If anyone is interested I have some more info. on this holy virgin.....

She was a hermits but she was also said to have been a nun. She founded a convent on the west coast of Poulnasherry Bay, Co. Clare, Ireland, at a place called 'Kilnagalliagh' and another to the west of Ballylongford,? Co. Kerry. The place at which she is buried is not Enniscorthy - which is in Co. Wexford, but Scattery Island in County Clare. I went to Scattery Island on holidays and it was fantastic. I walked around the island on the strand in the hope of seeing the resting place of that Holy nun. Unfortunately when I got to the spot where her remains are buried I couldn't see the grave, because it was submerged by the waves. I was very disappointed because I really like St. Cannera, she is one of my patrons. I'm Irish and she is my all-time favourite saint. Once, there was an outbreak of T.B. in the neighbourhood and the cattle on our farm were all at risk of getting the disease. I prayed to Saint Cannera and the next day something miraculous happened. It was found that our cattle didn't catch the disease and whats more, we were the only farm in the area whos livestock managed to escape the affliction!!! We were over the moon - all because of St. Cannera. She is a wonderful saint an d I am so happy to speak about her. In art this holy virgin is depicted as an old woman with a stick in her hand, and in a bent over posture, with a bag on her back. She has a scarf tied around her head with long black hair in a 'plat' falling down and big golden earrings, like what the Celts wore. Standing on Scattery Island surrounded over-head with seagulls. In the life of St. Senan, Cannera is mentioned as a holy virgin who had a vision one night (as she was praying the nocturns in her cell near Bantry) of all the churches in Ireland of which arose a tower from each, with flames ascending from every one, but the biggest tower and the one with the highest flame came from InishCathaig (Scattery Island). She knew that her life was near it's end so she went out and began the long journey from Bantry Bay, Co. Cork, up to Scattery Island in the Shannon Estuary, Co. Clare. It is said that Cannera reached the shore of the River Shannon before the sun rose that night. She was so pious that she walked across the wa ter to Scattery where her relative Saint Senan was waiting to greet her. (The Shannon Estuary is one of the deepest estuaries in the world) Senan stopped her from landing on the island but he told her to go to the island in the east where Cannera's relativ es dwelt in a convent. She was stubborn and didnt move. She knew what God wanted her to do. Seeing that Senan was not going to let her on the island (because she was female) Cannera asked for Holy Communion and the last rites. The moment she got

Communion she died on the spot and Senan buried her on the strand, fulfilling her wish but at the same time, not breaking his rule. Senan put a large tomb over her. This is now gone under the waves, although rarely, when the tide goes out far you can almost see it. Cannera is the patroness of sailors and they used to visit her grave (when it wasnt submerged) and take pebbles from it. They'd put them in their boats for protection. In the past, sailors, when they passed by the island, at the place known as 'Lady's Grave' (named after St. Cannera) they would bless themselves. Cannera is fairly obscure, but I learned that a church was dedicated to her over in America. There is also a hymn that's like a folk song written about St. Cannera. It is called 'Oro Canaire' The words to 'Oro Canaire': (the words 'inion De' mean in Irish 'daughter of God.') Chorus Hei-dil-di-i-dil-dum, Did-dil-di-i-dil-de Oro Cannera, Oro CanneraHei-dil-di-idil-dum, Did-dil-di-i-dil-de Oro Cannera, inion De 1) Listening in prayer to what God has to say O Cannera, Cannera, inion De Seeing through dreams to where God leads the way, O Cannera, Cannera, inion De chorus 2) With God's word and God's will to guide her each day O Cannera, Cannera, inion De No one or nothing could stand in the way of our Cannera, Cannera, inion De chorus 3) 'It's here I've been sent and its here I will stay' Said Cannera, Cannera, inion De Its there her remains lie till this very day Says the story of Cannera, inion De. chorus 4) Almost forgotten but not gone away O Cannera, Cannera, inion De In story our Cannera's resurrected today O Cannera, Cannera, inion Cannera, Saint, lived in the 6th century. Her interview and conversation with St. Senan, given by Lanigan, and related by Moore in his Melodies, are her warrant for special notice. Wishing to receive the viaticum from St. Senan, and to be buried in Inishscattery, she left her retreat near Bantry, and set sail for that island. Lanigan proceeds: "When arrived just close to it [she] was met by Senan, who obstinately refused to allow her to land, and requested her to go to the house of his mother, who lived not far distant, and was related to Cannera. At length, however, on understanding that she was near her end, and that she wished to receive the Holy Eucharist, he complied with her desire. As she died very soon after, her wish to be interred in that holy place was also fulfilled." If she is the same as St. Cainder, as stated in the Martyrology of Donegal, her festival is the 28th January.

The Life of Saint Canera Blessed Canaire of InisCathaig, Fearless and trusting in God, Your faithfulness to the Gospel helped others to see when they had strayed from the way of Christ. Teach us to follow in your steps, across the icy waters of prejudice and fear to the perfect communion of God's Kingdom. Feastday: January 28 .

