# Monastery of Mohill-Manchan

The monastery of Mohill-Manchan (Irish: mainistir an Maothail-Manachain) was anciently located at Mohill, in county Leitrim. The earliest church was founded by Manchán of Mohill in the 6th century. Little is known about the former monastic community here. About the year 1216, the monastery became a religious house of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine dedicated to the Saint Mary until suppression c. 1550 – c. 1590. The Priory of Mohill was briefly revived during Confederate Ireland rule but suppressed again by Cromwellian forces c. 1649–1653. From the ruins St. Mary's Church, Mohill, of Protestant denomination, was established in the 18th century.

## Monastery

The former monastic settlement of Mohill was one of a multitude of monasteries that sprang up during 6th century Ireland. A Christian missionary named Manchan founded a church here between 500–38AD. Whether or not Manchan died at Mohill is unknown, though his remains may have been preserved and enshrined here.
Nothing is known of the monastic community at Mohill, but it surely consisted of a church, school, mill, house of hospitality, Christian burial ground, monastic cells, "house of tears", and a round tower. The monastery was governed by the bishop, abbot, and a uniquely Irish "erenagh", power being exercised by one person, or perhaps combined in practical permutations. It was strongly bound to the túath of Muintir Eolais, allowing the Bishop little influence; the lifestyle followed asceticism.
The monastery of Mohill was of considerable extent stretching across the river to encompass the townlands of Mohill, Tullybradan, Lisdadanan, Coolabaun, Cappagh, Gortfadda, Drumcroy and Drumkilla, an estate of c. 300 – c. 600 acres. A daughter church at Cloonmorris was founded c. 500–700AD.

## Priory

From the 13th century (c. 1216) following a reform movement of the Irish church, the monastery became the Priory of Saint Mary's of Mohill-Manchan. The priory belonged in the diocese of Ardagh, with Canons regular adhering to the Rule of St. Augustine. The Priory of St. Mary's was headed by a prior, their office being valued at 20 "marks sterling" c. 1400 – c. 1401, or "10–20 marks sterling" in the 15th century. In 1418, the Priory of St. Mary's at Mohill was described as "conventual, with cure", and a dependency of the priory of Abbeyshrule in Ardagh diocese, and sufficiently attractive for a canon from Clonmacnoise to enter its doors. In 1475, the Priory of St. Mary's Mohill was described as "conventual", "elective", "with cure", whose value did not exceed c. "12 marks", and "not depending on any other monastery or place", though a petition dated 1477 again alleged the dependency existed

