LIFE OF ST. DECLAN.

"BETHA DECCLAIN."


1. The most blessed Bishop Declan of the most noble race of the kings of
Ireland, i.e., the holy bishop who is called Declan was of the most noble
royal family of Ireland--a family which held the sceptre and exacted
tribute from all Ireland at Tara for ages. Declan was by birth of noble
blood as will appear from his origin and genealogy, for it was from
Eochaidh Feidhleach, the powerful Ardrigh of Ireland for twelve years,
that he sprang. Eochaidh aforesaid, had three sons, scil.:--Breas, Nar,
and Lothola, who are called the three Finneavna; there reigned one
hundred and seven kings of their race and kindred before and after them,
i.e. of the race of Eremon, king of Ireland,--before the introduction of
Christianity and since. These three youths lay one day with their own
sister Clothra, daughter of the same father, and she conceived of them.
The son she brought forth as a consequence of that intercourse was marked
by three red wavy lines which indicated his descent from the three youths
aforesaid. He was named Lugaidh Sriabhdearg from the three lines
[sriabaib] in question, and he was beautiful to behold and of greater
bodily strength in infancy than is usual with children of his age. He
commenced his reign as king of Ireland the year in which Caius Caesar
[Caligula] died and he reigned for twenty-six years. His son was named
Criomthan Nianair who reigned but sixteen years. Criomthan's son was
named Fearadach Finnfechtnach whose son was Fiacha Finnolaidh whose son
again was Tuathal Teachtmhar. This Tuathal had a son Felimidh Reachtmhar
who had in turn three sons--Conn Ceadcathach, Eochaidh Finn, and Fiacha