Manchan of Lemanaghan

Saint Manchan of Lemanaghan was an abbot in Ireland, founder, around 645, of the monastery of Liath Mancháin (today Lemanaghan) in County Offaly, and he reposed in the year 664 (by other dates around 653), of the plague. He is venerated by both the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches. He should not be confused with the scholar Manchán, abbot of Min Droichit.

It is said that the high king Diarmuid, on his way to battle with Guaire, king of Connacht, stopped at Clonmacnoise and asked the prayers of Saint Ciarán. Victorious, Diarmuid gave Ciarán "the island in the bog", today Lemanaghan, on condition that he send a monk to Christianize the land. That monk was Manchan. He converted the people and founded the monastery. About five hundred meters from the monastery stands a small stone house that he built for his mother, Mella.

Tradition says he had a cow that gave milk to all the neighbors or, in another version, to all the monks. The legend tells that one day, being thirsty and without water, he struck a rock with his staff, like Moses, and a spring burst out, now known as Saint Manchan's well; many come there, especially on 24 January, and some are said to have been healed of diseases. He was distinguished by his commentaries on Holy Scripture, by his generosity and wisdom. A Gaelic poem on the desire of Ireland's martyrs is attributed to him, and a nature poem beginning "I wish, O Son of the living God ... a hidden little hut in the wilderness". He lived nineteen years at Lemanaghan. His relics were kept in a large reliquary made in 1130 at Clonmacnoise, now in a church at Boher (County Limerick). He is commemorated on 24 January.