Mainchín mac Setnai (''fl''. late 6th century), also anglicised to Munchin, was allegedly the founder of the church of Luimneach (now
Limerick
Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...
), Ireland, and a saint in Irish tradition, acquiring special eminence as patron of Limerick City.
[Johnston, "Munster, saints of (act. ''c''.450–''c''.700)"] Both his origins and the date of his association with the city are debated.
Background
Through his father Sétna, Mainchín is alleged to belong to the
Dál Cais, given a pedigree linking him to the ancestors of the
O'Brien dynasty
The O'Brien dynasty (; ; genitive ''Uí Bhriain'' ) was an Irish Clan and noble house of Munster, founded in the 10th century by Brian Boru of the Dál gCais (Dalcassians). After becoming King of Munster, through conquest he established hims ...
. His tutor was the Corco Mruad saint
Mac Creiche according to the ''Life'' of that saint.
Mainchín is said to have founded Luimneach when Ferdomnach, king from the Dál Cais, granted him land at Inis Sibtond.
A major problem with the above is that the Dál Cais themselves are unknown by that name before the 930s and are believed by scholars to be the descendants of a
Déisi
The ''Déisi'' were a social class in Ireland between the ancient and early medieval period. The various peoples listed under the heading ''déis'' shared a similar status in Gaelic Ireland, and had little or no actual kinship, though they were ...
population which migrated into the region at an uncertain period. Before the Dál Cais, the greater region appears to have been dominated for a time by another people entirely, the
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti, Fidgeinti, Fidgheinte, Fidugeinte, Fidgente, or Fidgeinte ( or ;In the pronunciation, the -d- is silent, and the -g- becomes a glide, producing what might be anglicized ''Feeyenti'' or ''Feeyenta''. "descendants of, or of the ...
, who eventually found themselves much displaced by the Dál Cais in the second half of the 10th century and following, although after having previously overrun many of the Déisi themselves in the very same territories.
Brug Ríg
Mainchín is also the patron saint of Brug Ríg, now
Bruree
Bruree () is a village in south-eastern County Limerick, Ireland, on the River Maigue. It takes its name from the nearby ancient royal fortress, the alternative name of which from the earliest times into the High Middle Ages was ''Dún Eochair ...
, the former royal seat of the Uí Fidgenti.
Limerick
It has been argued that his appearance in Limerick is actually due to his adoption by the later
Norse there, with whom the
O'Donovan family
The O'Donovan family is an ancient Irish noble family. Their patronymic surname derives from Irish ''Ó Donnabháin'', meaning the grandsons or descendants of Donnubán, referring to the 10th century ruler of the Uí Fidgenti, Donnubán mac C ...
, late representatives of the kingdom (although of uncertain origins themselves), were closely associated.
In fact, no "successors" of Mainchín in Limerick are known before the 12th century and so his existence there cannot be verified before then.
In the
Martyrology of Donegal
A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs and other saints and beati arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by na ...
, Mainchín's feast day occurs on 29 December. In Bruree, his feast day is commemorated on 2 January, but this date may have been erroneously taken from that recorded for St
Manchán (Manchéne) of Min Droichit in the ''
Félire Óengusso''.
The
Roman Martyrology
The ''Roman Martyrology'' () is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved appendices to it. It provid ...
also lists 2 January as Mainchín of Limerick's memorial.
[''Martyrologium Romanum'' 80 (edito altera 2004).]
See also
*
St. Munchin's College
Notes
References
*
*
*
Further reading
* ''Betha Meich Creiche'' (Life of Mac Creiche), ed. and tr.
*
*
*
* Spellissy, Seán, ''The History of Limerick City''. 1998.
* ''Archdioceses and dioceses of Ireland 2000''. Veritas. 2000.
People from Limerick (city)
6th-century Irish bishops
6th-century Christian saints
Medieval saints of Munster
Dalcassians
{{Ireland-saint-stub