Cainner (Cannera) (6th cent.?), foundress of Cluain Cláraid and saint in the Irish tradition, belonged to the old north Munster population group of Corcu Óchae. Despite a degree of genealogical confusion, it seems reasonable to identify her with Cainner daughter of Fintan. According to the Latin Life (§12) of Molua son of Cárthach, Cainner was a first cousin of St Brendan (qv) of Clonfert. Till the age of 16 she had been dumb, but was miraculously given the power of speech by Brendan. She subsequently set up a community of nuns at Cluain Cláraid (unlocated, but probably in the east Galway–west Offaly area). Most likely, Cainner is to be identified with the nun of that name who, in an episode of the Life (§34) of Mo-Chóemóc (qv) of Liath Mór (Leigh (Leighmore), Co. Tipperary), lost her eye-sight but was healed by the saint. Such stories, which portray Cainner in a dependent role, are perhaps intended to convey that authority over her church was claimed by the larger foundations of Clonfert and Leaghmore.
There are several other holy women named Cainner, including a daughter of Cruithnechán of the Bentraige; in a hagiographical episode which perhaps reflects tenth-century issues concerning mixed-gender communities, this Cainner is said to have visited St Senán (qv) at Inis Cathaig (Scattery Island, Co Clare); despite Senan's clear reluctance to allow her to land on the island, she died there and was buried on its shore. Some other minor saints of the same name, featured in the genealogies and in the Book of Leinster tract on saints and places, seem to be duplications of each other; three of them are attached to the Cenél Lóegairi of Meath. It is not clear which of the saints so named is associated with the unlocated Cell Chainnire. The date of Cainner's death is not recorded.