Mac-Caille (d. c.489), bishop and abbot of Cruachán Breg Éile (Croghan Hill, barony of Lower Philipstown, Co. Offaly), and saint in the Irish tradition, was reputedly the son of Darerca, sister of St Patrick (qv). The genealogists credit Darerca with being also the mother of a number of other early ecclesiastics including Lommán of Trim, Mac-Caírthinn (qv) and Mel (qv). Nothing else is known of his birth or parentage. His name means ‘son of the veil’, and he is mainly associated with the veiling of St Brigit (qv).
The mid seventh century Life of Brigit by Cogitosus (qv) states (§2) that Brigit went to ‘the most holy bishop Mac Caille’ who ‘placed the white veil and white garment over her venerable head’, but it does not give the location. The ‘Vita Prima’ (seventh or eighth century), however, claims (§20.1) that Mac-Caille was merely a disciple of bishops Mel and Melchu, who ‘lived in the towns of Mide’, and that it was Mel who placed the veil on Brigit's head. A partial accommodation is reached in ‘Bethu Brigte’ (probably ninth-century): Mac-Caille is a pupil of Mel, and an angel takes the veil from ‘the hand of Mac Caille, the minister’ and places in on Brigit's head. The location is Mag Tulach (in the present barony of Fartullagh, Co. Westmeath), but Cruachán Breg Éile is also mentioned. The relationship between Mac-Caille and Mel is curious, both being supposedly sons of Darerca and nephews of Patrick; it is possible that they are duplicates.
Mac-Caille also features in the ‘Collectanea’ of Tírechán (qv) in which he appears as ‘Maceleus’ in the list of Patrician bishops (§6.3). Tírechán states (§16.3) that Brigit received the veil sub manibus filii Caille (from the hands of Mac Caille) at Mag Teloch. Mac-Caille may also be identified with the ‘Maccetus’ mentioned in the Tripartite Life and other Patrician documents. He may perhaps be associated with Dísert Meic Caille, at which a certain Darerca and Clothach were located. His obit is noted in several Irish annals; his feast-day is commemorated in the Irish martyrologies on 25 April.