Follow in the footsteps of one of Ireland’s most iconic saints on the St Colmcille’s Donegal Audio Guide

St Colmcille, also known as St Columba, (the Latin form of his name), was born in Donegal in either 520 or 521 AD. Before his death in Iona on the 9th June 593, St Colmcille had become one of the most influential figures in Irish and British history. Colmcille is one of Ireland’s patron saints, a distinction he shares with Patrick and Brigid, and he is the patron saint of Derry. Colmcille is not only an important figure for Ireland, but as the founder of monasteries in Iona and Scotland, he was a key catalyst for the spread of Christianity in Northern Britain.

Though Derry, Iona, Durrow, Kells, and lots of other places all around Ireland and Scotland have associations with Colmcille, our audioguide is going to focus on his homeland – County Donegal – the place where he was born and raised. Join us on our St Colmcille’s Donegal Audio Guide as we take a journey to ancient monasteries, churches and holy wells at places like Gartan, Kilmacrennan and Dísert, we’ll set sail for Tory Island and tread the path of pilgrims at Glencolmcille.

St Colmcille’s Donegal Audio Guide

This audio guide is an Abarta Heritage Production on behalf of Donegal County Council as an Action of the County Donegal Heritage Plan, with the support of the Heritage Council. It was written by Neil Jackman, and narrated by Gerry O’Brien. The guide was recorded in Bluebird Studios, with sound engineer Declan Lonergan and producer Róisín Burke. We wish to thank Donegal County Council Heritage Officer, Joseph Gallagher, for his support throughout this project.