Declan was beginning mass one day in a church which lay in his road, when there was sent him from heaven a little black bell, which came in through the window of the church and remained on the altar before Declan. Declan greatly rejoiced thereat and gave thanks and glory to Christ on account of it, and it filled him with much courage to combat the error and false teaching of heathendom. He gave the bell for safe keeping and carriage, to Runan aforesaid, i.e. son of the king of Rome, and this is its name in Ireland—‘The Duibhin Declain,’ and it is from its colour it derives its name, for its colour is black. There were manifested, by grace of God and Declan's merits, many miracles through its agency and it is still preserved in Declan's church.