Baring-Gould’s sources: Irish and Roman Martyrologies. Aberdeen Breviary. The life of this saint is not printed by the Bollandists, as not conducive to edification, being filled with prodigies. Usher quotes from the same life.] S. Cainec, or Kenny as he is commonly called, was a native of Kiennacta, in the north of Ireland. His father was a celebrated bard, named Laidec, of the sept of Mocudalan. Kenny was bom in the year 516, and, when arrived at the age of discretion, wishing to acquire learning and lead a religious life, went to Britain, and there placed himself under the venerable abbot Docus, with whom he remained for some years in close application to his studies, and in the Oct. xi.] S. Kenny.

…practice of monastic obedience. Passing by a pretended tour of his to Rome, for which there is not sufficient authority, we find him afterwards at the school of S. Finnian of Clonard. Having left his school, he is said to have preached for some years in the northern parts of Ireland. After some time Kenny proceeded towards the south of Ireland, and having stayed for a while in some religious house, wrote a copy of the four Gospels, which was long preserved, and was called Glass-Kinnich, or the Chain of Cainech. It is probable from the name that this was a sort of running commentary on the Gospels. Thence he went to Upper Ossory, and being kindly received by the inhabitants, founded the great monastery of Aghaboe. The time of its foundation is not known, but it was prior to the year 577. Aghaboe became, in course of time, the residence of the Bishop of Ossory, the see of Saigir [a bishop’s “see” is his diocese, named from his seat (Latin sedes)] having been transferred to it.

It is said that Cainech, under the patronage of Colman MacFeraidhe, prince of Ossory, founded other monastic establishments in that country. In the life of S. Columba [Irish abbot of Iona (d. 597), apostle of Scotland] we read that that saint was in a boat at sea, when there burst over him a furious storm. When his disciples in the vessel besought his prayers, “It is not for me to pray for you today,” he answered, “ but for the holy abbot Cainech in his house of Aghaboe.” Now at that very time Kenny was in his refectory — it was the ninth hour — breaking the bread of the Eulogia, when suddenly he heard the voice of his friend Columba crying to him to assist him, as he was in great straits.

Kenny at once jumped up from table with one shoe on, and crying to his monks, “ This is no time for eating whilst Columba is tossing on the sea,” ran to the church, and falling on his knees before the altar, prayed God to deliver the abbot of Iona.

At that moment Columba turned to those who toiled in rowing on the tumultuous sea, and said, “ Be of good cheer; God has looked on the zeal of Kenny running to church with only one shoe on his foot, to pray for us.” S. Pulcherius bade his disciple Mochumbe build himself a cell and church, and Mochumbe built first a church and then a cell, and before he had roofed in the latter S. Pulcherius, S. Kenny, S. Fechan, and S. Molua came to see him, and they stayed with him till late. And Mochumbe said, “ We must eat and sleep in the church, for there is no roof on the refectory.” But S. Fechan answered, “Not so, we will abide in the refectory, and God will keep the rain off us through the night.” So the saints slept in the roofless building, and though the clouds hung low, there was no rain. And in the morning S. Molua said, “On this place where so great charity has been shown, a great abundance of divine blessings shall fall.” And S. Pulcherius said, “ This roofless hut shall be blessed, and a noble building shall not fail to stand on the spot as long as the world rolls.”

And S. Kenny said, “ The son of death shall not die in this place.” So the saints blessed the humble cell and retired. Then Mochumbe cried out, “ My fathers ! you have blessed my poor walls, have you no benediction for me?” “Son,” answered the saints, “ in spirit we shall ever abide with thee, and thou shalt become a saint in this place, and stand with us in the Judgment.” And in token they planted there five stones, “ which,” says the biographer of S. Pulcherius, “remain unto this day.”

S. Kenny is said to have inherited his father’s poetical skill, and Ware attributes to him a life of S. Columba, and some hymns in praise of that saint Having governed in person, as abbot and priest, the Oct xx.] 6 ". Ethelburga.

monastery of Aghaboe, he died in the eighty-fourth year of his age, on the nth of October, a.d. 599. Aghaboe is now called Kilkenny, or the Church of S. Kenny.