In the middle of the 6th Century, in the green heart of Leinster, a boy was born who would one day leave an enduring mark on Europe. His name was Columban, later Latinised as Columbanus, meaning ‘the white dove’. From an early age, he felt a powerful call to give his life to Christ—a call that would lead him far beyond the shores of Ireland.
His journey began in quiet places. As a young man, Columbanus travelled north to Cleenish Island in Lough Erne, where under the guidance of Abbot Sinell he learned the disciplines of prayer, study and self-denial. From there he moved to the great monastery of Bangor, founded by St Comgall. Bangor was no ordinary monastery. It was one of the great centres of learning in medieval Ireland, famous for its strict rule and its passion for scholarship.
Columbanus thrived there. He became master of the Scriptorium or school, shaping the minds and souls of young monks. Yet, for all its learning and importance, Bangor could not hold him forever. Towards the end of the 6th Century, he felt the ancient Irish call to Peregrinatio Pro Christo—to leave home and wander for Christ. With reluctance, Abbot Comgall gave his blessing and Columbanus set out with twelve companions, not knowing where their journey would end.
Columbanus founded his first European monastery at Annegray. Men were drawn to him in great numbers”
They crossed the sea to Gaul, travelling through what is now France, and were welcomed by King Gunthram of Burgundy. In the wild solitude of the Vosges Mountains, Columbanus founded his first European monastery at Annegray. Men were drawn to him in great numbers, and before long the monastery was overflowing.
Life in Columbanus’ monasteries was demanding. The rule was harsh, the discipline unyielding and the expectations high. Such intensity won admiration, but it also caused tension. Columbanus, an Irish abbot on foreign soil, refused to bend easily to local custom or authority. His independence brought him into conflict with bishops and royal courts alike. Eventually, in 610, he was expelled from Burgundy and escorted under armed guard across France to Nantes, to ensure he would leave the country for good.
Journey
But Columbanus was not finished.
Though placed on a ship bound for Ireland, storms battered the vessel at the mouth of the River Loire. The ship’s master took this as a sign from God: Columbanus was not meant to return home. Once again a wanderer, the ageing monk turned east, travelling to Austria, where he established a monastery at Bregenz beside Lake Constance.
From there, guided by a dream, Columbanus undertook one final, formidable journey—across the Alps into Italy. In Milan, Columbanus preached, debated and wrote, leaving behind works that still speak to readers today.
In the Apennines, Columbanus founded Bobbio, the monastery that would become his greatest legacy. Tradition tells us that he spent his final days in a cave near Bobbio, choosing solitude and prayer to the very end.
Today, the spirit of Columbanus lives on in the Columban Way, a European pilgrim route that follows his footsteps”
St Columbanus died on November 23, 615, far from the Ireland of his birth, but surrounded by the living legacy of his faith. Columbanus left more than monasteries behind him. His writings, letters and rules continue to inspire reflection today. From Bangor itself came many manuscripts, including the famous Bangor Antiphonary, written around 690, which praises the monastic rule that shaped Columbanus’ life. It is now preserved in the Ambrosian Library in Milan.
Today, the spirit of Columbanus lives on in the Columban Way, a European pilgrim route that follows his footsteps from Mount Leinster in Co. Carlow, across eight countries to Bobbio in Italy. In Ireland, the route begins in Carlow, with its final section—from Comber to Bangor—launched in October 2021.
Brigid Watson is a storyteller, tour guide and travel designer based in Co. Down. She has a special interest in the rich Christian heritage of Co. Down. For more information go to https://sustainablejourneysireland.com
On February 7, 2026 Brigid Watson will host an experience entitled “Celtic Saints-A journey through time and tradition” in the North Down Museum Bangor Castle, Bangor, Co. Down. Tickets are limited. For more information and to book online visit
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Ardsandnorthdownboroughcouncil/experiences-2025-celtic-saints-a-journey-through-time-and-tradition/e-bexoro
or telephone Brigid on +44(0)7763898074
St Columbanus: a pilgrim who changed Europe
In the middle of the 6th Century, in the green heart of Leinster, a boy was born who would one day leave an enduring mark on Europe. His name was Columban, later Latinised as Columbanus, meaning ‘the white dove’. From an early age, he felt a powerful call to give his life to Christ—a call that would lead him far beyond the shores of Ireland.
