The earliest record of Coleraine appears in Adomnán’s Life of St Columba. Adomnán was an Abbot of Iona and wrote his account of Colmcille’s life a century after the saint’s death in 597.
Adomnán mentions that Colmcille stayed with the Bishop of Coleraine on his way home from the Convention of Drum Ceat. During his visit, the local people brought offerings of food which the saint blessed, Colmcille chastising one of the men for his greed. The food would have been eaten during a feast held while the saint was visiting.
The fact that there was a bishop here implies that Coleraine was thought of as an important place by that time.
The late 19th century Church of Ireland parish church of St Patricks may well have been built on the site of the original ecclesiastical settlement in Coleraine.
According to legend when Colmcille left Ireland it is said that he vowed never again to set foot on Irish soil. However he appears to have returned at least once - for the Convention of Drum Ceat probably in the 570s, here just south of Limavady. The event is recorded...
From the top of the Giant’s Sconce, it is easy to see why it would make a good place to build a fort. There are views in all directions and it is a short distance by land to the River Bann and the sea beyond. This monument is thought to...
The earliest record of Coleraine appears in Adomnán’s Life of St Columba. Adomnán was an Abbot of Iona and wrote his account of Colmcille’s life a century after the saint’s death in 597. Adomnán mentions that Colmcille stayed with the Bishop of Coleraine on his way home from the Convention of Drum...
The red sandstone fragment of the early medieval Camus cross now stands in a graveyard on the west side of the River Bann to the south of Coleraine. The cross is carved with religious scenes on the front and back - the Ark and the murder of Abel on the...
It is believed that the first church on this site was founded by St Adomnán (c.628-704), Abbot of the monastery at Iona from 679 to 704 and the author of the Life of St Columba. According to tradition, Adomnán wanted to build his church two miles away at Lisnascreaghog but every time the walls were...
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Great Glen House Leachkin Road Inverness Scotland, IV3 8NW
