Marnock

Marnock or Marnock of Kilmarnock (died c. AD 625), also known as Marnan of Narnach, Marnanus, Marnocalso[1] or originally Ernin (from Irish Mo-Ernin-og)[3] was a Scottish monk, bishop and saint.[1]

Saint Marnock of Kilmarnock
Born	Ireland[1]
Died	625[1] Annandale, Scotland[1]
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church[1]
Canonized	Pre-Congregation[1]
Feast	25 October[2]
Patronage	Kilmarnock, Scotland

Biography

Details on the life of Marnock that have survived to the present day are limited,[4] though some facts are known. Marnock was born in Ireland, most likely in the late 6th century.[3] He became a monk on the abbey at Iona where he became a student and disciple of Columba.[4] He later left the monastery to become a missionary bishop on the Scottish mainland.[4]

It is widely accepted that Marnock died at Annandale in 625,[1] however at least one account gives his place of death and burial site as Inchmarnoch near Aboyne in Aberdeenshire.[5]

Veneration and legacy

St Marnock's Church, Kilmarnock

A strong cult of veneration developed for Marnock after his death, particularly in the region of the Scottish Borders.[1] Marnock's head was kept as a relic at Kilmarnock, where a tradition emerged where it was washed each Sunday, with the resulting wash water given to the sick to effect miraculous cures.[6]

The strength of the Marnock's cult in the centuries that followed his death is demonstrated in the great number of locations, in Scotland as well as in Ireland, named in his honour, including:

• Ardmonoch, a locality within Kilfinan in Argyll and Bute;[7]
• Dalmarnock a district within Glasgow;[3]
• Dalmarnock, a farm steading near Dunkeld, and the adjacent Dalmarnock Beat, a salmon fishery on the River Tay;[8]
• Inchmarnoch, an island on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire where Marnock established a chapel and, by some accounts, died and was buried;[9][5]
• Inchmarnock, an isle at the northern end of the Sound of Bute;[3]
• Kilmarnock, a town in Ayrshire;[3]
• Portmarnock, a coastal hamlet in Fingal, Ireland.[10]
• Naomh Mearnóg CLG, a GAA club in Portmarnock.

References

1. "Blog Archive » Saint Marnock". CatholicSaints.Info. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
2. "Saints in Scottish Place-Names - Marnock of Kilmarnock". Saintsplaces.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
3. "Blog Archive » Calendar of Scottish Saints – Saint Marnock or Marnan, Bishop, A.D. 625". CatholicSaints.Info. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
4. "Celtic and Old English Saints - 1 March". Celticsaints.org. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
5. "Inchmarnoch, Chapel Of Inchmarnock". Canmore. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
6. Cooper, J., 1996, Dictionary of Christianity, Rutledge Books
7. "Ardmarnock, settlement Kilfinan". Saints in Scottish Place-names.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "Inchmarnoch Chapel, Glenmuick - Glenmuick, Tullich and Glengairn, Grampian - Places of Worship in Scotland | SCHR". Scottishchurches.org.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
10. "Portmarnock Community Association".