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RESOURCES

Colmcille 1500 has created a significant number of legacy resources for the year including short films, animations, education packs, publications, virtual trails, audio guides as well as new music and art commissions. You can find links to online resources below as well as useful links to other Colmcille websites or resources. These do not include recorded talks/workshops which you can find under ‘Events’.

SHORT FILMS

Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
COLMCILLE 1500 – A YEAR IN HIGHLIGHTS
World premiere of this new suite of music by composer Vincent Kennedy, commissioned by Donegal County Council and Donegal Music Education Partnership. Performed by Donegal Youth Orchestra, Donegal Youth Choir and guests (short promotional video).

Foras na Gaeilge/ Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
COINNEAL CHOLMCILLE
A short film commissioned by Foras na Gaeilge of illuminations projected at sites in Ireland and Scotland for Colmcille’s birthday, with music by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. It captures locations in (Ireland) Gartan, Gleann Cholm Cille, Derry, Magilligan, Drumcliff, Kells, Dublin and (Scotland) Iona and Oban.

The Churches Trust
ST COLUMBA AT 1500
This short film was launched at the start of Colmcille 1500. Representing the Churches Trust, the Church leaders in Derry and Donegal came together to discuss the importance of Columba 1500 years on, why he is still relevant today and why we should celebrate him.

Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
CONALLACH CRÁIFEACH CRÓGA
One of four short films commissioned for Colmcille 1500. Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Irish Language Officer, Donegal County Council, takes us on a journey in Donegal to share the places and stories associated with the Saint (Irish with English subtitles).

Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
DOIRE CHOLMCILLE
One of four short films commissioned for Colmcille 1500. Pádraig Mac Congáil, Irish Language Officer, Derry City & Strabane District Council, tells us about the sites in Derry associated with the saint (Irish with English subtitles).

Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
DURROW/DARÚ: COLMCILLE’S LEGACY
One of four short films commissioned for Colmcille 1500. Produced in collaboration with Offaly Historical Society and Durrow High Cross Committee, this film takes us to Durrow where Colmcille founded a monastery and which gave its name to the famous manuscript.

Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
EILEAN CHALUIM CHILLE & EAGLAIS NA H-AOIDH – COLMCILLE AND THE WESTERN ISLES
One of four short films commissioned for Colmcille 1500. Produced in collaboration with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, this film takes us to two sites dedicated to Colmcille found on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides (in Scottish Gaeilic with English subtitles).

Foras na Gaeilge/ RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
COLM CILLE: COSANTÓIR NA MBAN
A 45-minute documentary in Irish by broadcaster Áine Ní Bhreisleáin. Áine interviews a range of experts to get a sense of the figure who features so prominently in our folklore and discovers how Colmcille became known as the protector of women.

BBC Alba & TG4
COLMCILLE THE BOLD SAINT COLMCILLE, AN NAOMH DÁNA
A drama documentary exploring Colmcille, the Irish abbot, known in Scotland as St. Columba. Broadcast on his 1500th birthday on 7th December 2021.

Beltaine Productions Ltd
COLMCILLE, MYTHS, LEGENDS AND TRUTHS
Dr Brian Lacey presents this short video exploring the Donegal landscape and culture into which Colmcille was born. Filmed at various locations associated with the Saint and his ancestors.

Líonra Leitir Ceanainn & Regional Cultural Centre
SLÍ CHOLMCILLE – DÚCHAS AGUS OIDHREACHT
A beautiful film of music, poetry, history and storytelling presented in Irish and Scots Gaelic with English subtitles (approx 58 minutes). Premiered during the American Conference of Irish Studies 2021.

Diocese of Raphoe supported by LYIT & Donegal ETB
COLMCILLE: A LASTING LEGACY (PART 1 – ORIGINS)
A virtual series in three parts including contributions from religious leaders, historians, scholars, schools as well as music and poetry. Part 1: Origins (the origins of monasticism and the early life of Colmcille).

