Cainnech of Aghaboe
saint, priest and abbot who preached across Ireland and Scotland.
Feast: 11 October (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Cainnech (Canice, Kenny), son of a bard, was born at Glengiven in County Derry about 515 and minded his chieftain's flocks as a boy. He studied under St Finian at Clonard with St Columba, and under St Mobhi at Glasnevin, and was ordained priest in Wales in 545.
He founded Drumachose, preached in Scotland from 565, and died at Aghaboe in 600.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A shepherd boy who became a founder of monasteries in Ireland and Scotland.
Connected on this site
- Saint Maul Saint Mother, Parent
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Canice
- Wikidata Q1133742 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Cainnech of Aghaboe (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.