Editing Columba (section)

==Early life in Ireland==
Columba was born to Fedlimid and Eithne of the ''[[Cenél Conaill]]'' in [[Gartan]], a district beside Lough Gartan, in [[Tír Chonaill]] (mainly modern [[County Donegal]]) in what is now [[Ulster]], the northern [[Provinces of Ireland|province]] in [[Ireland]]. On his father's side, he is claimed as being the great-great-grandson of [[Niall of the Nine Hostages]], a pseudo-historical [[High King of Ireland|Irish high king]] of the 5th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=125 |isbn=0-906362-43-1 |access-date=}}</ref> Tradition holds that he was born in Gartan. One tradition holds that he was born on a flagstone called ''Leac na Cumha'' in the [[townland]] of Lacknacoo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Birthplace of ColmCille |date=9 June 2016 |url=https://pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/2016/06/09/t-he-birthplace-of-st-colmcille-gartan-co-donegal/}}</ref> He was [[baptised]] in Temple-Douglas, in the County Donegal parish of [[Conwal and Leck|Conwal]] (midway between Gartan and [[Letterkenny]]), by his teacher and foster-uncle [[Cruithnechán]].{{sfn|Reeves|1850|p=82}}{{sfn|Munn|1985|p=}}<ref name="Ordnance1986p">{{Citation | title = Ordnance Survey Memoirs for the Parishes of Desertmartin and Kilcronaghan | publisher = Ballinascreen Historical Society | year = 1986}}.</ref>

Columba lived in the remote district of what is now [[Glencolmcille]] for roughly five years, which was named after him. It is not known for sure if his name at birth was Colmcille or if he adopted this name later in life; [[Adomnán]] (Eunan) of Iona thought it was his birth name but other Irish sources have claimed his name at birth was Crimthann (meaning 'fox').{{sfn|Adomnan of Iona|1995|p=}} In the [[Irish language]] his name means 'dove', which is the same name as the Prophet Jonah (Jonah in Hebrew is also 'dove'), which Adomnán of Iona, as well as other early Irish writers, were aware of, although it is not clear if he was deliberately named after Jonah or not. ''Columba'' is also [[Latin]] for dove, and the name of [[Columba (genus)|the bird genus]].
[[File:St Columba's church, Gartan, Donegal.jpg|left|thumb|The remains of St. Columba's Church, [[Gartan]], [[County Donegal]]]]
When sufficiently advanced in letters he entered the monastic school of Movilla, at [[Newtownards]], under [[Finnian of Movilla]] who had studied at [[Ninian]]'s "Magnum Monasterium" on the shores of [[Galloway]]. He was about twenty, and a deacon when, having completed his training at Movilla, he travelled southwards into [[Leinster]], where he became a pupil of an aged bard named Gemman. On leaving him, Columba entered the monastery of [[Clonard Abbey|Clonard]], governed at that time by [[Finnian of Clonard|Finnian]], noted for sanctity and learning. Here he imbibed the traditions of the Welsh Church, for Finnian had been trained in the schools of [[Saint David|David]].<ref name="Edmonds">{{cite CE1913|last=Edmonds|first= Columba|wstitle=St. Columba, Abbot of Iona|volume=4|short=1}}</ref>

The study of [[Latin]] learning and [[Christian theology]] in [[monasteries]] flourished. Columba became a pupil at the monastic school at [[Clonard Abbey]], situated on the [[River Boyne]] in modern [[County Meath]]. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Celtic Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. The average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was said to be 300.<ref name="Gratton-Flood1" /> Columba was one of twelve students of [[Finnian of Clonard]] who became known as the [[Twelve Apostles of Ireland]]. He became a monk and eventually was [[ordained]] a [[Presbyter|priest]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=St Columba and the Isle of Iona|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/St-Columba-the-Isle-of-Iona/|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Historic UK}}</ref>

