CAMPAIGNERS hope to amplify the legacy of one of Scotland's most historic religious figures who is credited with helping to spread Gaelic across northern Scotland from the Hebrides.
St Columba is believed to have travelled from Ireland to the inner-Hebridean island of Iona, where he later developed a now-famous Christian monastery.
But his story does not end on Iona, stories of his travels indicate he travelled through the Great Glen to Inverness, where he worked to spread Christianity and the Gaelic language,
Campaigners believe his further travels have been underrepresented in Scottish cultural history and are now pushing for his legacy to be officially commemorated more widely.
One way of doing this would be the commissioning of an official memorial for the saint. One proposal for this is at the Gaelic Cultural Centre (Cultarlann Inbhir Nis), according to the centre's chair Maggie Mulholland.
"Our thinking on this is at an early stage", she said.
“But as well as being a big figure in religious heritage, Columba is a huge figure in Gaelic heritage.
“Perhaps as part of wider developments celebrating Columba, we at Cultarlann Inbhir Nis could look at developing an exhibition or a piece of sculpture that would emphasise not only his historical importance, but view Columba through a Gaelic lens - his importance to the language, and the cultural importance of his visit to Inbhir Nis.”
Inverness-based heritage consultant, Andrew Ferguson, has researched the Columba legacy. He said: “It is shocking and that St Columba is not celebrated properly in Inverness or in Scotland as a whole.”
“Columba’s connection with Iona is well-known of course, but otherwise his impact in Scotland is largely ignored. In Ireland they celebrate his legacy much more richly and we need to do that here.”
While some progress has been made, like the launch of language and cultural programmes linking Scotland and Ireland like the Columba Campaign (lomairt Cholm Cille), the campaigners hope to see more done to showcase Columba's legacy and his impact on northern Scotland.
Ferguson believes that Columba's contributions to the development of Gaelic and Christian culture in the country make a strong case as to why he should have been made Scotland's patron saint, rather than St Andrew.
“Columba’s impact was massive”, Ferguson said. “He helped lead the peaceful spread of Christianity throughout much of Scotland and indeed the North of England.
“But also, of course, his mission was fundamental to the spread of Gaelic throughout the country. Columba as a religious leader, gave Gaelic real status which is key to the early success of the language.”
Another proposal is the creation of an official pilgrimage trail to build upon an existing one an Ireland and small fragments in Scotland.
“It could attract people from all over the world, including Christians from near and far," Cillian Breatnach, an Irish broadcaster working on a St Columba-focused project with Irish-language Radio Failte, said.
"A fully developed Colm Cille (Columba in Gaeilge) trail would also attract the masses of people with an interest in Celtic history," he added.
“The Columban Church had big connections with Inverness and right across to the Highland and Island coastline.
"The new Cultarlann in Inverness is a great facility and would seem to be an ideal place to celebrate Colm Cille’s Inverness connection.”
Breatnach and his co-manager Seima Mac Aidnreasa added that any projects that could enhance Columba's legacy would require funding from both governments.
"To develop this properly we do need more help for research and development. There should be more done by the various Governments in Dublin and Edinburgh and Stormont.”
Aindreasa, added: “It’s the story of one person and his band of followers and its brought people in Belfast and Derry and Donegal together.
"The Columba story could strengthen the relationship with Iona and Inverness and Scotland.
"We are all part of that legacy. It can bring people together in a cultural and linguistic level, as well as a purely historical level.”
