Reproduction of the original.

Five miles or less to the east of Youghal Harbour, on the southern Irish coast, a short, rocky and rather elevated promontory juts, with a south-easterly trend, into the ocean [± 51° 57’ N / 7° 43’ W]. Maps and admiralty charts call it Ram Head, but the real name is Ceann-a-Rama and popularly it is often styled Ardmore Head. The material of this inhospitable coast is a hard metamorphic schist which bids defiance to time and weather. Landwards the shore curves in clay cliffs to the north-east, leaving, between it and the iron headland beyond, a shallow exposed bay wherein many a proud ship has met her doom. Nestling at the north side of the headland and sheltered by the latter from Atlantic storms stands one of the most remarkable groups of ancient ecclesiastical remains in Ireland—all that has survived of St. Declan’s holy city of Ardmore.

In the anthology 'Life of St. Declan of Ardmore and Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore,' P. Power and Michael O'Clery bring together significant hagiographical works that explore the profound religious and cultural heritage of Ireland. The collection juxtaposes two distinct lives of Irish saints, offering a rich tapestry of medieval spirituality, miracle traditions, and ecclesiastical history. It stands out for its deep exploration of themes such as the intersection of Christianity and Irish culture, the formation of religious communities, and the role of saints in advancing the Christian faith across Ireland. The variety in narrative techniques and the meticulous detailing of each saint's life journey underscore the anthology's literary and historical significance. The contributing authors, P. Power and Michael O'Clery, come from enriched backgrounds deeply rooted in the exploration of Irish hagiography and history. Michael O'Clery, a 17th-century Franciscan friar and a leading figure in the compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters, brings a historical rigor and depth to the narratives. Power, sharing a passion for Irish historical and religious studies, contributes to the scholarly research that underpins this anthology, thereby aligning it with broader discussions on the role of sainthood in cultural and religious identity formation in Ireland. This anthology is recommended for readers interested in the spiritual histories and cultural legacies of Ireland, as it provides an unparalleled dive into the lives of two pivotal saints. The scholarly work that underlies this collection offers a unique opportunity to engage with complex themes of faith, tradition, and historical transformation. Readers will find in this volume a gateway to understanding the broader spectra of Irish religious history and its enduring impact on cultural identity. The anthology is a testament to the power of collective storytelling and the unifying force of shared spiritual heritage.

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. No Irish saint perhaps has so strong a local hold as Declan or has left so abiding a popular memory. Nevertheless his period is one of the great disputed questions of early Irish history. According to the express testimony of his Life, corroborated by testimony of the Lives of SS. Ailbhe and Ciaran, he preceded St. Patrick in the Irish mission and was a co-temporary of the national apostle. Objection, exception or opposition to the theory of Declan's early period is based less on any inherent improbability in the theory itself than on contradictions and inconsistencies in the Life. Beyond any doubt the Life does actually contradict itself; it makes Declan a cotemporary of Patrick in the fifth century and a cotemporary likewise of St. David a century later. In any attempted solution of the difficulty involved it may be helpful to remember a special motive likely to animate a tribal histrographer, scil.:--the family relationship, if we may so call it, of the two saints; David was bishop of the Deisi colony in Wales as Declan was bishop of their kinsmen of southern Ireland. It was very probably part of the writer's purpose to call attention to the links of kindred which bound the separated Deisi; witness his allusion later to the alleged visit of Declan to his kinsmen of Bregia. Possibly there were several Declans, as there were scores of Colmans, Finians, &c., and hence perhaps the confusion and some of the apparent inconsistencies.