Saint Manchan's Shrine

Front piece. Height 49 cm, width 60 cm, depth 36cm. Boher Roman Catholic Church, County Offaly

Saint Manchan's Shrine is a large (60-cm wide) 12th-century Irish house-shaped shrine dedicated to Manchán of Lemanaghan (died 664), now in Boher Roman Catholic Church, outside Ballycumber, County Offaly. Built to hold human remains, still intact and presumably of Manchán himself, the relic container consists of a wooden core made of yew, placed on four cast bronze feet, overlain by sliver plates containing gilt, cast copper alloy and bronze decorations, with large bosses.[1]

The shrine has a long history and has survived a number of sackings and fires. It was in poor condition when discovered in the collection of the Mooney family of Doon, County Offaly in 1821, with many of the figures and bosses missing; some of the current elements were added during late 19th century restorations.[2]

Its style is a mixture of Irish and Viking art,[3] and is described by the art historian Rachel Moss as "exceptional in its scale, form and quality of workmanship."[4]

  1. ^ Murray (2003), p. 177
  2. ^ Crawford (1923), p. 83
  3. ^ Verney, Deirdre. "World famous St Manchan's shrine subject of lecture". Offaly Independent, 13 May 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021
  4. ^ Moss (2014), p. 291