Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe, (515/16–600) was also known as
Saint Canice in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
,
Saint Kenneth in
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
,
Saint Kenny and
Saint Canicus.
Cainnech was a
gaelicThe Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group which originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to Scotland and the Isle of Man. They are speakers of the Goidelic languages – Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx...
abbot, monastic founder, priest and missionary during the
early medieval periodThe Early Middle Ages, or Dark Ages, is a period in the history of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It lasted from about AD 500 to 1000. The period featured raiding, migration, and conquest by Huns, Germanic peoples, Arabs, Vikings, Hungarians and others. There was frequent...
. He wrote a commentary on the
GospelA gospel is a writing that describes the life of Jesus. The word is primarily used to refer to the four canonical texts: the Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke and Gospel of John, probably written between AD 65 and 80...
s, known as
Chain of Cainnech for centuries.
Cainnech is one of the
Twelve Apostles of IrelandThe Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird , now Clonard in County Meath.- Clonard Abbey :In Early Christian Ireland the druidic tradition was succeeded or...
and preached
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
across Ireland and to the Picts in Scotland. Cainnech was considered a man of virtue, great eloquence and learning.
Introduction
Cainnech was born in 515 or 516, at Glengiven, near
DungivenDungiven is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on the main Belfast to Derry road. It is situated where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg converge at the foot of the 1,525ft Benbradagh mountain, next to the Glenshane Pass where the road rises to over 1,000ft...
in Ireland. He died and was reposed at
AghaboeAghaboe is a village and parish in County Laois, Ireland. It is located on the R434 regional road in the rural hinterland west of the town of Abbeyleix....
in 599/600. His feast day is commemorated on 11 October in the
Roman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
and on the 1 or 14 August in the
Eastern Orthodox ChurchThe Orthodox Church, also officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to in English speaking countries as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the world's second largest Christian communion, estimated to number 225 million members...
.
A lot of what we know of Cainnech comes from legend. However, he is documented by Saint Adomnán (also known as Eunan), the ninth the abbot of
IonaIona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that has an important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty...
who died in 704. Adomnán was a hagiographer and his greatest work
Vita Columbae or
Life of St. Columba contains references to Cainnech.
Cainnech's background
His real name was Cainnech moccu Dalánn.
Cainnech's father Lughadh Leithdhearg was descended from the CorcoDalann or Ui Dalainn, a tribe whose ancestor, Dalann, is traced back to Fergus (
King of UlsterThe Kings of Ulster were of the Ulaid, and up till about A.D. 450, ruled as over-kings of the ancient cóiced of Ulster. Ptolemy's map shows them as the Voluntii. In their prime they seem to have being direct rulers of what are now County Monaghan, County Armagh, County Down, County Antrim and...
), son of Ross, son of Rudhraighe.
The Corco-Dalann were from an island referred to as "Insula Nuligi", and is usually identified with Inis-Doimhle or Inis-Uladh, which is now the Little Island, in the River Suir, south-east of
WaterfordWaterford is the primary city of the South East region of Ireland. Founded in 914 AD by the Vikings, it is country's oldest city and its fifth largest. The city is situated at the head of Waterford Harbour...
.
Lughadh was a distinguished
bardIn medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, paid by a monarch to praise the sovereign's activities....
,a professional highly trained, learned poet. As with many men of the bard class, Lughadh travelled and wandered throughout the country at the time. Lughadh settled at Glengiven, in what is now County Londonderry. Lughadh ended up under the favour and protection of the chief of Cianachta. Lughadh became the tutor of the chieftain's son, Geal Breagach.
Cainnech's mother was called Maul or Mella. She attained an eminent degree of sanctity. The church of Thompleamoul or Capella Sanctae Maulae seu Mellae, beside Kilkenny city, was dedicated to God under her invocation.
Early life
Cainnech spent his early years watching his chieftain's flocks.
In early Christian Ireland the druid tradition collapsed, with the spread of the new faith. Study of
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Roman conquest, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe...
learning and Christian theology in monasteries flourished. In 543 sensing a higher calling, Cainnech became a pupil at the monastic school at
ClonardClonard Abbey was an early medieval monastery situated on the River Boyne, just beside the traditional boundary line of the northern and southern halves of Ireland in modern County Meath...
. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
studied at the Clonard monastery. It is said that the average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was 3,000. Twelve students who studied under
St. FinianSt Finnian of Clonard , or Finian, 'Fionáin' in Irish, was one of the early Irish monastic saints. He founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath and the Twelve Apostles of Ireland studied under him. He might have been born at Myshall, County Carlow. At an early age he was supposedly placed...
became known as the
Twelve Apostles of IrelandThe Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird , now Clonard in County Meath.- Clonard Abbey :In Early Christian Ireland the druidic tradition was succeeded or...
, Cainnech was one of these. It was at Clonard that Cainnech became a friend and companion of St Colmcille.
In 544 he was studying in the school of
GlasnevinGlasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:...
, with
St. Kieran of ClonmacnoiseSaint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the early Irish monastic saints and Irish bishop. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Younger to distinguish him from Saint Ciarán of Saighir. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland....
and St. Comgall of
BangorBangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland, with a population of 76,403 people in the 2001 Census, making it the most populous town in Northern Ireland and the third most populous settlement in Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort situated on the southern side of Belfast Lough and...
, under the tuition of St. Mobhi.
When plague scattered that community, he went as a monk the monastery of
LlancarfanLlancarfan is a rural village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The village, located west of Barry near Cowbridge, has a pub and a well-known parish church, the site of Saint Cadoc's 6th-century abbey, famed for its learning. Cainnech of Aghaboe, Caradoc of Llancarfan and many other...
in Glamorganshire in
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
, under Saint Cadoc. He was ordained a priest there in 545.
He left for
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
to obtain the blessing of the reigning pontiff. In 550 he had returned to Glengiven, where he converted his foster-brother, Geal-Breagach, who afterwards assisted him in founding Drumachose, in nearby
LimavadyLimavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Benevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
.
Scotland
Cainnech went to Scotland in 565. In
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Cainnech was known as St. Kenneth, and was closely associated with St. Columba's missionary work.
Adamnan tells of the arrival of Cainnech, on Iona. St. Columba had a prophecy of a "certain holy and excellent man, who will arrive here among us before evening." God had provided Cainnech with a safe and calm crossing, even though the sea was perilous and stormy that day. St. Columba received him that evening with all honour and hospitality.
Cainnech built a church in the place now known as Saint Andrews. Cainnech's name is still recalled in the ruins of an ancient church, Kil-Chainnech on
TireeTiree is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides southwest of Coll. It has an area of and a population of around 800. The low-lying island is highly fertile, and crofting, alongside tourism, are the main sources of employment for the islanders...
Island, in a burial ground, Kil-Chainnech, in
IonaIona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that has an important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty...
and
Inch KennethInch Kenneth is a small island off the west coast of the Isle of Mull, Scotland, to the south of Ulva.-History:The island is named after St Kenneth, a follower of Saint Columba, who is said to have founded a monastery on the island....
off
MullMull could refer to the following:*Mull, an Anglicization of the Gaelic Maol, a term for a rounded hill, summit, or mountain, bare of trees . As an adjective, the word is used to indicate something which is bare, dull, or bald...
.
Cainnech built monastic cells on the island of Ibdon and Eninis, an oratory called Lagan-Kenny on the shores of
Loch LagganLoch Laggan is a freshwater loch situated east of Fort William, in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. The A86 road from Spean Bridge to Kingussie follows along its north bank. Since 1934 Loch Laggan has been a reservoir, retained behind the Laggan Dam, forming part of the Lochaber hydro-electric...
(the remains of which are marked on the OS map), and a monastery in
FifeFife is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. It was originally one of the Pictish kingdoms, known as Fib, and is still commonly known as the Kingdom of Fife within Scotland.It is a...
on the banks of the Eden.
