The book Arran; - Cook Clan

70 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
on the shore, which in the older topography was ' the kirktoun
of Kilbride.' ^
The life of our Molaise is written at length in a MS. of
a time later than the eleventh century, which in substance,
however, no doubt embodies more ancient material,^ Thus
runs the tale. Molaise, like Columba, was of royal kin :
' He was of the race of Fiatach Finn, King of Erin, of the
seed of Heremon.' ^ Aidan of Dalriada, after the death in
battle of his father Gabhran when fighting against the Picts,
fled to Uladh or old Ulster in north Ireland, where was born
to him a daughter Gemma, ' jewel ' in nature as in name,*
from this happy coincidence known later as Maithgemm
{bona gemma, ' good jewel '). She married an Ulster princeps
or chief, apparently also of royal rank, called Cairell ; but
elsewhere her husband is given as Cuinid.^ To them was
born, about 566, Las or Lais, ' the flame ' that was to become
a ' star of glory' {gloriosum sidus). Unfortunately on these
terms dates do not quite fit in. According to the annalist
Tighernach, Gabhran was slain in 560. If Gemma was born
after that date, she must have been a too premature mother,
being aged, at most, six or thereabouts at her son's birth.
This is not very plausible ; but chronology, in such a case,
is perhaps too cynical a test.
Very early was the destiny of the boy prefigured by signs
' Acts of Pari., vii. 580 a (16G9). The Norse form for the island was Melansay.
Dean Monro refers to it in 1549 as ' the yle of Molass' {Description of the Western Isles).
Headrick (1807) calls it 'The island of Lamlash' (p. 80). 'From the Almeslache of
Fordun (Bower ?), I'rofessor Mackinnon suggests the intermediate steps to have been :
Eilean Molaise, Elmolaise, Lemolash, Lamlash ' (Henderson's Norse Infvence on
Celtic Scotland, p. 202). Helantinluysche, quae vutgariter Almeslache is the phrase in
Scotichronicon , lib. ii. cap. i. It is Almolach in Exchequer Rolls, vol. x. p. 5.
Kilmalash or Kilmaglass are Irish forms embodying the same name.
' For this see Acta Sanctorum, April 18, from which the leading facts that follow
are taken. See also Forbes's {Calendars of Scottish Saints, p. 407 S.
' Martyrnlog)/ of Donegal, April 18, p. 105.
* Virtutum meritis et nomine Gemma, 'by her virtuous merits and in name a gem.'
— Acta Sanct.
^ Annals of Ulster. The Book of Leinster and other ancient sources give Cairell.