• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • English
    • Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic)
    • Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic)
Colmcille 1500 Logo - full colour - large - PNG

Colmcille

Colmcille

  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Funding
  • St Columba Trail
  • Resources
    • Colmcille Stories
    • Colmcille 1500 – educational material
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

News

St Adhamhnán and the Geneva Conventions

Maolcholaim Scott · September 22, 2021 ·

The 23 September is the feast-day of St Adhamhnán. A century after the death of St Colmcille, or Columba, Adhamhnán was the 9th abbot of Iona. It was he who wrote the Life of Columba or Vita Columbae and gave an account of how St Colmcille brought the kings of the Cineál Chonaill and Dalriada together at the ‘Convention of Drum Ceat’, making an alliance between them and achieving the release of a prisoner.

Adhamhnán communicated with people from many kingdoms and visited their kings and clergy. Between diplomacy and prayer, he developed a new approach to dealing with violence. It is still relevant over 1400 years since his death. A new book by lawyer and historian James W. Houlihan tells the story and of the similarities with the ‘Geneva Conventions’, which provided a basis for international law after the two world wars of the twentieth century.

In the time of Adhamhnán, kings were still making war. Adhamhnán understood that war could not be ended altogether but wished to restrain violence against women and children and non-combatants.

In 697 Adhamhnán succeeded in bringing kings, abbots, bishops and religious leaders together at Birr in Offaly. He was supported by the king of Tara. The convention of kings and clergy promulgated a new law, ‘Cáin Adhamhnáin‘ or the ‘Law of Innocents’ between kingdoms throughout Ireland and Scotland and even the to the abbey of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. 91 kings and church leaders put their names to the law. Among them were the abbot of Armagh, the king of Tara, the kings of Dalriada in Ireland and Scotland, and Bruide, the king of the Picts. There is no real parallel until the ‘Geneva Conventions’ when nation states came together after the two world wars, over 1400 years later. A similar approach underlies the conventions on climate change. May Adhamhnán’s influence go further still!

James W. Houlihan (2020): Adomnán’s Lex Innocentium and the Laws of War, Dublin, Four Courts Press

Offer of Commissions ‘Colmcille 1500’

Maolcholaim Scott · September 6, 2021 ·

As part of the Colmcille 1500 commemorations, a number of commissions will be awarded to artists from Ireland and Scotland, as recently advertised on social media. These awards are for work in any artistic medium addressing an aspect of the heritage of St Colmcille or Columba and the relationship between the Gaelic-speaking communities of Ireland and Scotland. The commissions are for those working in Irish or Scottish Gaelic or, in the case of non-verbal arts, in with communities of Gaelic speakers. It is anticipated that the value of the commissions will be between €2,500 and €15,000 (or the sterling equivalent) depending on the concept, the link with St Colmcille and with Scottish and Irish Gaelic. If you have a project in mind, please contact colmcille@forasnagaeilge.ie. The deadline for applications from Ireland (north or south) is the 10th September 2021, and for applications from Scotland, the 15 September 2021 An application form is available here.

Foirm-iarratais-Colmcille-1500-Gaeilge-1Foirm iarratas Cholmcille 1500 – Gaeilge
Foirm-Iarratais-Colmcille-1500-GàidhligDownload

National Heritage Week

Aodh Mac Ruairí · August 12, 2021 ·

A series of nine on-line ‘Colmcille 1500’ lectures organised by Donegal Library Service with guest speakers Dr. Brian Lacey, Christy Gillespie, Donal Mac Polin, Tim Stampton, Paula de Fougerolles and Joe Brennan.
These lectures are free of charge and will be streamed online on the Donegal County Council YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/wwwdonegalcocoie/videos

Further details at www.donegallibrary.ie

Meitheal Cholmcille

Aodh Mac Ruairí · July 22, 2021 ·

MEITHEAL CHOLMCILLE – 8th AUGUST 2021

Islander artist Cathal Mc Ginley will curate an art project on Inisdooey as part of the ‘Colmcille 1500’ celebrations this year. The theme of the project will be influenced by local folklore and the connection of Saint Colmcille and Saint Dubhthach to the local islands. Cathal will be joined on the 30th July by the children of Club Óige Mhachaire Rabhartaigh to complete the art project.

On the 8th August there will be an exhibition of both the children’s and Cathal’s artwork. There will also be a guided walk and boat trip around Inis Bó Finne with songs, stories and refreshments provided. – Further information @ 087 656 1879

Earagail Arts Festival 23rd July ‘Cosán Choilm Cille’

Aodh Mac Ruairí · July 12, 2021 ·

Cosán Choilm Cille ‘Art and Poetry Walk

Féile an Earagail

Earagail Arts Festival is a multidisiplinary summer festival which traditionally takes place in July throughout County Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way on the north-west coast of Ireland.

As part of this year’s festival is ‘Cosan Choilm Cille – Art and Poetry Walk’ – a production by ‘The New Age Bards’ under the stewardship of Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde.

Come on a short walk with Scottish and Irish writers and artists to the top of Cnoc na Naomh. Along the way you can see their work and listen to their poems and stories. The work has been inspired by the folklore and mythology around Saint Colm Cille. It is a great chance to engage with the art and poetry in a relaxed outdoor setting with majestic views of the Donegal landscape from the Derryveagh Mountains around to Tory Island.

  • Deora Cholmcille
  • Colmcille

Artwork by the artists Seán Ó Flaithearta, Kim Sharkey, Derek Robertson and Norman Shaw. 

Newly composed writing by Meg Bateman, Rody Gorman, Daireana Ní Chinnéide and Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde.

A commemorative booklet with the words and images will be given to all those who take part.

All information at: https://eaf.ie/events/cosan-choilm-cille/

     

    • « Go to Previous Page
    • Go to page 1
    • Go to page 2
    • Go to page 3
    • Go to page 4
    • Go to page 5
    • Interim pages omitted …
    • Go to page 8
    • Go to Next Page »

    Primary Sidebar

    News

    • Lusanna/Lussyn/Lusan & Feamainn Famlach Feamainn
    • Film Première: Calman nan Loch 9th November, An Lanntair, Stornoway
    • Laa Columb Cilley
    • Imagine there were no poets …

    Contact Us

    Contact Us

    Ireland

    Foras na Gaeilge
    2-6 Queen St, Belfast
    BT1 6ED
    +44 (0)28 9089 0970


    Foras na Gaeilge
    An Chrannóg, Na Doirí Beaga
    Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal
    F92 EYT3
    (+353) 074 9560113 / 9560114


    Scotland

    Bòrd na Gàidhlig
    Great Glen House, Inverness,
    IV3 8NW
    +44 (0)1463 225454

    Connect with us

    Connect with us

    We welcome your comments and love to hear about your projects and events.

    #colmcille #colmcille1500



    © Colmcille 2023