Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Life of St. Declan of Ardmore (Author: Patrick Power)
chapter 4
Colman thereupon returned to his own abode; he commanded that
Declan should be brought up with due care, that he should be
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well trained, and be set to study at the age of seven years if there could
be found in his neighbourhood a competent Christian scholar to
undertake his tuition. Even at the period of his baptism grace and
surpassing charity manifested themselves in the countenance of Declan
so that it was understood of all that great should be the goodness
and the spiritual charm of his mature age. When Dobhran had heard
and seen these things concerning his kinsman Erc he requested the
latter and Deithin to give him the child to foster, and with this
request Erc complied. The name of the locality was 'Dobhran's Place'
at that time, but since then it has been 'Declan's Place.' Dobhran
presented the homestead to Declan and removed his own dwelling thence
to another place. In after years, when Declan had become a bishop,
he erected there a celebrated cell in honour of God, and this is the
situation of the cell in question:—In the southern part of the
Decies, on the east side of Magh Sgiath and not far from the city of
Mochuda i.e. Lismore. For the space of seven years Declan was
fostered with great care by Dobhran (his father's brother) and was
much loved by him. God wrought many striking miracles through
Declan's instrumentality during those years. By aid of the Holy
Spirit dwelling in him he (Declan)—discreet Christian man that he
was—avoided every fault and every unlawful desire during that time.