Diocese of Raphoe supported by LYIT & Donegal ETB
COLMCILLE: A LASTING LEGACY (PART 3 – KEEPING THE WORD ALIVE)
A virtual series in three parts including contributions from religious leaders, historians, scholars, schools as well as music and poetry. Part 3: Keeping the Word Alive (Colmcille’s legacy).

Sligo Colmcille 1500/ Blue Raincoat Theatre
THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS – THE STORY OF ST COLMCILLE AND SLIGO
A short film telling the legend of Colmcille’s copying of a psalter belonging to St. Finnian, and the battle at Cúl Dreimhne (Cooldrumman), County Sligo in 560AD that followed.

Pairc Historical Society/Comunn Eachdraidh an Pairc
EILEAN CHALUIM CHILLE | THE ISLE OF ST. COLUMBA
A short film produced by Jan Schouten on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It celebrates the Colmcille connection in the Outer Hebrides with the story of Eilean Chaluim Chille – the Isle of St. Columba.

EDUCATION (for or by schools)

Donegal County Council (Donegal County Archives)
COLMCILLE LIFE AND LEGACY: EDUCATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS
A primary school education pack which includes a booklet telling the history and legacy of St. Colmcille in a fun and accessible way as well as a workbook of exercises and questions for students in class (available in both English and Irish).

Donegal County Council (Donegal Library Service)
COLMCILLE DIGITAL SCHOOLS FOLKLORE PROJECT
Animations from 20 primary schools in Donegal, Derry, Meath and Sligo produced as part of a collaboration between schools and libraries to bring to life folklore relating to Colmcille in these four areas linked to the Saint.

Donegal County Council (Donegal Library Service)
COLMCILLE 1500 COMIC
A special comic based on the animations produced as part of the Colmcille Digital Schools Folklore Project by schools in Donegal and Derry. It takes a light-hearted look at the folklore and legends of the Donegal saint.

Donegal County Council (Donegal Heritage Office)
ILLUMINATING COLMCILLE / LÉARGAS AR CHOLM CILLE
A special colouring book to mark the Colmcille 1500 commemorations which highlights some of the heritage sites, places, objects and archives associated with St. Colmcille’s life and legacy.

The Tower Museum/Donegal County Museum
COLMCILLE FOLKTALES & MYTHS WITH JOE BRENNAN
Join renowned storyteller Joe Brennan as he shares some of his favourite stories of St. Colmcille. This was part of the ‘Colmcille Man & Myths’ exhibition programme of events.

Foras na Gaeilge
ARMAGH RHYMERS | ANIMATION 1
A short animation created by The Armagh Rhymers for children as part of Colmcille1500. This tells the story of Colmcille and the mouse, fly and cockerel. Narrated in Irish.

Foras na Gaeilge
ARMAGH RHYMERS | ANIMATION 2
A second short animation created by The Armagh Rhymers for children as part of Colmcille1500. This tells the story of Colmcille and the Squirrel. Narrated in Irish.

The Churches Trust
COLUMBA SCHOOLS PROJECT – PHOTO BOOK LAUNCH
A short film to showcase the completion of a St Columba story book by pupils in three primary schools in Derry – Fountain, Nazareth House and Long Tower.

The Churches Trust
COLUMBA SCHOOLS PROJECT – THE LIFE OF ST COLUMBA 2022
A recording of a narrated stories and drama by pupils from Fountain, Longtower and Nazareth House Primary Schools in Derry. It was recorded and edited by first year media students from North West Regional College.

Gartan National School
CRUINNIÚ NA NÓG 2021 – COLMCILLE, CHILD OF GARTAN
A recording from the pupils of the primary school who share their experience of life in Colmcille’s birthplace through art, drama and music.

St Mary’s College Derry
CELEBRATING COLMCILLE 1500 – CROSS-CURRICULAR PROJECTS
Some examples from Year 8-10 pupils who participated in cross curricular projects celebrating the life and legacy of St Columba.

