This impressive story, which is as remote as possible in style from
the ordinary stock incident, is probably authentic. The chronological
indications in VG are quite wrong: the 9th of September A.D. 548 was a
Wednesday, and was the twentieth day of the moon. They are, however,
so far accurate for the year 556, that 9th September in that year was
Saturday, and was the _nineteenth_ day of the moon. As the observation
of new moon, if not astronomically calculated, is often wrong by a
day, owing to the faint crescent not being seen at its very first
appearance, this is sufficiently close to allow us to enquire
legitimately whether 556 may not have been the true date of Ciaran's
death.
The Bollandists cite from the Life of Saint Cellach a tale to the
effect that Cellach was son of Eogan Bel King of Connacht, and was
a monk at Clonmacnois; but on the death of his father he secretly
absconded, in order to secure the kingdom for himself. Becoming
convinced of the sinfulness of this proceeding, he returned and
submitted to Ciaran once more, who received him fraternally _after he
had spent a year in penance_. As the Bollandists point out, this
story (quite independently of its historical authenticity) reveals a
tradition other than that of Ciaran spending but seven months on earth
after founding Clonmacnois. The _Annals of Ulster_ also gives him a
longer time at Clonmacnois, dating the foundation 541, and the death
of the saint 548: a space of seven years. This would make the saint
only twenty-six years old when he founded Clonmacnois, which is
perhaps improbable. We may suggest another way of reconciling the
traditions, taking the orthodox date for the foundation of Clonmacnois
(548) but postponing the death of the saint to 556, in accordance with
the astronomical indications. Some one noticed that if his life were
retrenched to the year of the foundation of the monastery, it would be
brought into conformity in length with the Life of Christ.
With Ciaran's indifference as to the fate of his relics, contrast the
dying injunction of Cuthbert to his monks, that they should dig up his
bones and transport them whithersoever they should go.[27]
The _Little Church_ intended by the author is presumably the small
chapel, of which the ruins still remain at Clonmacnois, called Saint
Ciaran's chapel. It is a century or two later than Ciaran's time, but
may very probably stand on the site of Ciaran's wooden church. Hard by
is the end of a raised causeway leading to the Nunnery; this may be
the "Little Height" referred to.