### Personalities

It is impossible to fully catalogue the succession of holders of abbots, priors, and canons at this ancient monastery. The information below is preserved.
| Dates | Name | Office held | Extracts from papal, and ecclesiastical sources |
| c. aft. 500 – c. 538 | Manchán of Mohill | abbot, saint | |
| c. bef 1397 – c. bef. 1412 | Murianus Mag Raghnaill | prior, canon | "18 Dec 1397: Murianus, Augustinian prior of Moalmacnichem". and "1412: Murianus Magranyll". |
| c. aft. 1397 – c. bef. 1400 (d.) | John O'Chany | prior, canon | "John Ochany". |
| c. aft. 1400 – c. bef. 1413 (d.) | Gilbert O'Moran | prior, canon | "13 Jan 1400, Gilbert Omora", "Gillibert Omoran, canon of the Augustinian priory of St. Mary, Macchail Manchan in the diocese of Ardagh, afterwards prior, of Mohill". |
| c. aft. 1413 – c. bef. 1418 | Matthew O'Roddy * | canon | "1413, canon of the Augustinian priory of St. Mary, Mayhel (Mayhil on f. 47), in the diocese of Ardagh, at present without a prior", |
| c. 1418 – c. bef. 1433 | Matthew O'Roddy | prior | "8th July 1418, to collate and assign to ... Matthew (Orodachon), canon of Clonmacnoise, who has studied canon and civil law for more than ten years, after he has taken the habit and made his profession as above, the priory of St. Mary, Mucgail, O.S.A., in the diocese of Ardagh, ... void by the death of Gillibert Omoran". |
| c. bef. 1433 – c. aft. 1433 | Fergus Mac Ilroy | prior, canon | "1433, Latin: Dicta die (x. Junii) Fergallus Mackilruays [Mac Gillroy], principalis, obligavit se Camere super annata, prioratus monasterii Beate Marie de Mayhel ord. S. Aug. Ardakaden. dioc". |
| c. 1458–1459 – c. aft. 1459 | Robertus Magranayle | canon | "1458–1459, Rectoria [vacans] certo modo". |
| c. bef. 1473 – c. bef. 1475 | Eogan Mag Raghnaill | prior, canon | "1475: death of Odo Magranayll", and "Odo Magranayll (before which it had been reserved to the apostolic see) ... some allege ... Odo who, although he had detained it for several years, never had any right or title, at least canonical". |
| c. aft. 1475 – c. bef. 1485 | Maurice Mac Egan | prior, canon | "15 March 1477: Mandate to grant in commendam for life to Maurice Macandagan, prior of St. Mary's, Mathail, O.S.A., in the diocese of Ardagh the perpetual vicarage of Anachuduib", and "1478: Die XV. eiusdem mensis (Aprilis) una bulla pro Mauricio Macaeidagan [Mac Egan] priore monasterii B. Marie de Ma[e]thaill [Mohill] ord. S. Aug., Ardakaden. dioc". |
| c. bef. 1477 – c. 1486 (d.) | Cormac Mag Raghnaill | canon | "1477: Cormac Macraynaill, ... canons of Ardagh", and "1481: Cornelius Magranell, canonicus ecclesie Ardakaden.,.. pro annata monasterii B. M. de Granardo ord. Cist. Ardakaden. dioc, cuius fructus duodecim marchar. sterlingor ....". |
| c. bef. 1486 – c. 1486 (d.) | Farrell Mag Raghnaill | prior, canon | "1486: Farrell Mag Raghnaill ... died". |
| c. 1488 | Eugene Mag Raghnaill | canon | "1488: ...[Cal. papal letters, 1484–92, pp 12 (no. 17); 119 (no 830.]". |
| c. 1485 – c. aft. 1526 | Donald Mag Raghnaill | prior, canon | "1485: Cornelius O'Farrell ... nomine dni. Donati Magranayll, clerici Ardahaden [sic] dioc, pro annata prioratus monasterii Beate Marie de Maythayl [Mohill] ord. S. Aug. Ardakaden. dioc, ... vacantis alias per privationem Mauritii Machaigayn [Mac Egan]", "12 April 1508: Maurus and Donald Magranayl, canons of Ardagh", and in 1526 presiding at a metropolitan court in Termonfeckin: "Master Donald McGranyll of Ardagh". |
| bef. 1508 | Rory Mag Raghnaill | canon (sacristship and sacerdotia) | 1508: ...[5 Cal. papal letters, 1503–13, pp 24–25". |
| c. bef. 1489 – c. aft. 1508 | Maurus Mag Raghnaill | canon | "Die dicta 26 Martii, 1489, dictus Maurus Magranayll, canonicus monasterii B. Marie de Maythayl [Mohill] ord. S. Aug., Ardakaden. dioc, principaUs, obligavit se Camere Apostolice pro annata rectorie par. eoclesiarum loci de Monterolays [Muintir-Eolais] dicte dioc, cuius fructus". Also, "1506–1507: The executors of Ofrigail's Bull (f. 140) were ... Manus Magraynyl [Magrannel alias Reynolds] canons of Ardagh.", and "12 April 1508: Maurus and Donald Magranayl, canons of Ardagh". |
| c. bef. 1541 – c. aft. 1541 | Donald (and Terenacius) Mag Raghnaill | canons | "May 29, 1540. Primate to the Prior of St. Mary of Moyalt, diocese of Ardagh ... [who is prior?] ... May 1541 - Commission of the Primate to Donald and Terenacius Magranyll, canons of Ardagh, to confer the vicarage of the church of St. Fregus of Clone on Bernard Magranyl ... July 1541 - Primate commissions Donald Magranyll ...". |
| c. aft. 1552 – c. bef. 1590 | ? | prior, canon | Suppressed between 1550–1590. |
| 21 Aug 1648 – c. 1652 | Anthony Reynolds | prior, canon | "1648: Ardachadensis. Prioratus de Moyile ordinis canonicorum S. Augustini pro Antonio Reynald, presbytero dictae diocesis; fructis c. librarum". |
| c. 1653 | - | - | Destroyed by Cromwellian forces. Monastic ruins dismantled by Croftons. |

