Doubts over future location of St Manchan's Shrine

It's uncertain this week where St Manchan's Shrine will be displayed in the future. The precious artifact is currently under safekeeping by Gardaí while investigations into its theft last Friday from St Manchan's church in Boher in the Offaly/Westmeath border parish of Leamonaghan are concluded. Boher priest Fr James McKiernan told the Offaly Independent this week he wants it returned to Boher church. However Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Colm O'Reilly said advice on the safety of the shrine has to be taken, while Head of Collections at the National Museum of Ireland Raghnall O'Floinn said a security audit is now necessary and a permanent home for the shrine must be decided with its security in mind. Two men in their 30s were arrested in connection with the theft of the precious shrine that dates back to 1120 last Friday. Both were released from Tullamore Garda Station last Saturday afternoon, and a file is being prepared on the matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The shrine itself was recovered last Saturday evening near Doon by Tullamore Gardaí. Security measures for the shrine prior to its theft included bullet proof glass casing, an alarm and CCTV. However Mr O'Floinn said last weekend's theft "highlighted a difficulty with security". "We do need to have a discussion with Bishop O'Reilly and the community regarding the shrine and its display and security," he said, adding that a full security audit is now needed. "Because it has been in the locality for so long it'd be a terrible pity to have to remove it," he said. "I appreciate it's important for the people of Leamonaghan." However, he said that the most important issue when it comes to deciding where the shrine will be displayed in future is its safety and therefore everything is up for discussion. "It's survived for 1,000 years," he said. "We want to make sure it survives for 1,000 years more and longer." Speaking earlier this week Fr McKiernan said security will be upgraded in light of sophisticated criminals, but that the shrine would be returning to Boher in the future. "It's very precious and we intend to hold on to it here in Boher Church," he said. Fr McKiernan said the local community was devastated on hearing news of the robbery last Friday and greatly relieved on hearing of its recovery. "People couldn't believe it," he said about the robbery of the artifact that has been in the locality since its construction in the early twelfth century. News of the shrine's recovery and that the bones housed inside were undamaged was greeted with great relief, he added. Fr McKiernan said the precious items were housed in private homes in the locality since the original church that housed them burned down in 1860. St Manchan's Church has housed the items for over 20 years he said. "There was immense joy when it was found intact," he said this week, adding that the gardai did "tremendous work". He said the shrine will be returned to St Manchan's in the near future. "It's visited quite a bit on a regular basis," he said. "Every day of the week there are people here. It's very precious and we intend to hold on to it here in Boher church." However Bishop O'Reilly is looking forward to discussions about security and where the shrine would be safest. "It'd be unthinkable we'd leave it in a situation that the same could happen again," he said.