In the year 1627 he travelled through Ireland collecting materials for Father Hugh Ward, also a Franciscan friar, and Guardian of the convent of St.Antony at Louvain, who was preparing a series of Lives of Irish Saints.

When Father Ward died, the project was taken up and partially carried out by Father John Colgan.
His first work, the _Trias Thaumaturgus_, contains the lives of St.
Patrick, St.Brigid, and St.Columba.The second volume contains the lives of Irish saints whose festivals occur from the 1st of January to the 31st of March; and here, unfortunately, alike for the hagiographer and the antiquarian, the work ceased.

It is probable that the idea of saving-- "The old memorials Of the noble and the holy, Of the chiefs of ancient lineage, Of the saints of wondrous virtues; Of the Ollamhs and the Brehons, Of the bards and of the betaghs,"[21] occurred to him while he was collecting materials for Father Ward.

His own account is grand in its simplicity, and beautiful as indicating that the deep passion for country and for literature had but enhanced the yet deeper passion which found its culminating point in the dedication of his life to God in the poor order of St.Francis.In the troubled and disturbed state of Ireland, he had some difficulty in securing a patron.
At last one was found who could appreciate intellect, love of country, and true religion.

Although it is almost apart from our immediate subject, we cannot refrain giving an extract from the dedication to this prince, whose name should be immortalized with that of the friar patriot and historian:-- "I, Michael _O'Clerigh_, a poor friar of the Order of St.Francis (after having been for ten years transcribing every old material that I found concerning the saints of Ireland, observing obedience to each provincial that was in Ireland successively), have come before you, O noble _Fearghal_ O'Gara.