The revealing life story of St Columba, one of Ireland and Scotland’s most important saints, is told in a new TV documentary celebrating 1500 years since his birth.
Titled Calum Cille: An Naomh Dàna, the programme echoes his very own pilgrimage taken all those years ago.
Viewers will journey from Donegal to Iona, uncovering the truths behind the myths surrounding the troublemaker, copyright infringer, warrior and exile, who came to be one of the most revered individuals in Scottish and Irish history, as well as gaining international renown over the centuries.
Dr Duncan Sneddon, from Edinburgh University, said: “There’s a difference between Columba the man who lived on Earth and the historical figure who was recreated in the generations after his death - and they all create their own Columba.
“But they all tell us something important. They all put together a Columba who was powerful, brave and important in different ways.”
Calum Cille - An Naomh Dàna is produced by Abú Media and MacTV with funding from Northern Ireland's Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund, TG4 and MG ALBA.
The documentary airs on Tuesday 7 December at 9.30pm on BBC Alba.
TV documentary marks 1500th anniversary of St Columba
30 November 2021