Inside history of St Colmcille who's ‘intrinsically linked' to Irish identity amid calls for bank holiday in his honour

The Irish Sun

a day ago

IRELAND could be getting a new bank holiday in honour of another one of the country's patron saints.
The
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A new July bank holiday has been proposed
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St Colmcille is the third patron saint of Ireland
Following the addition of
However, this is still fewer than the
Now a campaign to have a public day off named after St Colmcille is growing.
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And the campaign is heating up, with
The Kells Colmcille 1500 committee and Kells Local Heroes are supporting the proposals given St Colmcille's links with the Meath town and the Book of Kells.
Local councillor Sean Drew intends to submit a motion in ­support of a new public holiday for the next sitting of Meath County
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Cllr Drew also suggested renaming the existing June
But as exhausted
No rain forecast as Met Eireann pinpoint exactly where warmest temps to hit over the bank holiday weekend
SAINT Colmcille, or Saint Columba, established more than 50 Christian sites across Ireland.
St Colmcille, meaning 'the dove of the Church', was born at Gartan, near Lifford, Co Donegal, in 521AD.
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HOLY MAN, POET & DIPLOMAT
Born into Irish aristocracy, St Colmcille is said to have been a descendant of legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Niall was a fifth century Irish warlord reputed to have fought against the Romans and armies of ancient Scotland,
Historians say Colmcille founded his first monastery in what is now the modern day city of Derry or Doire Cholm Cille, in the year 545.
1500 years after his birth historians speak of his legacy as a holy man, a poet and a diplomat.
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It is said that he protected those who were deprived of ears, eyes and throat.
PRAYER OFFERING
The well of St Colmcille on the Ballycullen Road in south
It is believed that Colmcille stopped off here on one of his journeys around Ireland to quench his thirst and bless the well.
The holy well has a statue of Colmcille set into stone and visitors to the well drink from the water pray and leave medals nailed into the bark of a tree as offerings.
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Rags left by previous pilgrims visiting the well are to provide cures for eyes, ears and throats.
Across Ireland, there are many sites associated with St Colmcille.
PATRON SAINT
The sites in the north west and in the eastern region associated with St Colmcille included Gleann Cholm Cille, Toraigh, Kells and Swords.
The influential Irish monk is known the patron saint of
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Historians point out he was a significant historical figure in the spreading of Christianity in
One of his most important monasteries was in Iona, off the coast of
Much history was written and recorded in his monasteries. One of Ireland's most famous books, the Book of Kells, is believed to have been crafted by monks in the Columban monastery on Iona.
ENDURING LEGACY
Colmcille died in Iona on 9 June, 597 AD aged 75.
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But his legacy, as well as devotion to the saint, has endured to modern times.
Many
Ireland currently has ten public holidays per year, with St Brigid's Day the most recent addition to the list in 2023.
Miriam Manning is of the Kells Colmcille 1500 committee which was established to mark the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille from 2020 to 2021.
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WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION
Miriam said: 'The Kells association with Columban heritage and the Book of Kells has shaped our identity through the centuries and it would be fitting if he is honoured by the Government.
'A dedicated public holiday recognising St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba presents an opportunity for Kells to develop a national and international profile for the town and to develop further the networks and collaborations created during the anniversary year keeping the story of St Colmcille alive.
'The iconography perfected in the Book of Kells is recognisable worldwide and in this way it is important to note that Colmcille's legacy is intrinsically linked to our national identity.'
The connection between St Colmcille and Kells reaches back to the sixth century when Manus O'Donnell's 'Life of Colmcille' says the Saint was granted the dun of Kells by High King of Tara Diarmaid MacCarroll.
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After Colmcille's death in Iona in Scotland, his followers who included scribes, stonecutters, goldsmiths and masons, returned to Kells in 804 bringing with them the precious relics of the saint.
ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION
Miriam explained: 'From the teachings of Colmcille, Columban monks and scribes became some of the greatest scribes and painters of books in the world and it is believed the Book of Kells owes its identity and status to having been completed by a particular scribe in the town.'
Also backing Donegal's call for a public holiday, Mark Smith of Kells Local Heroes said it would raise the profile of the town and attract scholars and academics who might not visit otherwise.
He said: 'St Colmcille's house, the round tower and the Celtic crosses in the town have proven to be huge attractions for students and experts in the study of the Book of Kells and the enormous contribution that local monks made in spreading Christianity across Europe.'
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He said: 'St Colmcille has important historical connections not only with Kells but with many other locations in the county and I think it would be apt and fitting to have a special day in his honour.'
One thing is for sure. Meath and Donegal are united in believing honouring St Colmcille with a public holiday of his own is a divine idea.