Chapter VI: How Ciaran and His Instructor Conversed, Though Distant From One

ANOTHER (LA, VG)

_Topography of the Story._--Assuming that Raith Cremthainn was somewhere near Rathcroghan, the distance between this and Fuerty would be about fourteen miles. There is no indication on the Ordnance map of any rock that can be identified with the cross-bearing stone on which Ciaran used to sit, though it clearly was a landmark well known to the author of LA. (_Pacé_ LA, Rathcroghan is _north_ of Fuerty.)

_Parallels._--The closest parallel is the story of Brigit, who heard a Mass that was being celebrated in Rome, though unable to hear a popular tumult close by (TT, 539). Something resembling the action of a wireless telephone is contemplated, the voices being inaudible to persons between the speakers. Thus the tales of saints with preternaturally loud voices are not quite in point. Colum Cille was heard to read his Psalms a mile and half away (LL, 828); Brenainn also was heard at a long distance (LL, 3419). The burlesque _Vision of MacConglinne_ parodies such voices (ed. Meyer, pp. 12, 13).