Saint Manchan's Shrine

​Art and Devotion in Twelfth-century Ireland

The Story of the 11th Figure

The eleventh figure on St Manchan’s Shrine captured considerable attention during the 19th century. Around 1821, the artist and archaeologist William Petrie observed and sketched the shrine, documenting all its figures. By the time it was displayed at the Dublin Exhibition in 1853, only ten figures remained.

In 1869, a figure resembling Petrie’s sketch was discovered in the possession of Robert Day, a prominent Cork collector. It was returned to the shrine and affixed to the right-hand side of the front plate, restoring the shrine’s original ensemble.

Master silversmith Kevin O’Dwyer, who has studied the shrine for over twenty years, has meticulously reconstructed the 11th figure using the same techniques and skills employed by the 12th-century craftsmen. His workshop, located near Saint Manchan’s Shrine and Clonmacnoise Monastery, continues the local metalsmithing tradition. The figure is available for collectors in bronze or sterling silver, offering a tangible connection to Ireland’s medieval artistry.

Available for purchase online at:

https://kevin-odwyer.sumupstore.com/products

The 11th Figure of Saint Manchan's Shrine: Artist impression by Master silversmith Kevin O'Dwyer