A special audit is underway on heritage sites, places, archives and objects associated with Saint Columba (Colmcille) until the end of October.
2021 will mark the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Colmcille, and Donegal County Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council and Foras na Gaeilge, with support from The Heritage Council, have appointed Abarta Heritage to carry out the audit.
The analyse will identify and map heritage sites, objects and archives associated with St. Colmcille and his life.
This will range from well-known heritage sites to places associated with St. Colmcille in local folklore and will include objects and archives in national and local repositories.
The research will highlight the links between the Columban material culture and aspects of folklore, folk traditions, language, place names and intangible cultural heritage which are considerable.
The project involves researching and visiting many of the sites and places associated with the saint, including sites around Gartan, Glencolmcille, Tory Island and Derry.
If you know of any places that have a story of Colmcille, or if you are part of a local group with any plans or ideas for events or activities at Columban heritage sites, Abarta Heritage would love to hear from you.
You can get in touch with the auditors at info@abartaheritage.ie or (052) 618 9468
