Editing Finglas (section)

===Early history===
Finglas was originally the site of an [[Early Christian]] abbey, the origin of which has been associated, from early times, with the name of [[Cainnech of Aghaboe|St. Cainnech]], or Canice, the patron of [[Kilkenny]], said to have founded it in 560 A.D. According to an ancient legend, the ground on which Finglas stands had been sanctified by [[St. Patrick]], who is said to have uttered a [[prophecy]] that a great town would arise at the ford of hurdles in the vale beneath.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sexton|first1=Peter|title=History of St. Margarets and Finglas|date=2000|page=62}}</ref> The Nethercross from the first abbey can be seen today in the old graveyard.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.stcanices.com/canweb_034.htm | title = Parish of St. Canice - The Cross of Nethercross | publisher = StCanices.com | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208192838/http://www.stcanices.com/canweb_034.htm |archive-date = 8 February 2013 }}</ref>

St. Canice is said to have been born at Glengiven near [[Derry]]. Several primary schools and churches in the area have been named after Canice, including the local [[Church of Ireland]] church (built in 1843) and [[Roman Catholic]] church (built in 1920 on the site of a much earlier mass house).<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50130008/st-canices-church-of-ireland-church-street-finglas-dublin-11-dublin | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = St. Canice's Church of Ireland, Church Street, Finglas, Dublin 11 | access-date = 9 March 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50130028/st-canices-church-main-street-finglas-dublin-11-co-dublin | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = St. Canice's Church, Main Street, Finglas, Dublin 11 | access-date = 9 March 2021 }}</ref>