Cill Chainnigh / Kilkenny

  (Irish: Cill Chainnigh, meaning "cell or church of Cainnech")

Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe (515/16–600), also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth in Scotland, Saint Kenny and in Latin Saint Canicus, was a gaelic abbot, monastic founder, priest and missionary during the early medieval period. Cainnech is one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland^[1] and preached Christianity across Ireland and to the Picts in Scotland.^[2] He wrote a commentary on the Gospels, which for centuries was known as the Glas-Choinnigh or the Chain of Cainnech.^[3]
Cainnech was born in 515 or 516, at Glengiven, near Dungiven in Ireland. He died and was reposed at Aghaboe in 599/600.^[7] His real name was Cainnech moccu Dalánn.^[8]
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 Ulster), son of Ross, son of Rudhraighe.^[9] 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 Waterford.^[3]
Lughadh was a distinguished bard,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.^[9]
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.^[9]

Early life

St. Finnian imparting his blessing to the Twelve Apostles of Ireland

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 Latin learning and Christian theology in monasteries flourished. In 543 sensing a higher calling, Cainnech became a pupil at the monastic school at Clonard. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. It is said that the average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was 3,000.^[10] Twelve students who studied under St. Finian became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, 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 Glasnevin, with St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise and St. Comgall of Bangor, under the tuition of St. Mobhi.
When plague scattered that community, he went as a monk to the monastery of Llancarfan in Glamorganshire in Wales, under Saint Cadoc. He was ordained a priest there in 545.
He left for Rome 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 Limavady.