Saint Moling

Saint Moling
Relief of St. Moling in St. Mary's and St. Michael's Church in New Ross
Born	614 Sliabh Luachra, Co. Kerry
Died	697

Saint Mo Ling (614–697), also named Moling Luachra, was the second Bishop of Ferns in Ireland and has been said to be "one of the four great prophets of Erin". He founded a monastery at St Mullin's, County Carlow. His feast day is 17 June.

According to a manuscript in the Royal Library, Brussels, Mo Ling was descended from Cathaoir Mór, King of Leinster. He is said to have been the illegitimate son of a wealthy landholder called Faelán the Fair, son of Feradach, and of Faelán's sister-in-law, Émnait. Ashamed of the pregnancy, Émnait fled home, traveling by night. She arrived at Sliabh Luachra in the midst of winter when the snow was said to be so deep that it reached men's shoulders. She gave birth to a son in the snow, whereupon a company of angels arrived and melted the snow around the child for thirty feet on every side.

Émnait intended to kill the child but a white dove spread its wings around the baby, keeping him warm and protecting him from attack throughout the night. They were found the next morning by monks, who took them in and baptized the child Tairchell. When Tairchell was about sixteen years of age, he encountered a family of spectres on the road, but managed to escape by means of three fantastic leaps. The monk Collanach then gave him the name Mo Ling ('ling' meaning 'leap').

There is a tradition that Mo Ling is Saint Myllin, who travelled to Wales, baptised people at the holy well in Llanfyllin, Powys, and founded the church there.

Mo Ling was a monk at Glendalough and went on to become Bishop of Ferns. Bede describes Saint Mo Ling as a "good and wise man, excellently versed in the knowledge of the Scriptures". He died in 697 and is buried at St. Mullin's.

Saint Moling founded a monastery on the River Barrow. The monastery was said to have been built with the help of Gobán Saor, the legendary Irish builder. Over time a settlement grew up around it.

It is said that St Mo Ling established a mill there and dug a mile-long watercourse with his own hands to power it, He is reputed to have been the first person to introduce rye into Ireland. He helped his people by distributing corn and meal during a particularly inclement summer. St. Mo Ling was a skilled boatman, passing quickly up the river Barrow to visit his friend Saint Laserian at Leighlin.

St. Mo Ling is linked with the folkloric character Suibhne Geilt [Mad Sweeney]. It is related that Suibhne Geilt, who went mad at the Battle of Moira (Mag Rath) in A.D. 634, afterwards travelled to Teach Moling. He was murdered there by Mongán, Saint Moling's swineherd. He was buried with great honour within the church by its founder and patron.