Ireland
Cainnech spent a good deal of his time in
County MeathCounty Meath is one of the traditional counties of Ireland and is located within the province of Leinster. It was named after the historic kingdom and province of Mide....
and
OssoryThe Kingdom of Ossory was an ancient kingdom of Ireland. It formed the easternmost part of the kingdom and province of Munster until the middle of the 9th century, after which it was attached to Leinster...
in what is now
County LaoisCounty Laois is one of the traditional counties of Ireland and is located within the province of Leinster. Its name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix....
. In Ossory he had a good repute with the king, Colmann son of Feradach. Colman gave him grants of land including Aghaboe("the field of the Ox") which became his principle monastery. He founded a monastery and Abbey of
AghaboeAghaboe is a village and parish in County Laois, Ireland. It is located on the R434 regional road in the rural hinterland west of the town of Abbeyleix....
. Aghaboe grew in importance, and in the 7th century it sent St Feargal as a missionary to the church of Salzburg. Aghaboe become for a time the site of the bishop's see until under Norman influence in the twelfth century the see transferred from Aghaboe to Kilkenny. In 1346 Diarmaid Mac Giollaphádraig burned the town of Aghaboe and the cemetery and church, and completely destroyed Cainnech's shrine along with Cainnech's bones and relics.
KilkennyKilkenny
[.] is described as a city and is the traditional county town of County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore, at the centre of County Kilkenny in the province of Leinster in the south-east of Ireland...
(Irish: Cill Chainnigh "The Church of Cainnech") was originally the name of a church erected by or dedicated to Cainnech, but was afterwards extended to the townland and parish. Kilkenny was one of the last parts of Ireland to be converted to
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
. Tradition asserts that in 597, Cainnech led a Christian force to Kilkenny to eliminate the last bastion of Druidic rule in Ireland. The last Archdruid of Ireland had retired with his Council to a mound in Kilkenny for safety. Cainnech led an army there and overcame them. He founded a monastery near what is now the
Church of Ireland'sThe Church of Ireland is a Christian church, an autonomous province of the Episcopal/Anglican Communion, operating across the island of Ireland, and the largest non-Roman Catholic religious body on the island...
St. Canice's Cathedral. St Cainnech of Aghaboe is the secondary patron of Kilkenny.
Chain of Cainnech
In his old age Cainnech retired to an island in Loch Cree, since drained, and wrote a commentary on all four Gospels. This became known as Glass Kinnich (Glas-Chainnigh) or Chain of Cainnech, This was long preserved in his church and became a continuous commentary in the Middle Ages).
Places bearing his name
- An ancient church, Kil-Chainnech on Tiree Island, Scotland.
- A burial ground, Kil-Chainnech, in Iona, Scotland
- An oratory called Lagan-Kenny on the shores of Lough Lagan, Scotland.
- Kilkenny
Kilkenny
[.] is described as a city and is the traditional county town of County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore, at the centre of County Kilkenny in the province of Leinster in the south-east of Ireland...
(Irish: Cill Chainnigh "The Church of Cainnech"), Ireland.
- Also, St. Canice's Church in Finglas
Finglas is a residential suburb, with a village core. It is on the Northside of Dublin City, Ireland, and mainly lies in the postal district Dublin 11...
, DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
.
- Kilchenzie in Cantyre.
- The remains of St Kenneth's Church (shown on OS maps) near Loch Laggan
Loch Laggan is a freshwater loch situated east of Fort William, in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. The A86 road from Spean Bridge to Kingussie follows along its north bank. Since 1934 Loch Laggan has been a reservoir, retained behind the Laggan Dam, forming part of the Lochaber hydro-electric...
, in ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
- St Canice Church, Roslyn Street- Sydney, Australia
Troparion of St Cainnech (tone 8)
This is a
TroparionA troparion in Byzantine music and in the religious music of Eastern Orthodoxy is a short hymn of one stanza, or one of a series of stanzas. The word probably derives from a diminutive of the Greek tropos...
of St Cainnech.
In honour thou dost rank with Ireland's Enlightener,
O Lover of the Desert, Composer of sacred verse,
Father of Monks and Founder of Monasteries, O Father Cainnech.
Labouring for Christ, both in thy native land and in Scotland,
thou art a tireless intercessor for the faithful.
Pray for us who hymn thee, that despite our frailty we may be granted great mercy.
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