Another preceptor of Columba was [[Mobhí Clárainech]], whose monastery at [[Glasnevin]] was frequented by such famous men as [[Cainnech of Aghaboe]], [[Comgall]], and [[St Ciarán|Ciarán]]. A pestilence which devastated Ireland in 544 caused the dispersion of Mobhi's disciples, and Columba returned to [[Ulster]], the land of his kindred. He was a striking figure of great stature and powerful build, with a loud, melodious voice which could be heard from one hilltop to another.<ref name= crawley>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/COLUMBA.htm |chapter=Saint Columba, Abbot and Confessor—521-597 AD |last=Crawley |first=John J |title=Lives of the Saints |publisher=John J. Crawley & Co |via=EWTN |date=1954 |access-date=25 July 2013 |archive-date=8 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808215823/http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/COLUMBA.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The foundation of several important monasteries marked the following years: [[Derry]], at the southern edge of [[Inishowen]]; Durrow, County Offaly; [[Kells, County Meath|Kells]], County Meath; and [[Swords, County Dublin]].{{sfn|Sidwell|1995|p=70}} While at Derry it is said that he planned a pilgrimage to [[Rome]] and [[Jerusalem]], but did not proceed farther than [[Tours, France|Tours]]. From Tours, he brought a copy of those gospels that had lain on the bosom of [[St. Martin of Tours|Martin]] for 100 years. This relic was deposited in Derry.<ref name="Edmonds" /> St Colmcille is also believed to have established a Church on [[Inishkea Islands|Inishkea North]], County Mayo which is named St Colmcille's Church.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-18 |title=Islands of Ireland: Sands of time on Inishkea |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandgardens/arid-30828659.html |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=Irish Examiner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inishkea Islands Monastic Sites |url=https://www.ouririshheritage.org/content/archive/place/miscellaneous-place/inishkea-islands-monastic-sites |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=Our Irish Heritage}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oh, to be on Inishkea |url=https://www.mayonews.ie/component/content/article?id=2183:oh-to-be-on-inishkea |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=The Mayo News |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808135800/https://www.mayonews.ie/component/content/article?id=2183:oh-to-be-on-inishkea |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Some traditions assert that sometime around 560 Columba became involved in a quarrel with [[Finnian of Moville]] of [[Movilla Abbey]] over a [[psalter]]. Columba copied the manuscript at the [[scriptorium]] under Finnian, intending to keep the copy. Finnian disputed his right to keep it. There is a suggestion that this conflict resulted in the [[Battle of Cúl Dreimhne]] in [[Cairbre Drom Cliabh]] (now in [[County Sligo]]) in 561, during which many men were killed. Richard Sharpe, translator of Adomnán's Life of St. Columba (referenced in the bibliography below) makes a stern caution at this point against accepting the many references that link the battle and Columba's leaving of Ireland, even though there is evidence in the annals that Columba supported his own king against the high king. Political conflicts that had existed for some time resulted in the clan Neill's battle against King Diarmait at Cooldrevny in 561. An issue, for example, was the king's violation of the right of sanctuary belonging to Columba's person as a monk on the occasion of the murder of Prince Curnan, Columba's kinsman.<ref name="Edmonds" />

Prince Curnan of Connacht, who had fatally injured a rival in a hurling match and had taken refuge with Columba, was dragged from his protector's arms and slain by Diarmaid's men, in defiance of the rights of sanctuary.<ref name=crawley/>

A [[synod]] of [[clerics]] and scholars threatened to [[excommunicate]] him for these deaths, but [[Brendan of Birr]] spoke on his behalf. Eventually, the process was deemed a miscarriage of justice. Columba's own conscience was uneasy, and on the advice of an aged hermit, Molaise, he resolved to expiate his sense of offence by departing Ireland. The term "exile" is used in some references. This, too, can be disputed, for the term "pilgrimage" is used more frequently in the literature about him. A marker at Stroove Beach on the [[Inishowen Peninsula]] commemorates the place where Columba set sail for Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govisitinishowen.com/directory/stroove/ |title=Stroove |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2023 |website=Go Visit Inishowen |access-date=7 December 2023 }}</ref> He left Ireland, but through the following years, he returned several times to visit the communities he had founded there.<ref name="Edmonds"/>

Columba's copy of the psalter has been traditionally associated with the [[Cathach of St. Columba]]. In 574/575, during his return for the Synod of Drum Ceat, he founded the [[Drumcliff monastery, County Sligo|monastery of Drumcliff]] in Cairbre, now County Sligo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/D/Drumcliffe-Carbery-Sligo.php|title = Drumcliffe – Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)}}</ref>