Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

Legends of the Celtic Saints. 343
any of you will be welcome to go inside and look
at it.
Somewhat more hasty was the proceeding of another
saintly architect.
St. Declan, when he was building the great round
tower at Ardmore in Waterford, was much annoyed by
the chatter and questions of an inquisitive woman (the
colour of her hair is not recorded). So just as the cap was
being placed on the lofty building, he took a shovel that
happened to be at hand, and putting it under her feet,
skilfully pitched her to the summit, where her skeleton
was afterwards discovered in situ !
In the monastery of Inni'sfallen there flourished, in the
days of Brian Boroimhe, a remarkable scholar, by name
Maelsuthain O'Carroll, who enjoyed the honour of being
confessor and private secretary to the Irish Alfred.
There is a specimen of his handwriting extant in old
Latin (Irish letters), made in the year 1002, in the Book
of Armagh, in the presence of King Brian himself, on
occasion of one of his visits. The object of the entry
was to confirm the supremacy of the Archbishop of
Armagh over him of Cashel, and the other Irish digni-
taries. The translation is subjoined. The curious may
see the original in the College Library, at folio 16 of the
book :
—
'•St. Patrick, going up to heaven, commanded that
all the fruit of his labour, as well of baptisms as of