His journey began in quiet places. As a young man, Columbanus travelled north to Cleenish Island in Lough Erne, where under the guidance of Abbot Sinell he learned the disciplines of prayer, study and self-denial. From there he moved to the great monastery of Bangor, founded by St Comgall. Bangor was no ordinary monastery. It was one of the great centres of learning in medieval Ireland, famous for its strict rule and its passion for scholarship.
Columbanus thrived there. He became master of the Scriptorium or school, shaping the minds and souls of young monks. Yet, for all its learning and importance, Bangor could not hold him forever. Towards the end of the 6th Century, he felt the ancient Irish call to Peregrinatio Pro Christo—to leave home and wander for Christ. With reluctance, Abbot Comgall gave his blessing and Columbanus set out with twelve companions, not knowing where their journey would end.
They crossed the sea to Gaul, travelling through what is now France, and were welcomed by King Gunthram of Burgundy. In the wild solitude of the Vosges Mountains, Columbanus founded his first European monastery at Annegray. Men were drawn to him in great numbers, and before long the monastery was overflowing.
Life in Columbanus’ monasteries was demanding. The rule was harsh, the discipline unyielding and the expectations high. Such intensity won admiration, but it also caused tension. Columbanus, an Irish abbot on foreign soil, refused to bend easily to local custom or authority. His independence brought him into conflict with bishops and royal courts alike. Eventually, in 610, he was expelled from Burgundy and escorted under armed guard across France to Nantes, to ensure he would leave the country for good.
Journey
But Columbanus was not finished.
Though placed on a ship bound for Ireland, storms battered the vessel at the mouth of the River Loire. The ship’s master took this as a sign from God: Columbanus was not meant to return home. Once again a wanderer, the ageing monk turned east, travelling to Austria, where he established a monastery at Bregenz beside Lake Constance.
From there, guided by a dream, Columbanus undertook one final, formidable journey—across the Alps into Italy. In Milan, Columbanus preached, debated and wrote, leaving behind works that still speak to readers today.
In the Apennines, Columbanus founded Bobbio, the monastery that would become his greatest legacy. Tradition tells us that he spent his final days in a cave near Bobbio, choosing solitude and prayer to the very end.
St Columbanus died on November 23, 615, far from the Ireland of his birth, but surrounded by the living legacy of his faith. Columbanus left more than monasteries behind him. His writings, letters and rules continue to inspire reflection today. From Bangor itself came many manuscripts, including the famous Bangor Antiphonary, written around 690, which praises the monastic rule that shaped Columbanus’ life. It is now preserved in the Ambrosian Library in Milan.
Today, the spirit of Columbanus lives on in the Columban Way, a European pilgrim route that follows his footsteps from Mount Leinster in Co. Carlow, across eight countries to Bobbio in Italy. In Ireland, the route begins in Carlow, with its final section—from Comber to Bangor—launched in October 2021.
Brigid Watson is a storyteller, tour guide and travel designer based in Co. Down. She has a special interest in the rich Christian heritage of Co. Down. For more information go to https://sustainablejourneysireland.com
On February 7, 2026 Brigid Watson will host an experience entitled “Celtic Saints-A journey through time and tradition” in the North Down Museum Bangor Castle, Bangor, Co. Down. Tickets are limited. For more information and to book online visit
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Ardsandnorthdownboroughcouncil/experiences-2025-celtic-saints-a-journey-through-time-and-tradition/e-bexoro
or telephone Brigid on +44(0)7763898074
New Bishop Chairman: No special path for Germany in reforms
Bishop Coll: young Catholics seek ‘doctrinal solidity, not adaptability’
Late Bishop Willie Walsh honoured with plaza on first anniversary
Dr Slim urges humanitarian shift as Trócaire warns of climate impact
Top TOPICS
Unsurprisingly, quite a few Lent related items featured in the media last week. The News
When I was in college, back in the days when the earth’s crust was still
Dear Editor, Garry O’Sullivan makes valuable points concerning the accountability of deceased clerical sexual abusers
Bishop Niall Coll’s recent remarks mark a significant moment in the lead-up to the upcoming