CHAPTER VII.

MINOR MONASTIC SCHOOLS OF THE FIFTH CENTURY.

I.--THE SCHOOL OF NOENDRUM 141 St. Mochae 141 St. Colman of Dromore 143 Mochae of Noendrum enchanted for 150 years by the song of a Blackbird 144

II.--THE SCHOOL OF LOUTH 145 St. Mochta 145 School founded 147 The Druid Hoam 147 _Book of Cuana_ 149

III.--THE SCHOOL OF EMLY 149 St. Ailbe 149 Pre-Patrician Bishops in Ireland 150 Life of St. Ailbe of Emly 151 Ailbe preached the Gospel in Connaught 152 Life of St. Declan 153 Sts. Ciaran, Ailbe, Declan, and Ibar yield subjection and supremacy to Patrick 153 Difficulties against the authenticity of the Lives of St. Ciaran, St. Declan, and St. Ailbe 155

IV.--ST. IBAR 155 Beg-Eri 156 School of Beg-Eri 157 Beg-Eri no longer an Island 158

V.--EARLY SCHOOLS IN THE WEST OF IRELAND 159 College at Cluainfois 160 School of St. Asicus of Elphin 161