KILCHENZIE'S SAINT, KENNETH

CAINNECH OF AGHABOE
Patron of The Shipwrecked
The name Kilchenzie may derive from Cainnech of Aghaboe, his real name Cainnech moccu
Dalánn, known as Saint Kenneth in Scotland and variously as Saint Canice, Saint Canicus and
Saint Kenny known as Saint Canice in Ireland, he born around 515 or 516 and dying about the
age of 84 or 85 in 600 AD.

His name commemorated by an ancient church, Kilchainnech on the island of Tiree; a burial
ground, Kilchainnech, on Iona; in the island of Inch Kenneth, off the west coast of Mull; an
oratory, Laggan Kenny; in the remains of St Kenneth's Church near Loch Laggan on The
Caledonian Canal and, in addition to building a church in St. Andrews, also built a monastery
on the banks of the river Eden in Fife; in Ireland by Kilkenny, in Irish 'Cill Chainnigh', 'The
Church of Cainnech' and in the names of St. Canice's Church, in Finglas, Dublin and St Canice
Church, Roslyn Street, in Sydney, Australia.

Cainnech, born in Glengiven, near Dungiven, County Londonderry, has his feast day
commemorated on October 11 in The Roman Catholic Church and on August 1 or 14 in The
Eastern Orthodox Church and is referred to as one of The Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

Considered a man of virtue, great eloquence and learning, writing a commentary on The
Gospels, which for centuries was known as 'The Chain of Cainnech', was an Irish abbot,
monastic founder, priest and missionary during the early medieval period and preached
Christianity across Ireland and in the west of Scotland.

Although a lot of what we know of Cainnech comes from legend, he was documented by Saint
Adomnán, also known as Eunan, the ninth Abbot of Iona and Adomnán, a hagiographer who
died in 704, refers to Cainnech in his great "Vita Columbae" or "Life of St. Columba".

Cainnech's father, Lughadh Leithdhearg, was descended from the Corco Dalann or Ui
Dalainn, a tribe whose ancestor, the Dalann, can be traced back to Fergus, King of Ulster,
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son of Ross, son of Rudhraighe, the Corco Dalann tribe coming from an island referred to as
"Insula Nuligi", it usually identified with Inis Doimhle or Inis Uladh, now known as Little Island
on the River Suir, south-east of Waterford.

Lughadh was a distinguished bard, a professional highly trained, learned poet and, like other
bards, travelled and
wandered throughout the country before settling in Glengiven, Lughadh ending up under the
favour and protection of the chief of Cianachta and becoming tutor of the chieftain's son, Geal
Breagach.

Cainnech's mother, called Maul or Mella, attained an eminent degree of sanctity and the
church of Thompleamoul or Capella Sanctae Maulae seu Mellae, beside the town of Kilkenny,
was dedicated to God under her invocation.

In early Christian Ireland the druid tradition collapsed with the spread of the new faith and the
study of Latin learning and Christian theology in monasteries began to flourish.

In 543, Cainnech, who had spent his early years watching his chieftain's flocks, sensed a
higher calling and became a pupil in 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 and it is said that the average number of scholars under
instruction at Clonard was 3,000.

Twelve students who studied under St. Finian became known as The Twelve Apostles of
Ireland, Cainnech one of these and it was there that Cainnech became a friend and
companion of St Colmcille, St. Columba

The following year, in 544, Cainnech began studying with St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise and St.
Comgall of Bangor, under the tuition of St. Mobhi, in the school of Glasnevin and, when
plague scattered that community, Cainnech went, as a monk, to the monastery of Llancarfan
in Glamorganshire, under Saint Cadoc and, ordained a priest there in 545, journeyed to
Rome, to obtain the blessing of the reigning pontiff.

Returning to Glengiven in 550, Cainnech converted his foster-brother, Geal Breagach

afterwards assisting him in founding Drumachose, in nearby Limavady and in 565 went to
Scotland where he became closely associated with St. Columba's missionary work, Adamnan
telling of Cainnech's arrival on Iona, St. Columba having a prophecy of a "certain holy and
excellent man, who will arrive here among us before evening", God providing Cainnech with a
safe and calm crossing, even though the sea was perilous and stormy that day and St.
Columba receiving him that evening with all honour and hospitality.

Cainnech spent a good deal of his time in County Meath and Ossory, in what is now County
Laois and 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 principal
monastery.

Kilkenny, in Irish 'Cill Chainnigh', 'The Church of Cainnech', the name later extending to the
townland and parish, was one of the last parts of Ireland to be converted to Christianity.

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 retired with his council to a
mound for safety and Cainnech leading an army there and overcoming them and founding a

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monastery near what is now The Church of Ireland's St. Canice's Cathedral, St Cainnech of
Aghaboe now recognised as the secondary patron of Kilkenny.

In his old age Cainnech retired to an island in the now drained Loch Cree and there wrote his
commentary on all four Gospels, the work becoming known as 'Glass Kinnich' or 'Glas
Chainnigh' or 'The Chain of Cainnech', the work long preserved in his church and becoming a
continuous commentary in The Middle Ages.

Aghaboe grew in importance and in the 7th century it sent St Feargal as a missionary to the
church of Salzburg, Aghaboe becoming, 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, its cemetery and church
and completely destroyed Cainnech's shrine along with his bones and relics.