 His father's name is given as Fochereach, a nobleman, his mother was Bania, who came from a similar background.After the birth of a brother with the Goidelic name Mattadán, Cathróe was fostered with his paternal uncle Beanus (Saint Bean; there were several Gaelic saints of this name).Bean sent his nephew to study in Ireland, at Armagh, where he seems to have learned both Latin and Greek.