Columba

Some of Columba's story may be legend or may be fact; it is uncertain.

• 7 December 521 - traditional date of Columba's birth in Donegal, Ireland.

• Columba trained as a priest under Saints Finnian of Moville and Finnian of Clonard.

• About 551, ordained as a priest.

• Founded churches and the famous monasteries Daire Calgaich, in Derry, and Dair-magh, in Durrow.

• He is said to have secretly copied Finnian's book of psalms. Finnian, when he found out, refused to allow Columba to keep the copy. Columba appealed to the High King Dermott who ruled in Finnian's favour. Columba refused to hand it over leading to...

• 561 - the Battle of Cooldrevny (Cúl Dreimhne) in which Columba's family and clan defeated Dermott.

• St Brendan of Birr spoke on Columba's behalf at his trial (the Synod of Meltown).

• Columba was either exiled to what is now Scotland or went there as an act of voluntary penance, charged with converting as many souls as had been lost in the battle.

  • He is one of the Twelve Apostles Of Ireland, all students of St Finnian of Clonard.

• 563 - Columba and 12 followers arrived at Iona.

• Established a string of monasteries in the Inner Hebridean Islands, primarily Iona.

• Iona became a training place for priests and bishops who then spread out establishing churches in Britain and on various islands in the ocean.

• Columba developed a reputation for scholarship.

• There are numerous stories of Columba's prophecies, miracles and courage.

• He had great influence with the kings of Scotland.

  • Inaugurated and blessed Aidan MacGabrain of Dunadd as king of Dalriada.

  • 575 - accompanied Aidan to Ireland and took a leading part in a council at Druim Cetta which determined the position of the ruler of Dalriada in relation to the king of Ireland.

• June 9, 597 - Columba died at Iona.

After his death

• The churches he founded, and the monks he trained, went on to evangelise the Picts and the northern English.

• Columba continued to have military and political power.

• His relics were taken into battle by Irish chieftains and Scottish kings.

• The Northumbrian king, Oswald (who had been raised in exile on Iona), saw Columba towering over the battle field and promising victory, during the battle that secured Oswald's kingship.

• 635 - Oswald sent for missionaries from Iona to renew the flagging Christianity of Northumbria. Aidan was sent.

• 697 - Because of Columba's influence, Adomnan enacted the Law Of Innocents, giving protection to non-combatants (in a context of much war) and to women (suffering from domestic violence, common abuse and appalling labour conditions).

• 697-700 - Adomnan wrote the Life of St Columba.

• 849 - Columba's remains were removed from Iona and divided between the Scots (sent to King Kenneth 1 for safekeeping and Dunkeld) and the Irish (taken to the church at Downpatrick).

• 1314 - One of his relics preceded the victorious Scots in the Battle of Bannockburn.

• Iona continues to this day as a place of spiritual renewal.