Saint
Mac Creiche mac Pessláin
A saint venerated in the Western Church, of whom few details survive.
- Era
- 6th century
Life
Mac Creiche mac Pessláin (also Maccreehy or Maccrecius) of Liscannor is described by old texts as an early Irish saint, a hermit who slew monsters and persuaded kings to submit to him through miracles. Our source shows that he was probably not a historical figure: the stories of his life seem to derive from earlier pagan legends, and he may be equated with a pagan god.
Tradition places him in the late 6th century and makes him a descendant of the god Ercc, that is of the chieftain Mac Ercc of the Corcu MoDruad, in the north of present-day County Clare. One source says his father was Pesslan and his mother of the Cíarraige; another calls him son of Saint Ailbe of Emly. The civil parish of Kilmacrehy on the west coast of County Clare is named after him.