Caoin and Caomh are closely related, and both mean kind or fair. Caoimghin was that Irish saint who is commonly known as Kevin, and owns one of the seven churches of Glendalough, as well as the cave, whence a very modern legend, versified by Moore, shows him rejecting Kathleen’s visit by hurling her into the lake.[[99]]
[99]. O'Donovan; Macpherson; Maitland, History of Scotland; Cosmo Innes; Scottish Surnames; Saturday Review; Butler; Highland Society’s Dictionary; Pugh; Crofton Croker; Irish Legends; Chalmers; Hayes, Irish Ballads.
Section X.—Feidlim, &c.
Feidlim was a very early Irish name, meaning the ever good, and Feidhlim Reachtmar, or the lawgiver, gained himself high reputation early in the second century, from which time Feidlim flourished in Ireland as Felimy or Felim, until a fashion arose of spelling it like a Greek word, Phelim, and then one Sir Phelim O'Neill, who was deeply implicated in the great Popish massacre of 1641, changed his name to Felix. He was seized by the English army and condemned, but was offered his life by Cromwell if he would inculpate King Charles, and on his gallant refusal, was executed. His new name caused the Irish poet M’Gee to exclaim—
“Why when that hero age you deify,
Why do you pass infelix Felix by?”
A later Phelim O'Neill, in the last century, who made the same change, and called himself Felix Neele, was indignantly addressed in a Latin epigram:—-
“Poor paltry skulker from thy noble race,
Infelix Felix, blush for thy disgrace.”