Contending Coarbs: Cindus fuair Mlaise in Bealach?

Abstract

St Molaise al. Laisrén (†564 au) was founder/abbot of Daimhinis (Devenish). In the late-medieval poem, Cindus fuair Mlaise in Bealach? he is represented as delivering, from the grave, control over his foundation to the Ó Taithligh clerical dynasty and assigning to another clerical lineage the guardianship of his lesser site at Bealach Uí Mhithighéin at Ros Inbir (Co Leitrim). The poem is an excellent illustration of the way lay authorities and hereditary clerical lineages held ecclesiastical foundations and their estates in direct contravention of papal proscription.