Gairmscoil Chú Uladh
STAIR AGUS SCÉALAÍOCHT
A short film produced by Gairmscoil Chú Uladh in Béal an Átha Móir (Ballinamore in the central Gaeltacht area in Donegal) which won the post-primary section of the Raphoe Diocese Colmcille 1500 schools competition.

Airneál Óige Ghleann Cholm Cille (Glencolmcille Youth Arcade)
CRUINNIÚ NA NÓG 2021 – GLEANN CHOLM CILLE
A snapshot of the legacy of Colmcille with the youth of Gleann Cholm Cille. Recitation, song, music and drama from the Southwest Gaeltacht, broadcast from a range of heritage sites connected with the Saint (in Irish).

St Joseph’s National School
SAOL COLMCILLE: THE LIFE OF ST. COLMCILLE
An animation from the national school in Rathmullan, County Donegal, where children remember their Donegal saint by telling us about the life and times of St. Colmcille.

HERITAGE

Donegal County Council (Donegal Heritage Office)
DÚN NA NGALL CHOLM CILLE| ST COLMCILLE’S DONEGAL – AUDIO GUIDE
An audio guide of heritage sites associated with St. Colmcille in County Donegal and which explores aspects of his life and legacy. It is also available in Irish at: https://shows.acast.com/st-colmcille-audiotrail-as-gaeilge

Donegal County Council (Donegal Heritage Office)
3D VIRTUAL TOUR OF TURAS CHOLM CILLE
A 3D virtual tour of 15 stations of this three-mile pilgrimage route in Gleann Cholm Cille, County Donegal. Most of the ‘stations or stads’ (places for prayer and devotion) are archaeological monuments and this project has helped to record these for future generations.

Donegal County Council/ Derry City & Strabane District Council
COLM CILLE: Ireland & Scotland | Éire & Albain | Èirinn & Alba
An illustrated map of places associated with Saint Colmcille/Columba in Ireland and Scotland – history, legends and legacy | Sa léarscáil mhaisithe seo tá cuid de na háiteanna a bhaineann le Colm Cille le feiceáil – stair, seanchas agus oidhreacht |Tha am mapa dealbhaichte seo a’ sealltainn cuid dhe na h-àitichean aig a bheil ceangal ri Naomh Calum Cille – Eachdraidh, seann-sgeòil is dìleab.

St Columb’s Park House
‘COLMCILLE THE MAN’ VIRTUAL TOUR OF ST COLUMB’S PARK
A 360° self-guided virtual tour of sites within St Columb’s Park in Derry including the house, statue and remains of St Brecan’s church.

Disert Heritage Group & Sligo IT
‘DISERT DIG 2021 – THE FIRST RESULTS
A short video to bring to life some initial findings from an archaeological excavation in Disert, a location associated with Colmcille and the early Church.

Oideas Gael
GLEANN CHOLM CILLE: AN ÁIT AGUS A NAOMH — A PROJECT TO DIGITIZE MINOR PLACENAMES OF GLEANN CHOLM CILLE
An interactive digital map showcasing the rich tapestry of minor placenames associated with Colmcille in Gleann Cholm Cille.

Clondavaddog Parish
GUTH COLMCILLE – ST COLMCILLE IN FANAD
A brochure which maps all the key sites associated with St. Colmcille in Fanad, County Donegal. Fanad is where it is thought Colmcille’s mother originated from.

The Royal Irish Academy
AN CATHACH
An online exhibition of the history and stories associated with the 6th century Columban manuscript ‘An Cathach’ and an interactive map of places associated with it.

MUSIC

Vincent Kennedy & Donegal Youth Orchestra
COLMCILLE, DOVE OF PEACE
A short promotional video of the world premiere of this new suite of music by composer Vincent Kennedy, commissioned for Colmcille 1500 jointly by Donegal County Council and Donegal Music Education Partnership. It was performed by Donegal Youth Orchestra, Donegal Youth Choir and guests.

