Saint Manchan's Shrine
Publication available for purchase online
A Masterpiece of Medieval Art
St Manchan’s Shrine is the largest surviving reliquary in Ireland and one of the most breathtaking treasures of early Irish monastic metalwork. Blending Irish, late Viking/Urnes, and Romanesque Christian styles, it stands as a remarkable testament to the cultural crosscurrents of medieval Europe.
This richly illustrated full-colour coffee table book, created in collaboration between archaeologist Dr. Griffin Murray and metalsmith/photographer Kevin O’Dwyer, brings the story of the shrine vividly to life. Through evocative photography and insightful essays, it offers both a visual feast and a deeper understanding of this extraordinary artifact.
Inside the book you’ll find:
Striking high-resolution photographs, including full-page and double-page spreads
Rare antiquarian illustrations alongside detailed close-ups of intricate metalwork
Engaging essays on:
Saint Manchan and the monastic site of Lemanaghan
The artistry and craftsmanship of the shrine
The fusion of Irish, Viking, and Romanesque traditions
Links between the shrine and the makers of the Cross of Cong
Combining rich imagery with expert scholarship, this book is an essential companion for anyone fascinated by Irish medieval art, Viking influence, or sacred treasures of the past.
In this monograph. mysteries have been solved; lacunas infilled. However, various contradictions and surprises are also revealed, through the unfolding story of several cultures merging to make something new, fresh, and dynamic, such as is found in this compact reliquary of the Hiberno-Norse style embedded in the Romanesque of the late medieval Christian empire, in Ireland.
For those of us who might never be able to visit the shrine in person, this splendid book is the next best thing, and we are delighted and grateful.
Jules McCue - Tinteán Magazine
The largest reliquary surviving from medieval Ireland, one of the most remarkable features of St Manchan's Shrine, is the variety of techniques used in creating its ornamentation, including lost wax, fire-gilding, enameling, die forming and chasing, all of which are clearly explained by Kevin O'Dwyer, while Uto Hogerzeil contributes some lively visual reconstructions of the productions progress.
Kevin O'Dwyer is also a superb photographer. His images of the whole shrine and, more particularly, its detail, make this book stand out, causing the eye to notice things that it would not normally. O'Dwyer choses subjects that bring home the richness of the decoration, which stands out vividly against a black background. ..........
Irish Arts Review by Peter Harbison
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