Founding father of the famous monastery on the island of Iona, a site of pilgrimage ever since his death in 597, St Columba was born into one of the ruling families in Ireland at a time of immense expansion for the Irish Church. This account of his life, written by Adomnán - the ninth abbot of Iona, and a distant relative of St Columba - describes his travels from Ireland to Scotland and his mission in the cause of Celtic Christianity there. Written 100 years after St Columba's death, it draws on written and oral traditions to depict a wise abbot among his monks, who like Christ was capable of turning water into wine, controlling sea-storms and raising the dead. An engaging account of one of the central figures in the 'Age of Saints', this is a major work of early Irish and Scottish history.
Life of Columba - Adomnán of Iona Preface
Maps
Genealogical tables
Introduction
St. Columba, his early life
St. Columba, "an island soldier"
St. Columba and the Irish
St. Columba and the Picts
St. Columba's death His successors
Adomnán of Iona, abbot and statesman
Adomnán and the writing of the Life
The island and monastery of Iona
The Columban community after Adomnán
The Later history of Iona
The medieval legend of St. Columba
The modern legend of St. Columba
The Life of Columba
The preface
The second preface
Book One
Book Two
Book Three
Notes
Manuscripts and editions
Pesonal names
Peoples and dynasties
Place names
Dates
St. Columba's name
St. Mochta's prophecy
Adomnán's informants
St. Columba's lineage
King Oswald's baptism
St. Munnu of Taghmon
The foundation of Derry
St. Baithene, second abbot of Iona
The name of Iona
The foundation of Durrow
St. Cainnech of Aghaboe
St. Colmán Elo of Lynally
The whirlpool of Corryvreckan
Áedán mac Gabráin, king of Dalriada
Domnall mac Áedo, king of Ireland
St. Lasrén, third abbot of Iona
St. Columba's servant Diarmait
The burial ground of Iona
Dairmait mac Cerbaill, king of Ireland
The monstery of Hinba
The meeting of the kings at Druim Cett
St. Comgall of Bangor
St. Uinniau
The monastic office in Iona
Synods in the Irish church
Aldfrith, king of Northumbria
The list of St. Columba's companions
The royal ordination of Áedán
Cumméne's book
The burial of St. Odran
The monastic building at Iona
The church of Eigg
Fergnae, fourth abbot of Iona
St. Columba's burial place
Bibliography
Index
