A short distance north of Balbriggan at Bremore, (High Hill), lies the alleged site of a. seventh century church founded by a native son of County Cork, namely Molaga, alternatively called Lachinus. The legendary life of Molaga is recounted in several manuscript and printed documents and while certain chronological examples occur, his exploits are worth relating. Molaga was born in the territory known as Feramugia, in North Cork and of the Darine race. Deceased local historian, Paddy Daly, in an article published on February, 9th, 1929 recounts the story of Molaga's miraculous birth in the following way: "In the early years of the faith in Ireland, it happened that St. Cummin the Tall and St. Cuman Mac de Chearda were passing by a place called Aghacross, midway between Mitchelstown and Kildorrey and in a field by the highway, they saw an old couple sowing flax. St. Cumin wondered at an old couple doing the work unaided and he asked them what brought about that state of things. The man said "We are married more than thirty years and it was the will of god not to give us any children. As soon as we understood in our own minds that this was the will of God we thought also that it was his will that we should spend our lives in perfect chastity. We did so and with the help of God we will finish our time in this world in the same way." Dubhlaigh and Mionchulla were the names respectively of this man and woman. The Saint spoke: "It is true that you will have spent your lives according to the will of God and that which lie did not bestow on you hitherto, he will do so now. God will give you a son and he will have great and holy virtues, and he shall give good example to all...." Paddy Daly continues: "Soon after their interview with the saints, a wonderful change came over the old people. The decrepitude of old age left them and the beauty and bloom of youth returned ... In due time, Mionchulla gave birth to a son and that child was Molaga."
Various sources relate that King Cuanna of Fermoy had the parents and child brought to his palace and that multitudes came from all parts to see the miraculous child. Molaga received a good education and as a young man embarked on a missionary journey of Scotland and Wales.
He supposedly spent twelve years studying in St. David's monastery at Menevia, in southwest Wales. This monastery was located in an isolated valley, which the Welsh called Glyn Rhosyn - the Valley of the rose - in modern Pembrokeshire. Before returning to Ireland, Molaga received a bell, called Boban Molaga, as a present from St. David. Rev. John O'Hanlon, author of Lives of the Irish Saints, published in 1875, casts some doubt as to whether these two remarkable men actually met as die death of St. David is generally placed at 592 AD!
The story continues with the return of Molaga to Ireland where legend recalls that he healed a chieftain of the Canasta sept of an ailment variously described as "a wasting illness" and as "leprosy of the face. As a reward die grateful chieftain granted Molaga an annual tribute and a tract of land allegedly near Bfemore in Fingal 36 where the saint built a church. According to Rev. OTlanlon, Professor Brian O'Looney in his mss, Life of St. Molaga, states dm this tribute amounted to a pingin (penny) from everyone in Dun Dubhline, and was to be paid to Molaga every third year. At this point, the story of Molaga becomes interwoven with that of St. Modomnoc of Ossory.
Writer Margaret Mayo, author of a delightful little book entitled Saints, Birds and Beasts, chronicles die story of Domnocs long sojourn as gardener and beekeeper to St. David in Glyn Rhosyn. In old age, a sorrowful Modomnoc was instructed to return to his native Ireland by St. David. While setting out on his voyage a swarm of his beloved bees thrice alighted on die mast of his little vessel. Legend has it that St. David perceiving this occurrence to be a good omen allowed Modomnoc to bring the bees to Ireland. It is not clear how they found their way to Bremore. Perhaps Modomnoc visited his friend Molaga ON his way home to Kilkenny. James K. Watson, author of Bee-Keeping in Ireland: a history quotes an article written by May Nevin, which appeared in The Imeldist, March, 1952, in which she stated that Modomnoc returned to Wexford. Where the Irish Abbot gave his new monk leave to build a hermitage, around which the bees could live in peace and as time passed the swarms increased and were sent to other places in Ireland.
What we do know is that Molaga's thriving bee culture at Bremore gave rise to one of the most interesting place names in Irish topography- The Church at Bremore was called Llan-Beach-Aire (Church of the Beekeeper), an unusual amalgam of the Welsh and Gaelic language.
Molaga later journeyed to Clonmacnois where he may have been a teacher. While there, he was invited back to his native district where he is reputed to have founded churches at Tulach Min (Knockaneeun/ and at Teampall Molaga, near Kildorrery. A third foundation, in the same district, called Leabba Malaga is said to be his final resting place. His last and perhaps greatest foundation was situated in Timoleague or Teach Molaga. Fr. James Coombes, present Parish Priest of Timoleague, relates this foundation in his booklet A History Of Timoleague and Barryroe, published in 1969, in the following way: "Every school child in the district knows the lovely legend of how he (St. Malaga), founded his monastery in Timoleague. Molaga and his companions chose several other places, but what they built by day fell by night. He then took a lighted candle from the altar, placed it on a sheaf of corn, and set it afloat on the waters of the Arigideen river or of the bay and prayed that God would direct it to where he wished him to build his church, they then followed the sheaf and candle; Tigh Molaige, the house of Molaga, was built where the sheaf floated ashore, on or near the site of the friary."
As to Bremore, we know that the Papal Bull of Pope Alexander III dated April 20th, 1179, addressed to Archbishop Laurence OToole, granted to the See of Dublin, Lusk and all that belonged to it, including Bremore. In 1220, the first dismemberment of the mother church of Lusk occurred with the appropriation of Baldungan, Bremore and Balrothery churches to a leper hospital, dedicated to St. Mary in 1192, situated at Kilbixey, near Tristernagh, in County Westmeath. The powerful Anglo-Norman Barn wall family built a castle sometime in the 14th century at Bremore on a site adjoining the presumed site of Molaga's once famous foundation. John Dalton, in his standard work, The History of the County Dublin (1838), affords a brief description: "Here is a very handsome cottage of Mr. Gilbert, opposite which in a farmyard, the wreck of the ancient castle may be traced, on a site commanding a most extensive and sublime prospect. Near it are the remains of the old church, within which may be seen a stone, that seems to have formed the arching of the castle doorway and bears the date 1689. On the ground in front of the farmhouse is another stone of the same edifice, charged with the armorial bearings of the families of Buriford, Howth and Barnewall."
The Barnewalls at least prolonged the spirit of St. Molaga during Penal Times by offering a safe house for hearing Mass and Bishop Donnelly, author of Short Histories of Dublin Parishes tells us that Rev. John Corcoran, PR between 1700 and 1725,was a life long friend of the Barnewalls in whose castle at Bremore he usually resided and there said Mass. Shortly after this period the lands of Bremore passed to Viscount Landsdowne. The Butler and King families farmed the lands of Bremore, and in the early 1980s Dublin County Council purchased the lands from the Bell family. The Council commissioned a conservation/restoration survey of the castle and church graveyard site in 1991 following representations from Balbriggan Historical and Cultural Society who were concerned with the rapid deterioration of this most historic site. Accordingly, a total reconstruction project started in 1994 and is now in full swing involving F.A.S., Fingal County Council and Balbriggan and District Historical Society. It is planned to restore the Castle, discover the ancient monastic garden, feature and protect the remaining artifacts located in the church/graveyard site, and perhaps provide a small museum for exhibitions and displays of local materials. In this way, perhaps the work and pastor ship of Molaga and his successors may best be remembered.
The Cache
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Please take care when retrieving and rehiding the cache to prevent Muggles from discovering its existence
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