Regional Cultural Centre/ Glebe House & Gallery
‘THIS OPEN SPACE’ A RE:WORK ELECTRONIC MUSIC COMMISSION
A new composition by Irish electronica artist Ryan Vail to re-imagine Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Hymn for St. Columba’. Originally commissioned in 1962 to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of Colmcille’s voyage to Scotland, this reinterpretation is a contemporary mix of electronic and traditional instrumentation, accompanied by beautiful drone footage.

Colmcille Gospel Choir
‘ALONE WITH NONE BUT THEE’
A music tribute to St Colmcille in his own words by Margaret McAteer and the Colmcille Gospel Choir. Featuring guest singers including Moya Brennan from Clannad along with other choirs and performers as well as pupils in Gleann Cholm Cille.

Allegri Choir
CONNECTING WITH COLMCILLE IN SONG
An online concert as part of the Every Voice Festival bringing together local choirs in sacred song in St Columb’s Cathedral and St Columba’s Church Long Tower in Derry.

City of Derry International Choir Festival
A NEW COMMISSION FOR COLMCILLE
”De Angelo Domini’ by Eoghan Desmond. An exciting new piece of music for choir and cello inspired by the writings of Colmcille, premiered as part of the 2021 Festival and ‘Road Home’ concert in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.

Donegal Chamber Music Society
MOBHI’S BELT
A dramatic music retelling of the story of the effect of a pandemic on Colmcille’s monastic career, with Derry composer Sean Doherty and performed by the Donegal Chamber Orchestra and Conwal Singers.

Glór Dhún Geimhin supported by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
STRINGS OF HEAVEN HARP & VOCAL COMPOSITION & VIDEO
Strings of Heaven, composed by harper Nodlaig Ní Bhrollaigh to celebrate Colmcille 1500, with vocal soloist Aoife Nig Uiginn of Scoil Ruaidhrí Dall and local harp schools.

Kells Colmcille 1500
ST. COLMCILLE’S WELL KELLS : A CELEBRATION IN MUSIC AND SPOKEN WORD
A musical interlude on the eve of St.Colmcille’s Feast Day in 2021 to remember Colmcille at the site where his monks drew fresh water for the Kells monastery.

Janet Harbison Irish Harp / Fingal Arts Office
SORD CHOLMCILLE: A SUITE FOR IRISH HARP, SOPRANO AND RECITEUR
A new composition for Irish harp, soprano and reciteur to mark the 1500th anniversary, performed at Swords Castle, supported by Fingal Arts Office funding.

Janet Harbison Harps
COLMCILLE – A COLUMBAN SUITE
A performance of the Colmcille Suite by Janet Harbison with multiple harps and voices – celebrating the 1500th anniversary of Saint Colmcille – inspired with his life story, his own poetry, favourite psalms and art.

LITERARY

Donegal Library Service
COLMCILLE BIBLIOGRAPHY
To commemorate Colmcille 1500, this is a bibliography of books on Colmcille/Columba that are available in the Donegal Studies Collection.

Regional Cultural Centre (Letterkenny)
THE PIG’S BACK LITERARY JOURNAL | TURAS/JOURNEYS
Issue one of a new ‘Pig’s Back’ literary prose journal includes stories written around the theme of ‘Turas’ (‘journey’ in Irish) to reflect a year that has celebrated the 1500th anniversary of Colmcille’s birth.

Teach na nAmhrán / The Song House Ireland
ON THE TRAIL OF COLMCILLE
Award-winning poets Annemarie Ni Churreain (Ireland)and Charlie Gracie (Scotland) led a series of poetry workshops to explore cross-cultural perspectives of Colmcille.

Foras na Gaeilge
ÒRAN NA CILLE/ AMHRÁN NA CILLE/ ARRANE NY KILLEY
Six short videos by singer, songwriter, poet and film-maker Marcus Mac an Tuairneir. Poems penned in original Scots Gaelic, and also in Irish and in Manx were given audio-visual treatment in all three languages resulting in short poetic films and song versions as music videos.

