Author: Maolcholaim Scott

From the 9th to the 12th 2023 June there will be a walk and pilgrimage in Irish on Slí Cholmcille in Donegal. Slí Cholmcille goes from Gleann Cholm Cille in Donegal to Iona in Scotland, and it links places relating to the life and tradition of the saint.

It is hoped that the Slí will be like Camino de Santiago in Spain. From the 9th to the 12th June there will be an opportunity to get to know the natural world a walk for the body and spirit and company in Irish in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht.

From 2020 there has been a pilgrimage each year on Sli Cholmcille in Donegal, but this is the first walk and pilgrimage that is entirely in Irish. It is being organised by language planning districts, and Gaeltacht cooperatives in collaboration wtih the Colmcille programme of Foras na Gaeilge, and in association with Slí Cholmcille clg. Séamus Ó Dúchoin, a mountain guide and native speaker from Falcarragh will lead the walk.

The walk will start on St Colmcille’s feastday, the 9th June in Gleann Cholm Cille. On the 10 June the walk will be between Tobar Eithne, dedicated to Eithne, mother of Colmcille, and Gartán where he was born and where there are other sites associated with his childhood. On the third day the walk will start at Ray Cross, a site with close links to the Abbey of Iona, and will finish at Cnoc na Naomh. On the 12th June there will be a journey to Tory, which has a rich heritage associated with its Columban monastery. The island will also be alive with birds, and an expert on both, artist Antain Ó Mianáin will act as guide.

There is a package available for the four days, including three nights bed and breakfast in Teach Jack in Gaoth Dobhair. The cost is €390 based on single occupancy, and €35o based on shared room. The daily rate without accommodation is €20 for the first three days, and €50 for the fourth day, which includes the return ferry to Tory island. Application forms and further information can be obtained from sli@forasngaeilge.ie

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 to 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