Mac Creiche is said to have lived in the late 6th century and to have been descended from the god Ercc, the Corcu MoDruad chieftain Mac Ercc.
29 Facts About Mac Creiche
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One source says Mac Creiche's father was Pesslan and his mother was from the Ciarraige people.
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Mac Creiche is said to have lived to 180 years of age, which would make him one of the oldest of the Irish saints.
4.
Mac Creiche lived as a hermit in a structure made of four stones at a place called Cluain I The dwelling had "a stone at his back, a stone to each side, and a stone in front of him", and seems to have been designed for discomfort.
5.
Ailbe and Mac Creiche once made a spring appear through their prayers.
6.
Mainchin and Mac Creiche went to Fid Inis, an island, where Mac Creiche told Mainchin to fetter him and hand him the key.
7.
Mac Creiche threw the key into the sea, saying he would stay on the island until the key came out of the water to free him.
8.
Mac Creiche caught a salmon and found the fetter key in its stomach, with which he released Mac Creiche.
9.
Mac Creiche declared that the coast in this region would henceforth be safe from damage by the sea.
10.
Mac Creiche was called upon by the Ciarraige, his mother's people, to save them from a monster.
11.
Mac Creiche asked for the promise of a perpetual tribute to himself and to his relics before he would come.
12.
Mac Creiche was accompanied by Mainchin, who carried the bell.
13.
The monster rose up again, embarrassing Mac Creiche, who took his cowl and threw it over the monster.
14.
Mac Creiche accepted the thanks of the people but warned that if they did not pay the promised tribute they would be cursed with disease, pestilence and internal strife.
15.
The men of Kerry invited Mac Creiche to meet them in Ulster to turn the plague away from them.
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When Mac Creiche saw this he raised his Finn Faidheach bell, and soon after the Crom Chonnaill was destroyed by a bolt from heaven.
17.
Mac Creiche was disheartened and went to spend the night on the field at Magh Aoi.
18.
Mac Creiche was seized with thirst, and wished that the king would have a greater thirst.
19.
Mac Creiche came to Mac Creiche and offered to submit himself and his heirs to the saint in return for relief.
20.
Mac Creiche struck his staff on the ground and a spring of water broke forth, which satisfied the king and became a holy well.
21.
Mac Creiche is linked with Inis Cealtra, an island in Lough Derg.
22.
An angel told Mac Creiche to leave the island and find another place for his hermitage.
23.
Mac Creiche is mentioned in accounts of Columba of Terryglass, Ailbe of Emly and Enda of Aran.
24.
Mac Creiche is the subject of a quatrain in a poem said to have been written by Cuimmin of Conor about the Irish saints.
25.
However, there is no historical evidence that Mac Creiche existed and much that suggests he was mythological.
26.
Mac Creiche travelled in a chariot with his companion Mainchin, defeated the enemies of the Corcu MoDruad and the Ciarraige, and fought a monster.
27.
Mac Creiche was said to have founded several churches in County Clare, but only Cill Mic Creiche is named after him.
28.
Mac Creiche is said to have founded the church of Teampull na glas Aighne near Inagh.
29.
Mac Creiche founded the church of Cill Scanbotha, nearby to the west.