### Annals

The Irish Annals refer to the priory of Mohill many times. For 1430AD the Annals of the Four Masters highlights an interesting privilege was the right of Mohill Priory to offer sanctuary to a fugitive fleeing from enemies. The Annals also records a military invasion of Muintir Eolais in March 1590, when the local Túaths were defeated and Mohill Priory was forfeited to the English crown.
* "AD 538: Manchán of Maethail fell".
* "1166: The shrine of Manchan, of Maethail, was covered by Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, and an embroidering of gold was carried over it by him, in as good a style as a relic was ever covered in Ireland".
* "1330: The coarb of (St) Caillin, Gilla-na-naev Mac Celie, died in the monastery of Maothail".
* "1430: Brian, the son of Tiernan Og O'Rourke, was slain by the sons of Melaghlin Mac Rannall, at Maethail-Mhanchain; and Donough Mac Tiernan was driven into the monastery of Maethail. Donough, however, came out of his own accord, for the sake of his people, on Mac Rannall's guarantee; and made peace between them; and an eric (compensation) was given to O'Rourke for the death of Brian".
* "1473: The son of Eogan Mag Ragnaill, prior of Mohill, rested.",
* "1486, The Prior of Maethail, Farrell, the son of Robert Mac Rannall, died".
* "1486: The prior of Maethal, namely, Ferghal, son of Raghnall, son of Robert, son of the Prior Mag Raghnaill, died this year on Easter Day".
* "1486: The Prior of Maethail, Farrell, the son of Robert Mac Rannall, died".
* "1590: An immense army was sent by the governor ... to Muinter-Eolais, in the beginning of March; and they captured ten hundred cows. And they were that night in Maethail; ... Pledges from the comarb of Fidhnacha, and pledges from the comarb of Druim-Oiriallaigh, and nine pledges from Muinter-Eolais, both church and territory, came with the Saxons on that occasion."

## First suppression, 1560-90

From 1540 the English were forcefully suppressing Monasteries throughout Ireland, and "the end of the sixteenth century [was] a bad time for priests and papists". Some sources suggest the monastery was suppressed as late as 1621, however Mohill was described as the "Queens's manor" consisting of 'about six quarters' in as 1583, and in 1590 "an immense" english army occupied Mohill and routed the "Muintir Eolais" chieftains.
The "late monastery of Moghill" was divided between Edward Barrett c. 1592, and Terence O'Byrne of Muintir Eolais c. 1594. Barret's parcel subsequently passing to an englishman named John Crofton c. 1594, who bequeathed same to his son Henry by a deed dated 2 June 1607. On dissolution, the Priory possessions were the townlands of Tullybradan, Coolabaun, Gortfadda, and Drumcroy, totaling c. 160 – c. 240acres, a church, two stone buildings, and the cemetery.
   "near the end of the sixteenth century. A bad time it was for priests and papists"

## Revival

Confederate Ireland rule was established c. 1642 – c. 1649, and during the Eleven Years' War the Priory of Mohill was re-established in some manner. Ecclesiastical documents record Canon Antony Mag Raghnaill, otherwise Reynolds, being appointed Prior of Maothail-Manchain on 21 August 1648.

## Final suppression, 1649–1653

The priory was suppressed again during the devastating Cromwellian conquest of Ireland c. 1649 – c. 1653.

## Heritage

Priory clergy were expelled and risked execution under the Penal Laws. In 1666, four Reynolds priests (James, Loghlin, Richard, Walter) are among "forty nine Catholics from hiding places in the woods" in County Roscommon, who signed a letter in support of the Pope and protesting the loss of their 'due liberties'. And in 1713 an elderly Father Connor Reynolds "of Jamestown in the county of Leitrim" who had been exiled in Spain since 1681, was captured hiding in a trunk on a fishing boat arriving at Dungarvan port and imprisoned at Waterford jail.
Today nothing survives of the early ecclesiastical site here, except for an inaccessible old school-house, and the base of a round tower located near the old persons home in the town. The remains of the abbey or sanctuary forms the south, and east, walls of the Hyde family vault in the graveyard of 'Saint Mary's church' later built on the Priory ruins. The Croftons also built an old Castle at Rinn Lough from the ruins of Mohill Priory, as small free stones of the same class were evidenced in each. There may be other undocumented ruins on the wider monastic site, though it's not classed as a national monument or heritage site.