in the
Scotic tongue called Cori Bracayn, in which is a sea-whirlpool most
dangerous, wherein if ships enter they come not out. And the whirlpool
beginning to draw the ship towards itself, blessed Columba cast part
of the earth of Saint Kiaranus into the sea. Most wondrous to relate,
immediately the storm of the air, the movement of the waves, and the
swirl of the whirlpool all ceased, till the ship had long escaped from
it. Then Saint Columba, giving thanks to God, said to his followers,
"Ye see, brethren, how much favour hath the earth of most blessed
Kiaranus brought us."