West Offaly community celebrates a Saint's feast day

The pattern day for St. Manchan, which fell on Tuesday 24th January this year, is well known to many because of the saint's association with the famous eponymous shrine.

St. Manchan's pattern / feast day is rich in tradition in the Lemanaghan area, and locals are proud of the saint's achievements.

On Tuesday evening Mass was celebrated at 7 o'clock in St. Manchan's Boher Church.

The Boher church is home to the famous St. Manchan's Shrine. This masterpiece of medieval art contains the bones of the saint and is on display to the public.

Also in the church are the five magnificent windows by the internationally renowned stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke with one window specially dedicated to St. Manchan himself.

St. Manchan founded a monastery in Lemanaghan in the seventh century.

On his feast day each year a large number of pilgrims visit the holy well in the area and Saint Mella’s Cell. Devotion to this seventh-century saint is an important part of local people's lives.

In tandem with the Feast Day the local community is also hosing a “Friday Night Live” in Ballycumber.

This live and great fun event will kick off at 9pm on the 27th January in Flynn's pub Ballycumber. The money raised from the evening's ticket sales will go towards the good work of Lemanaghan Bog Heritage & Conservation Group.

Friday's concert will feature bands and local artists – the impressive line up includes music by KK and Ray. ‘White Grass’ will perform with punters hoping to hear some tracks from Brownie Guinan’s new album, Peat Sounds.

The organisers are delighted to have the talented duo Niamh agus Dathí, and finally well known Ballycumber musician Joe Flynn will take to the stage.

If you want to immerse yourself in a feast of local musical talent, ‘Friday Night Live’ is not to be missed.