Kilkenny
Martyrological notice
St. Canice, abbot, whose name is generally associated in the earlier annals with Aghavoe, in the Queen's County and diocess of Ossory, is patron now of the chief city of that diocess, Kilkenny, to which he has given his name. He was born in the year 516, of a bardic family in Cianacht (county of Londonderry), of which he was considered patron in former ages. Having commenced his religious life in Britain, and made a pilgrimage to Rome — and adorned, with the other great saints of Ireland, the school of St. Finntan of Clonard— he founded, by the munificence of the prince of Ossory, his great monastery of Aghavoe, which was an episco- pal see until the twelfth century. The seat of the bishops of Ossory was at that time transferred to Kilkenny, where there had been from a very early period a church in honour of the saint. The round tower of his ancient establishment still exists. St. Canice wrote several works, a commentary on the Scriptures, and some poems in honour of his friend St. Columba, whom he twice visited at Iona. He died in 599, aged 84. His festival is the 11th of October. We give below a sketch of the life of St. Canice p. 138.
Historical martyrology witness · Calendar of Irish Saints / Martyrology of Tallaght (1857)
St. Canice, abbot, whose name is generally associated in the earlier annals with Aghavoe, in the Queen's County and diocess of Ossory, is patron now of the chief city of that diocess, Kilkenny, to which he has given his name. He was born in the year 516, of a bardic family in Cianacht (county of Londonderry), of which he was considered patron in former ages. Having commenced his religious life in Britain, and made a pilgrimage to Rome — and adorned, with the other great saints of Ireland, the school of St. Finntan of Clonard— he founded, by the munificence of the prince of Ossory, his great monastery of Aghavoe, which was an episco- pal see until the twelfth century. The seat of the bishops of Ossory was at that time transferred to Kilkenny, where there had been from a very early period a church in honour of the saint. The round tower of his ancient establishment still exists. St. Canice wrote several works, a commentary on the Scriptures, and some poems in honour of his friend St. Columba, whom he twice visited at Iona. He died in 599, aged 84. His festival is the 11th of October. We give below a sketch of the life of St. Canice p. 138.