Maurice MacKenraghty
Irish priest
Who they were
Maurice MacKenraghty, son of a Kilmallock silversmith, studied abroad and became chaplain to the Earl of Desmond. Captured in 1583, he lay in irons at Clonmel, instructing and hearing confessions at his prison grate.
Released for one night to say Mass, he was betrayed; he escaped, but gave himself up to save the man who had sheltered him. Offered pardon if he would conform, he held to the Catholic faith and the Pope's authority, and was executed at Clonmel on 30 April 1585.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A priest who surrendered himself to save a friend and died for the Faith.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Maurice MacKenraghty
- Wikidata Q6793321 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Muiris Mac Ionrachtaigh (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.