In the version of Saint Kieran’s life told in the Book of Lismore, one of the oddest stories is attributed to him as a boy. His mother was doing laundry, and on that day she wanted to dye or re-dye various family clothes in blue.
In the story, Kieran is a precocious boy who teaches moral lessons to his parents and others. He also manifests strange miraculous powers.
And then, sometimes, he just seems to be a jerk.
When she’s about to dye the clothes, Kieran’s mother tries to toss him out of the house, because she “thought it unbecoming that males should be in the house when garments were being dyed.” (R.A. Stewart-MacAlister translation)
The anonymous author of the account assumes we’ll understand the taboo, but apparently Kieran doesn’t get it either.
When his mother tries to get him out of the house, he sets about to ruin her day.