VIII.—PATRICK IN CREMORNE

Patrick then went further south-east into Mugdoirn, now corresponding with the modern barony of Cremorne (Crioch-Mugdoirn), and came to the place called Domnach Maigne, which still retains its name—Donaghmoyne—an old church about two miles north of Carrickmacross in Farney. The church has disappeared, but the churchyard is there still, finely situated in a secluded vale, surrounded by those swelling hills so characteristic of Ulster scenery, which at once give variety and repose to the landscape. A certain Victor dwelt there, whose name sounds foreign, though he appears to have been a native of the district. He was in no hurry to become a Christian; so when he heard of Patrick’s approach, he hid himself in a brake, hoping to remain undiscovered. But a divine radiance lit up the brake ‘so that even in the darkness of night everything was clear as day therein.’ Victor, seeing that he was discovered in this wonderful way by a kind of divine search-light, came out of his hiding-place and ‘submitted to Patrick’—that is, he believed, or professed to believe, and was baptised. What is stranger still—after suitable instruction Patrick ordained him, and gave him a church to rule as pastor, and afterwards bestowed the order of a bishop upon him, and left him in the church of Donaghmoyne, which consequently must be regarded as the mother church of all the barony of Cremorne. And we are told that Patrick was so pleased with his reception in that territory that he baptised the men of Cremorne, and blessed them with a special blessing, saying that nobles and clerics would spring from them; and, having thus enriched them with his blessing, he bade them adieu.