Baring-Gould’s sources: Irish Martyrologies. Also on Feb. 23. Authorities: — A Life in Colgan on Feb. 23.] The early history of this famous saint is so full of anachronisms that it can scarcely be unravelled. It is 1 It U said to S. Martin, but that saint d ed in 401. [Dec. u generally admitted that he was a native of Leinster, and that he was son of Fintan, of the race of Loschain, and that his mother’s name was Talech. They are represented as Christians; and accordingly it is related that, soon after the child was born, they sent him to Roscar to be baptized by Bishop Fortkera. The women who were carrying him were met on the way by S. Abban, who undertook to baptize him, and performed the ceremony at a place where two rivers meet. Finnian was brought up by Bishop Fortkem, but when aged thirty, he went to S. Cayman of Darinis, and then, crossing the sea, visited Killmuinne or Menevia, in Wales, and had interviews with S. David, S. Gildas, S. Cadoc, and others. He is said to have remained in Wales founding churches during thirty years. There is a church called Llanffinan in Anglesea, which may perhaps have been founded by him. He must have been in Wales about 520, and certainly did not spend so many as thirty years there. He returned to Ireland, and was given land by Muircdeach, prince of Hykinsellagh. He founded churches, and then a school at Magna, perhaps Hy-barche in Carlow, where he taught during seven years. He removed to Clonard about 530, where he opened a school. His reputation for learning was so great, that crowds of students flocked to his school and monastery, among whom are mentioned the two Kierans, S. Columba of Iona, and S. Columba of Tirdaglas. He is spoken of as being bishop as well as abbot of Clonard, yet he is never called so either in his Acts or in the Irish Kalendars. His usual food was bread and herbs, and his drink water. On festival days he ate fish and drank beer. He slept on the bare ground, and had a stone for his pillow. He was attended in his last illness by S. Columba, son of Crimthan, of Tirdaglas, and died at Clonard in the year Dec. xa.) S. Bertoara,