 It is usually bad evidence for what they actually did, better evidence for what later writers could imagine happening.”

By one account Patrick sent Ciarán to precede him and directed him to build a monastery at the site of a well.When Ciarán asked how he should find this well, Patrick gave him a little bell, that would not ring until he reached the well.On his return from Rome, he built himself a little cell in the woods of Upper Ossory.