It’s impossible not to be intrigued by a saint called St Munchin or Mainchín mac Setnaí to give him his full name. Sometimes known as Munchin the Wise or Little Monk, folklore surrounding his dates and origins are confusing but he is patron saint of Limerick City which some stories credit him with founding. Like many saints, he had a quick temper and was fond of a bit of cursing. Whilst supervising the building of a church, originally sited near the old bridge in Thomond in Limerick city the workmen came across a very large stone. Munchin called on passing citizens to help but they all refused and continued on their way. Some passing strangers, however, stopped and gladly gave assistance. St Munchin blessed the strangers and said they should always be prosperous, then proceeded to curse the natives! There is a very long poem about this event written in 1868 by Michael Hogan, also known as “The Bard of Thomond”. According to his interpretation, the curse was very elaborate – here’s a (short) taster:
May he always want sometime to wear
and always want something to buy it;
and always have nothing to share
and always have ways to supply it;
And may every pound of y’re bread
have the flavour of sawdust and clinkers
While, ye gang, like poor gypsies , to bed
and get up in the morning like tinkers,
with fleas dancing around ye, like goats.
In this version the passing strangers are revealed to be Danes and the poem continues with the Danes eventually returning and destroying St Munchin’s church:
The Danes came from Denmark one day
and they tumbled his church into ruins
And Brian Boru leathered their race
for molesting such fine, pious people…
Ibid
St Munchin is also patron saint of Bruree and had another unfortunate experience here. Thirsty, he requested water from the locals and they refused. In fury he struck his staff into the ground and up sprang a holy well, now dedicated to the saint. It is in a highly scenic position on the banks of the River Maigue. It is approached from the road down a flight of steps and is surrounded by a circular wall. A cross lies above the site and a plaque on a large stone proclaims St Munchin’s Well, 3rd January 2012, the date of its renovation.
The well itself is subterranean, enclosed in a circular stone wellhouse. Peering in, a rather dismal sight appears – a grill lies over the well which has then been covered by large stones. A dangling chain brings nothing up so access to the water is impossible, though it still looks plentiful. It once held a cure for stomach ailments and sore eyes.
It seems to have moved once or twice but was originally much visited and revered :
Once the Well was badly used and is said to have removed up to Cahill’s field but it was supposed to have come back again. The Well is surrounded by massive rocks on one of which are irregular lines said to be Ogham writing. Formerly a tree grew out of one of the rocks. A party of Americans came to see this wonder. The feast of St. Munchin falls on January 2nd. Some years ago Mass used be celebrated and a sermon preached and it was kept as a parish holiday. The rounds paid were nine rounds each day for nine days and a Rosary recited each time.
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This image, from the Limerick Diocesan Heritage project, shows how the well looked in 2000, the massive rocks described in the above extract still in place. The Irish Tourist Survey for Limerick, 1943, adds a little more information and describes how two smooth impressions in these stones were said to mark the spot where the saint had knelt in prayer. I think the stones may still be there, one jumble covered in flowers and maybe the stone that holds the plaque is also from the original cluster. I wish I had paid more attention for I think the saintly footprints might still be there to the bottom left of the plaque.
The feast day is 2nd January and nine rounds of the well were once customary, if possible visiting the well for nine consecutive days.