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19/02/19 Columban Heritage Audit findings to be released

St. Colmcille’s Chapel in Gartan

St. Colmcille’s Chapel in Gartan outside Letterkenny, an archaeological monument protected under the National Monuments Acts.

 

The findings of a cross-border Audit of Columban Cultural Heritage will be released at public meetings in the Colmcille Heritage Centre, Gartan, County Donegal on Tuesday, February 26 at 7 p.m. and in The Guildhall, Derry on Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m.  Light refreshments will be served from 6:30 p.m.  The study was commissioned by Donegal County Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Foras na Gaeilge and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.  The presentations will be delivered by Neil Jackman, Abarta Heritage and Dr. Brian Lacey. 

 

“The audit sets out key heritage sites, places, objects and archives associated with St. Colmcille and provides suggestions for the 1,500th commemoration of his birth in 2021 based on consultations with a variety of stakeholders,” explains Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.  “The public presentations will provide opportunities to highlight some of the existing or proposed local initiatives to conserve and promote the built and cultural heritage associated with St. Colmcille. 

 

St. Colmcille’s holy well in Bíofán

St. Colmcille’s holy well in Bíofán, Gleann Cholm Cille forms part of the Turas Cholmcille and is surrounded by a penitential cairn.  St. Colmcille’s feast day is celebrated each year on June 9.

 

It will be an opportunity for members of the public to contribute their ideas and suggestions, and to meet other groups and individuals interested in commemorating St. Colmcille and the material heritage associated with him.  We hope that people interested in the heritage associated with St. Colmcille will attend one of the public meetings.  The audit will also be made available on-line after the meetings.” 

 

Abarta Heritage, an award-winning heritage research, interpretation and promotions company based in Clonmel, County Tipperary,  was commissioned to undertake the audit in 2018.  The audit identified and mapped heritage sites, places, objects and archives associated with St. Colmcille and his life.  This ranges from well-known heritage sites to places associated with St. Colmcille in local folklore and includes objects and archives in national and local repositories. 

 

St. Colmcille’s Arch

St. Colmcille’s Arch is part of the archaeological complex at Disert in the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains of South Donegal and is protected under the National Monuments Acts.

 

The research also highlighted the links between the Columban material culture and aspects of folklore, folk traditions, language, placenames and intangible cultural heritage.  The audit identified and mapped archaeological monuments and protected built heritage associated with St. Colmcille.  It also highlighted conservation works that may be required to Columban built and archaeological heritage. 

 

Saint Colmcille, who was born in Gartan, County Donegal is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the story of early Christianity in Ireland.  His significance has led to him being chosen as one of the three patron saints of Ireland alongside St. Patrick and St. Brigid.  The presentations will be delivered by Neil Jackman, Managing Director of Abarta Heritage.  Neil is an experienced licensed archaeologist who has excavated sites all over Ireland and lectures in Public & Community Archaeology at the UCD School of Archaeology.  He has written a number of publications and articles on Irish archaeology and heritage, including acclaimed guidebooks to Ireland’s Ancient East (2016) and the Wild Atlantic Way (2018). 

 

Dr. Brian Lacey will provide an introduction to St. Colmcille at the events.  Dr. Lacey was Director of the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal in the early 1980s and Head of Derry City Council’s Heritage and Museum Service from 1986 to 1998.  He also served as Director of The Discovery Programme and is author of several texts on Colmcille including his 2013 book on Saint Columba: His Life and Legacy.

 

Colmcille Heritage Centre in Gartan

Colmcille Heritage Centre in Gartan will host one of the public meetings on the Audit of Columban Cultural Heritage on Tuesday, February 26.

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