The Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm is an early 10th-century Irish arm-shrine type reliquary made of wood and metal shaped as an outstretched forearm and clenched fist. St. Lachtin's dates to between 11
Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm
Detail of the clenched fist and row of fingers
Hand and wrist
Lower arm
Hereditary keeper
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Hereditary keepers were lay individuals or families tasked over generations with the long-term, usually multi-generational, guardianship of historically significant holy objects such as or relics or t
Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm
…battle standard or talisman to protect or heal combatants. Saint Lachtin's Arm was rediscovered by antiquarians c. 1750, having been in the care of its hereditary keepers, the Healy family, for around 200 years. It was acquired that year from Donoughmore Church by the art collector Andrew Fountaine. Thereafter, it passed…
The Shrine of St. Patrick's Bell kept by the Ó Maellchallain family until th early 19th century. Now in the NMI.
Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm, c. 1120