Foras na Gaeilge
COLM CILLE & NA FILÍ (COLMCILLE & THE POETS)
A specially-commissioned poem as part of Colmcille 1500 by Daire Ní Chanáin. It imagines what would have happened if Colmcille had not stood up for the poets in Droim Ceat in 575. The poetry video was premiered on Poetry Day Ireland 2022.

Kells Colmcille 1500 / Co Club
THE WHITE HORSE (POETRY)
A short video of poetry produced by the Co Club as a contemporary artistic response to the life and legacy of Colm Cille. Funded by Meath Arts Office and premièred on Culture Night 2021.

Historic Environment Scotland
CELEBRATING COLUMBA
A poetry project to celebrate Columba as the ‘Patron Saint of Poetry ‘- mapping his time in Scotland, the places that he touched, alongside the poetry they have inspired.

Wild Goose Publications (publishing house of the Iona Community)
THE ORATORY OF LIGHT: POEMS IN THE SPIRIT OF ST COLUMBA
A short ‘poetry video’ for a book of poems by James Harpur with illustrations by Paul Ó Colmáin. James mingles poetic imagination with the spirit of Columba and the landscape of Iona.

ART, DANCE & DRAMA

An Grianan Theatre (Letterkenny)
BRIAN FRIEL’S THE ENEMY WITHIN
A short montage of clips from the play directed by Caitríona McLaughlin and starring Donegal native Seán McGinley. This major early work by Friel examines a period in the life of Colmcille, living in Iona yet still subject to the demands of his turbulent family clan in Donegal.

The Royal Irish Academy
CAIM CHALUIM CHILLE CHAOIMH (THE ENCOMPASSING OF COLUMBA THE KINDLY)
Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre were commissioned to create a memorable new piece of music to celebrate Colm Cille 1500. In the video to accompany their composition, artist Ellis O’Connor was invited to respond in paint, inspired by the music.

Brenda Kelly
COLMCILLE – BOY OF GARTAN
A short contemplative film as an interpretation of Saint Colmcille as a child at play, showcasing historical sites around his birth place in Gartan.

St Augustine’s Church
COLUMBA: A TALE FROM BAD TO GOOD
A fun and contemporary take on the life of St Colmcille, produced by Kieran Griffiths of the Playhouse (Derry), the video takes a ‘horrible histories style’ look at Columba’s story.

St Augustine’s Church
COLUMBA PAGEANT: – “COLUMBA: A TRIPTYCH”
A narrated production of the pageant which in three parts tells the stories of his mother’s dream, the battle his kinsmen began on his behalf and his eventual remorse. With soundtrack from the original pageant and music by Ardmore Folk.

The Churches Trust
COLUMBA HERITAGE ARTWORK TOUR
A short film about the artist’s interpretation of the Columba Heritage Trail in Derry/Londonderry. You can find further information on the trail at https://www.thechurchestrust.org.uk/columba-heritage-trail

The Tower Museum/Donegal County Museum
MEDIEVAL INK WORKSHOP WITH LYNDSEY MCDOUGALL
An online workshop on how to experiment with natural pigments collected from the landscape. This was part of the ‘Colmcille Man & Myths’ exhibition programme of events.

The Tower Museum/Donegal County Museum
HAND EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP WITH LYNDSEY MCDOUGALL
An online workshop demonstrating embroidery stitches as a foundation to creating your own embroidered artwork. This was part of the ‘Colmcille Man & Myths’ exhibition programme of events.

Kells Colmcille 1500 / Co Club
GAMBOL (DANCE)
A short video of dance through Colmcille sites in Kells, produced by the Co Club as a contemporary artistic response to the life and legacy of Colm Cille. Funded by Meath Arts Office and premièred on Culture Night 2021.

Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS)
COLMCILLE LEGACY AWARD
You can see the work of 11 artists supported through this Scottish arts and heritage award scheme to commemorate the life and cultural legacy of Colmcille.