ide vessel, the Suir,
and God will send us salt, for this child is destined to become holy and
wonderful [in his works]." Thereupon Declan took up a fistful of earth
and, making prayer in his heart to God, he signed the clay with the sign
of the cross of redemption. It (the handful of earth) became white, dry
salt, and all, on seeing it, gave thanks and honour to God and Declan.
The infant was baptised there and the name of Ciaran given him. Declan
said: "Bring up my spiritual son carefully and send him, at a fitting
age, for education to a holy man who is well instructed in the faith for
he will become a shining bright pillar in the Church." And it was this
child, Ciaran Mac Eochaidh, who founded in after years a famous monastery
(from which he migrated to heaven) and another place (monastery) besides.
He worked many miracles and holy signs and this is the name of his
monastery Tiprut [Tubrid] and this is where it is:--in the western part
of the Decies in Ui Faithe between Slieve Grot [Galtee] and Sieve Cua and
it is within the bishopric of Declan.

38. On another day there came a woman to Declan's monastery not far from
the city where she dwelt. She committed a theft that day in Declan's
monastery as she had often done previously, and this is the thing she
stole--a "habellum" [possibly an item of tribute]; she departed homewards
taking it with her and there met her a group of people on the highway,
and the earth, in their presence, swallowed her up, and she cast out the
tabellum from her bosom and it was quickly turned into a stone which the
wayfarers took and brought with them to Declan. Declan himself had in
supernatural vision seen all that happened to the woman in punishment of
her theft, and the name of Declan was magnified owing to those marvels so
that fear took possession of all-those present and those absent. The
stone in question remains still in Declan's graveyard in his own town of
Ardmore-Declain, where it stands on an elevated place in memory of this
miracle.

39. A rich man named Fintan was childless, for his wife was barren for
many years. He himself, with his wife, visited Declan and promised large
alms and performance of good works provided he (Declan) would pray that
they might have children: they held it as certain that if Declan but
prayed for them God would grant them children. Declan therefore, praying
to God and blessing the pair, said: "Proceed to your home and through
God's bou