A mural of St Molaga in our school entrance hall.
A holy man named Molaga had been hunted out of Ireland by the Druids. He went to Scotland to find refuge and later to Minevia in Wales where the Welsh patron saint St. David lived. He stayed with St. David for a while and then decided to return to Ireland to do missionary work. St. David gave Molaga a bell when he was leaving Wales and St. Molaga brought this bell back to Ireland.
St. Molaga came to Dublin, which at that time was called Áth Cliath and from there he sailed up the coast of Fingal until he came to Bremore. A clann or group of people called Cianachta lived there at that time. A chief of that tribe became ill and when the druids couldn't cure him, St. Molaga went to the leader and managed to help him. He cured the man and in return the chieftain gave him the land of Bremore and a yearly allowance. St. Molaga built a church there and became well known in the area of Bremore.
St. David had another visitor whose name was Domhnog. Domhnog decided to return to Ireland. St. David owned a lot of bees in Minevia and was a well known beekeeper there. When Domhnog was leaving Menevia, the bees suddenly swarmed around his boat. he brought the bees back to Menevia. Domhnog started to leave again and the bees once again swarmed around his boat. he returned them to St. David once more. He tried to leave a third time and again the bees followed him. St. David then agreed to let the bees go with St. Domhnog to Ireland.
Eventually Domhnog reached the shores of Ireland and decided to settle in Co. Kilkenny. St. Molaga received some of St. David's bees from Domhnog and after some time keeping bees at Bremore he became famous. He was known as the beekeeper of Bremore. His church became known as " Lambeecher". The Welsh word for church is " Llan" and beachaire means beekeeper in Irish. This is the reason why the housing estate which is beside St. Molaga's National School in Bremore, Balbriggan is called Lambeecher Estate.
St. Molaga left Bremore later and returned to Cork where he founded a monastery. He died on January 20th and is reported to be buired at St. Molaga's Bed in Temple-Molaga in Co. Cork.
