Molaga

Molaga was an Irish monk and saint, born around 580 and reposed around 664, associated above all with County Cork. He is venerated as a saint in the Western Church. He is also called Molagga, Molaca, Molaige, Laicin or Lóchín.

According to tradition, he was born miraculously to elderly parents, Dub Dliged and Minchollait, an event foretold by Cumméne Fota, in the land of the Fir Maige Féine (now the barony of Fermoy). He was baptized by Cumin of Mayo and studied the Scriptures in his native region. He later travelled to Ulster and Scotland and was brought to Saint David of Menevia in Wales. David is said to have given him his name and a bell, Boban Molaga. An angel warned him to return to Ireland; he crossed to Dublin, founded a monastery at Balbriggan and cured the local king with his bell. He was then granted a town in Fingal, where he built a church and established a swarm of bees. He returned to the south and survived the plague of 664. Tradition says he founded the churches of Timoleague and Labbamolaga, where, according to the Book of Lismore, he is buried.

He is also associated with beekeeping, like Saint Gobnait and Saint Modomnoc. In the hagiographical tradition he is the special patron of the Fir Maige region. A vernacular Life in the Book of Fermoy was probably composed in the fourteenth century. His feast is 20 January in north Cork; 7 and 13 August are also recorded.