St. Canice
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Our patron
Saint, St. Canice was born in 516A.D. in Glengiven, Co. Derry. From an
early age he showed a great interest in learning and he was still a
young boy when he was sent to a monastery in Larcarvann, Wales to study.
He enjoyed the monastic life so much he decided to become a priest. He
studied with St. Finian at Clonard and with St. Mobhi in Glasnevin. He
set up his own monastery in Finglas. He introduced the art of
illumination. Scribes and poets wrote great works of art here. The
village of Finglas grew up around the Abbey. St. Canice travelled to the
Hebrides to convert the people of Scotland with St. Columba. He also set
up a monastery on an island in a lake in Kilkenny. When St. Canice was
old he returned to the island where he died in 599 A.D. He is the patron
saint of Kilkenny and Finglas. The Abbey at Finglas survived
until the 9th century and the arrival of the Vikings.
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