Saint Moluag
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According to the Irish Annals, in 562 Saint Lughaidh, better known by his pet name of Moluag, beat St Columba in a race to the large island of the Lyn of Lorn in Argyll. Now called the Isle of Lismore it was the sacred island of the Western Picts and the burial place of their kings whose capital was at Beregonium, across the water at Benderloch. Moluag was an Irish noble of the Dál nAraide who trained with St Comgall at Bangor (co. Down). Moluag was an Irish Pict, closely allied to the Dalriads, so it is assumed he was able to move into this border region with the approval of both King Brude and the Cinel Lorn.
There are various Irish forms of the name, such as Lughaidh, Luoc and Lua. Latinized they become Lugidus, Lugadius and Luanus. The name, as it has come down the centuries, Moluag or Moluoc, is made up of the honorific mo, plus the original name Lughaidh, pronounced Lua, plus the endearing suffix -oc. From Lismore St Moluag went on to found two other great centres in the land of the Picts at Rosemarkie and Mortlach. These were his three centres of teaching, and it is significant that all three were to become the seats of the Roman Catholic Sees of the Isles, Ross and Aberdeen. Moluag is also credited with founding one hundred monasteries over which he had absolute jurisdiction. Many of these, such as Clova and Alyth, were in Pict territory. The Annals tell us that Saint Comgall of the Dál nAraide, another Irish Pict, presented St Moluag to King Brude of the Northern Picts to obtain his authority for the mission. This authority was to operate in Brude’s northern kingdom.
St. Moluag's day is recognized on June 25th, commemorating his death in 592. In Roman Catholicism, St. Moluag's feast day is August 4th.
The Coarbs, or successors, of Saint Moluag, are the Chiefs of the Clan MacLea who still reside in Moluag's ancient home of Lismore and bear his ancient staff, the Bachuil.
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