[172] “His daily meal was a bit of barley bread and a drink of water. On Sundays and holidays it was wheaten bread and a piece of broiled salmon.”—Irish Life.
[173] See the Irish Life in the Book of Lismore.
[174] See Colgan’s Life of St. Columba of Tir-da-glas.
Regressus in Clonardiam
Ad cathedram lecturae,
Apponit diligentiam
Ad studium Scripturae.
—Hymn from St. Finnian’s Office.
Trium virorum millium
Sorte fit doctor humilis;
Verbi his fudit fluvium
Ut fons emanans rivulis.
[177] The Irish Life also makes him son of Fintan.
[178] The modern diocese of Meath is an aggregate of seven or eight ancient dioceses; hence it has no cathedral church, but takes its name from the ancient principality (Midhe) with which it is almost conterminous.
[179] Leabhar Breac.