St. Canice
moccu
Dalánn of Aghaboe
(b.
515/16 – d. 600)
Feast Day: October 11th
Is also known as St. Canice in
Ireland, St. Kenneth in
Scotland, and in
Latin St. Canicus, and was an
abbot, monastic founder, priest and missionary during the
early medieval period. Canice is one
of the
Twelve Apostles of Ireland and
preached
Christianity to the Irish and to the
Picts in Scotland. He wrote a
commentary on the
Gospels, which is known as the
Chain of Canice. Most of what is written about Canice's life is based on
tradition, however he was considered a man of virtue, great eloquence and
learning.
Canice was born in 515 or 516, at
Glengiven, near
Dungiven in Ireland. He died and was
reposed at
Aghaboe in 599/600.
His father
Lughadh Leithdhearg descended from
the Ui Dalainn, a tribe whose ancestor, Dalann, is traced back to Fergus (King
of Ulster.) The Corco-Dalann were
from an island known as the Little Island, in the River
Suir, near
Waterford. Lughadh was a
distinguished
bard and poet. After wandering, he
settled at Glengiven, in
County Derry. Canice's mother was
called Maul, a saintly woman. She dedicated the church of Thompleamoul near
beside Kilkenny city.
Canice 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 and Christian theology
flourished. In 543, Canice became a pupil at
Clonard. During the sixth century,
some of the most significant names in the history of Irish
Christianity studied at the Clonard
with 3,000 students at the time. Twelve students of
St. Finian became known as the
Twelve Apostles of Ireland, Canice
was one of these. Here he became a friend and companion of
St Colmcille.
In 544,
St. Mobhi taught him,
St. Kieran, and
St. Congeal at
Glasnevin. When plague scattered that
community, he went as a monk
Saint Cadoc’s monastery of
Llancarfan in
Glamorganshire in
Wales. He was ordained a priest there
in 545. He went to
Rome and received the blessing of
Pope Vigilus. In 550 he returned to Glengiven, where he converted his
foster-brother, Geal-Breagach, who assisted him in founding Drumachose, in
nearby
Limavady.
Canice spent a lot of time in
County Meath and
Ossory (County
Laois.) In Ossory, he became friends
with King Colman. The king gave him grants of land including Aghaboe ("the field
of the Ox") and established his principle monastery. It grew in importance and
for a time the site of the bishop's see, until Norman’s got the see transferred
from Aghaboe to Kilkenny. In 1346 Diarmaid Mac Giollaphádraig burned the town of
Aghaboe, the Church, and cemetery. This completely destroyed Canice's shrine
along with his bones and relics.
 |
Kilkenny ("The Church of Canice") was the name of Canise’s church. This was the last area of Ireland to be converted to Christianity. In 597, Canice led a Christian force to eliminate the last of Druidic rule in Ireland. The last Archdruid of Ireland and Council fled to a mound in Kilkenny for safety. Canice led an army there and overcame them. He founded a monastery near what is now the Church of Ireland's St. Canice's Cathedral. |