St. Canera, a pious woman living in the South of Ireland, set up a hermitage in her own territory. One night, while she was praying, all tile churches of Ireland appeared to her in a vision. It seemed as if a tower of fire rose up to heaven from each of the churches. The highest tower and the straightest toward heaven, was that which rose from InisCathaig (Scattery Island - Bantry Bay). "I will go there, that my resurrection may be near it." Her persistence for God is a good example for everyone. She tells us, as St. Paul says, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus." Canera died around the year 530. Her grave is partially submerged by the sea and is marked by a simple flag off Scattery Island. Her true home is in heaven. Tuesday, 10 February 2009 Saint Cannera 28 January Not a great deal is known of today's saint, Cannera of Bantry, apart from the details of an encounter she had with Saint Senan of Scatter y Island (InisCathaig), recorded in that saint's Life.

The feast of Saint Cannera is recorded at January 28 in the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Gorman. The latter describes her as 'dear Cainer' and notes that she was daughter of Cruithnechan in Cell Cu ilinn in Cairbre. The entry in the Martyrology of Donegal reads:

CAINDER, daughter of Cruithneachan, at Cill -Chuilinn, in Cairbre. The hagiographer, Colgan, published her Acts at this day, but it is to the Life of Saint Senan that we must turn for a glimps e into Cannera's life: 2416. Canair the Pious, a holy maiden of the Benntraige of the south of Ireland, set up a hermitage in her own territory. There one night, after nocturns, she was praying, when all the churches of Ireland appeared to her. And it seem ed that a tower of fire rose up to heaven from each of the churches ; but the greatest of the towers, and the straightest towards heaven, was that which rose from InisCathaig.'Fair is yon cell', she saith. 'Thither will I go, that my resurrection may be ne ar it'. Straightway on she went, without guidance save the tower of fire which she beheld ablaze without ceasing day and night before her, till she came thither. Now, when she had reached the shore of Luimnech, she crossed the sea with dry feet as if she w ere on smooth land, till she came to InisCathaig. Now Senan knew that thing, and he went to the harbour to meet her, and he gave her welcome. 2426. 'Yea, I have come' saithCanair. 'Go' saithSenan, 'to thy sister who dwells in yon island in the east, that t hou mayest have guesting therein'.'Not for that have we come' saithCanair, 'but that I may have guesting with thee in this island'.'Women enter not this island', saithSenan. 'How canst thou say that?' saithCanair. 'Christ is no worse than thou. Christ came to redeem women no less than to redeem men. No less did He suffer for the sake of women than for the sake of men. Women have given service and tendance unto Christ and His Apostles. No less than men do women enter the heavenly kingdom. Why, then, shouldst thou not take women to thee in thine island?' 'Thou art stubborn' saithSenan. 'What then' saithCanair, 'shall I get what I ask for, a place for my side in this isle and the Sacrament from thee to me?' 'A place of resurrection' saithSenan, 'will be given t hee here on the brink of the wave, but I fear that the sea will carry off thy remains'

'God will grant me' saithCanair, 'that the spot wherein I shall lie will not be the first that the sea will bear away'. 'Thou hast leave then' saithSenan, 'to come on sh ore'. For thus had she been while they were in converse, standing up on the wave, with her staff under her bosom, as if she were on land. Then Canair came on shore, and the Sacrament was administered to her, and she straightway went to heaven. 2447. God granted unto Canair that whoso visits her church before going on the sea shall not be drowned between going and returning. Whitley Stokes, ed. and trans., 'Life of Senan' in Lives of the Saints from the Book of Lismore, (Oxford, 1890), 219 -220. This encounter between the two saints has ensured the re -translation of Saint Cannera to our own times as a feminist and supporter of the ordination of women. To Orthodox Christians, however, the monastic tradition that Saint Senan represents continues today at Mount Athos in Greece, where women are debarred from entering the holy mountain.

It is thus unfair to Saint Senan to brand him as a misogynist for wishing to pursue his monastic vocation without the presence of women. We are also told on page 221 of the saint's Life that when his death was approaching, Saint Senan went out of his way to visit a community of nuns to whom he had personally given the veil: So he went on that side, and he visited Cell Eochaille to commence with Ner's daughters who were dwelling there, pious, holy virgins, who had taken the veil at Senan's hand, and who were under his spiritual direction. Then they entreat Senan that the body of (some) lowly monk of his community might be given to them, to be buried by us, so that his reli cs may be protecting us. 'Verily' saithSenan, 'this shall be granted to you. Be in no distress as to one from whom your protection shall come'.

In any case, the account of his encounter with Saint Cannera reads to me as if Saint Senan rather admires her stubborness, and he does grant her request. Her memory as a protectress of those at sea seems to have survived too, and I hope to be able to trace a copy of a 16th-century poem which asks for her blessing on a ship and its crew.

I understand that Scattery Island is currently uninhabited, so both Saint Cannera and Saint Senan may enjoy their rest undisturbed