Manchan of Mohill

Saint Manchan
Detail of marginal image of a monk
Missionary, Monk
Born	Before AD 464 Ireland or Wales
Died	c. 535 – c. 538 probably Mohill, Ireland
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Anglican Communion
Feast	14 February (25 February in Mohill)
Patronage	St. Manchan's school, Monaghan day, Mohill, co. Leitrim Monastery of Mohill * monastery of Inisnag * other churches * invoked against plague (* destroyed, or ruins)

Manchanof Mohill, (fl. AD 464-538), was an early Christian saint credited with founding many early Christian churches in Ireland. His life is obscured because many persons named Manchan are to be found among the monastically-inclined Medieval Irish Christians, not least because the names are a diminutive of Irish: Manach Latin: Monachus, a monk. Manchan probably died of famine during volcanic winters caused by the extreme weather events of 535–536, which preceded the 6th century Justinian plague of Mohill. The Shrine of Manchan is a remarkable and unique example of Irish Urnes style art, adapted to Ringerike style, skillful in design and execution. Saint Manchan's feast day is celebrated February 14 (February 25 in Mohill), by Roman Catholics, and Anglicans.

The life of Manchan of Mohill is clouded by obscurity, and his genealogy widely debated. Some sources identify him as Manchan of Mondrehid (died c. 652) a claim disputed. Others identify him as Manchan of Lemanaghan (died A.D. 664), but a multiplicity of "Manchán's of Lemanaghan" confuses matters further. The exiled "Manchan the Master" at the monastery of Mawgan mentioned in the "life of David of Wales" preceded, and therefore cannot be Manchan of Mohill. The Feast-days and centuries disagree between all these individuals. Colgan "says that for want of authentic documents to prove the contrary, he must consider them as different persons". Unfortunately the multiplicity of Saints named Manchan or variants, suggests the name is a diminutive of Irish: Manach (Latin: Monachus, Im manchaine) meaning a monk.