North West
celebrates St Colmcille feast day
07.06.21
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ORGANISATIONS across the
North West are gearing up for the feast day of St
Colmcille on Wednesday, 9th June, a date that is all the more
special given this year is the 1500th
anniversary of the saint’s birth. Whilst the ongoing Covid restrictions may be limiting physical events that
can take place, there is plenty happening online as well
as church services and exhibitions open to the public. |
Raphoe Diocese Colmcille 1500 will present ‘Colmcille: A
Lasting Legacy’, a virtual series on the life and legacy
of Colmcille/Columba, to be streamed in three parts via
YouTube on 6, 7 and 8 June 2021 at 8pm. The series will
include contributions from Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ and
Rev. David Houlton, Rector of Gartan as well as
historians, academics and other columban experts.
Original poetry and music compositions will also feature
as well as excerpts from the work of local
schoolchildren and an extract from ‘The Enemy Within’ in
Gaeilge. Margaret McAteer’s new musical setting of
‘Alone with None but Thee’ will also premiere with
Colmcille Gospel Choir and featuring guest singers such
as Moya Brennan along with other choirs, performers and
Glencolmcille Primary School. Further details can be
found at
www.tockify.com .
On Wednesday, 9th June, RTE News Channel will be live at
10:30am at St. Colmcille’s Church, Glendowan to mark the
feast day. Many other Colmcille locations and places
dedicated to the saint will also mark the day. For
example, St Columba's Church of Ireland in Glencolmcille
will be open to visitors throughout the day and in Fanad,
mass will be streamed from St Colmcille's Well at 10am
at
www.facebook.com .
Whilst in Derry, the place of Colmcille’s first and most
beloved monastery, Bishop Donal McKeown will celebrate
mass in St Columba's Church Long Tower at 10am and will
bless water from St Columba's Well which will be
available in the church after the service. You can watch
the special mass at
www.longtowerchurch.org . Aras Cholmcille, St.
Columba Heritage Centre, next to Long Tower, will be
re-opening in time for the feast day and you can visit
from 11am to 3pm or online at
www.stcolumbaheritage.com . Wooden sculptures will
also be on display at the well.
The Churches Trust will launch a short film online at
10am at
www.youtube.com to showcase its Columba Schools
Project and the completion of a story book by pupils in
three primary schools - Fountain, Nazareth House and
Longtower.
Whilst later at St Augustine’s Church, a Columba Pageant
entitled "Columba: a Triptych" will take place at
7:30pm. In three parts, it will tell the stories of his
mother's dream, the battle his kinsmen began on his
behalf and his eventual remorse. For further details and
tickets email
weechurch@btinternet.com or visit
www.facebook.com .
Two new Colmcille exhibitions will also be open on the
feast day. ‘Colmcille - Man and Myths’ is at the Tower
Museum until September before moving to Donegal County
Museum. This is a joint exhibition between the two
councils which will take people on journey of discovery
around the world of Colmcille in Donegal and Derry.
Whilst in Donegal Central Library in Letterkenny, a
limited edition of the ‘Faksimile Verlag Luzern’ Book of
Kells presented in an decorative case will be on display
alongside a limited edition poem by Seamus Heaney ‘Colum
Cille the Scrib’.
Deirdre Harte, Colmcille 1500 Project Manager with
Donegal County Council, said: “We’re delighted with the
number and range of events that are taking place around
the feast day across the North West. Whilst physical
events and access to exhibitions will be limited in
numbers in line with current Covid restrictions there is
plenty to view online. You can find further information
on Colmcille 1500 on our website at
www.colmcille1500.com or on Facebook at
www.facebook.com ”. |
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