livin

g his

3-day conference to explore the enduring Columban links from Donegal to the Outer Hebrides, and the opportunities to strengthen cultural and linguistic bonds along the St Columba Trail
Thursday 20th June Saturday 22nd June 2013 Orinsay Hall and Ravenspoint, South Lochs, Lewis
The discussions will be in Gaelic, Gaeilge, and English, with simultaneous translation facilities BACKGROUND St Columba is the best known of the early Christian saints who journeyed from Ireland to Scotland in and around the 6th century AD in search of personal fulfilment or to evangelise. He is believed to have been born at Gartan, Donegal, leaving Ireland in 563 to found a monastery on Iona, where he died in 597. Many legends surround his activities, particularly in Ulster, Iona, and the Hebrides, and indeed a whole mythology has been developed over the centuries, often by people and institutions with a vested interest in claiming an historic link with Columba. His religious and cultural legacy is of great importance, and includes many early churches dedicated to his name in both Ireland and Scotland. To encourage further understanding of this legacy, and the enduring linguistic and cultural links between communities in Ireland (both north and south of the border) and Scotland, the Colmcille Initative has recently established Slighe Chaluim Chille (the St Columba Trail) from Glencolmcille, Donegal, in the south to Lewis in the north, including many sites in Donegal, Derry, Argyllshire, Easter Ross, and the Outer Hebrides. It is instructive to note that in St Columbas time it was probably easier to travel along the route of the Slighe than it is today! The conference is organised by the Islands Book Trust, who are based in Lewis and dedicated to furthering understanding of the history and heritage of Scottish islands in their wider Celtic and Nordic context, including comparisons with Ireland. We have considerable experience at arranging successful international conferences, involving academic speakers and other experts alongside people from local communities. We have attracted a first-class array of speakers to lead off the discussion. Some of the talks will be in Scots Gaelic and some in Irish Gaeilge, with simultaneous translation facilities into English available. This 3-day event, to be held at Orinsay Hall and Ravenspoint in the Gaelic-speaking community of South Lochs, Lewis, near the northern end of the Slighe, will bring together people from Ireland and Scotland to discuss the mythology, reality, and legacy of Columba. We will consider how best these linguistic and cultural links can be celebrated and strengthened, possibly using the Slighe as the basis for a series of annual events involving local communities on the Slighe. Like all Book Trust events, this will be much more than an academic occasion. We pride ourselves on bringing people together from a range of different backgrounds on the principle that we can all learn from each others perspectives. We also believe there are advantages in holding conferences in a community setting, with active participation by local people. So most sessions will take place in Orinsay Hall, which has wonderful views looking across to the Shiant Islands in the Minch with Skye beyond, with evening meals at the community-owned Ravenspoint Centre where the local history society, Comunn Eachdraidh na Pairc, has its museum. There will also be a visit to Eilean Chaluim Chille, a nearby island which can be reached on foot at low tide and which has the remains of an early teampall dedicated to St Columba. Meals and overnight accommodation can be arranged as part of an all-inclusive conference price for those who wish this see booking form. Alternatively, people can come along to individual sessions on a pay-as- you- go basis.

UP NSIG ORM F

thE islAnDs BooK trUst URRAS LEABHRAICHEAN NAN EILEAN

Exploring the life, legend, and legacy of St Columba in Ireland and Scotland

ry to

Conference on Slighe Chaluim Chille

20 - 22 June 2013 Name Address

Tel Email

Slighe Chaluim Chille

I wish to book for the conference as follows (please circle as appropriate): 3 days all inclusive (Thurs, Fri, Sat sessions *) 3 days (excluding accommodation) Members 239 139 49 12 Non-members 249 149 59 15

3 days (excluding accommodation and meals) Half-day or evening (excl accommodation and meals)

*Includes 2 nights B and B, 2 dinners, 3 lunches, teas/coffees, plus all conference sessions, including visit South Lochs residents and full-time students: 3 days (excluding accommodation and meals) - 25

For more details, please contact Alayne Barton, Sealladh na Mara, Coll, Isle of Lewis, HS2 0JR Tel: 01851 820946 or email alayne@theislandsbooktrust.com

PLEASE BOOK ASAP: PRICES ABOVE ONLY APPLY FOR BOOKINGS RECEIVED BY 7 JUNE 2013 PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO THE ISLANDS BOOK TRUST AND RETURN COMPLETED FORM WITH CHEQUE TO THE ADDRESS OVERLEAF www.theislandsbooktrust.com

(Venue is Orinsay Hall unless otherwise stated) THURSDAY 20th JUNE 1.00 2.30pm: Registration and Buffet Lunch 2.30pm: Welcome and Introduction JOHN RANDALL, Chairman of the Islands Book Trust 2.45pm: Keynote Address: St Columba and Celtic Christianity DONALD MEEK 4.00 -4.30pm: Tea 4.30pm: Reflections on the Archaeological Evidence for early Christian Chapels in the Outer Hebrides CAROL KNOTT 5.30 5.45pm: Discussion Session 7.00 8.30pm: Dinner (Ravenspoint) 8.30pm: After-Dinner Talk (Ravenspoint): The Development of Slighe Chaluim Chille MAOLCHOLAIM SCOTT FRIDAY 21st JUNE 9.15am: The Quick and the Dead - Eilean Chaluim Chille and the development of post-Reformation burial aisles and enclosures in Lewis and Scotland MARK THACKER 10.15 10.45am: Coffee 10.45am 1.30pm: Visit to the Teampull and Graveyard on Eilean Chaluim Chille 1.30 - 2.30pm: Buffet Lunch 2.30pm: St Columba from an Irish Perspective MAIRE HERBERT 3.45 4.15pm: Tea 4.15pm: St Columba from a Scottish Perspective JAMES FRASER 5.30 5.45pm: Discussion Session 7.00 8.30pm: Dinner (Ravenspoint) 8.30pm: Ceilidh (Ravenspoint) SATURDAY 22nd JUNE 9.30am: The History of Eaglais na h-Aoidhe near Stornoway COLIN SCOTT MACKENZIE 10.30 -11.00am: Coffee 11.00am: Teampull Chaluim Chille in Benbecula CATRIONA GARBUTT/NEIL CAMPBELL 12 noon - 12.30pm: Discussion on the Future Development of Slighe Chaluim Chille and Conclusions from Conference 12.30 pm: Buffet Lunch

Slighe Chaluim Chille

Exploring the life, legend, and legacy of St Columba in Ireland and Scotland
3-day Conference

livin

Programme
Alayne Barton Sealladh na Mara Coll ISLE OF LEWIS HS2 0JR
CHEQUES SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO:

g his

thE islAnDs BooK trUst URRAS LEABHRAICHEAN NAN EILEAN

Thursday 20 June to Saturday 22 June 2013

Orinsay Hall and Ravenspoint South Lochs Lewis
Conference Organiser: The Islands Book Trust www.theislandsbooktrust.com

urras leabhraichean nan eilean - the islands book trust is a registered scottish charity sc032682 ravenspoint kershader isle of lewis HS2 9QA

enquiries - tel 01851 820946 book sales - tel: 01851 880737

email: alayne@theislandsbooktrust.com email: sales@theislandsbooktrust.com

teampall and graveyard eilean chaluim chille , loch erisort , lewis

ry to

THE ISLANDS BOOK TRUST