A new statue of Saint Colmcille looks set to be unveiled on Tory Island in County Donegal at the end of this month.
Saint Colmcille, sometimes known as Saint Columba, was born in Gartan
in County Donegal in 571 AD.
He had a huge influence on Irish
ecclesiastical history and established monasteries at Derry, Kells,
Durrow, Swords and Drumcliffe before his death in 597. His monks at
Kells later produced the Book of Kells.
Although he spent much of his life on the island of Iona in Scotland,
he was a regular visitor to Tory prior to his departure to Iona
Island.
To commemorate his time spent there, local island curate Fr Francis
Ferry commissioned local sculptor Redmond Herrity to make a
life-sized stone sculpture of one of the country's most important
saints.
Speaking to local media in County Donegal, Fr Ferry said that the
sculpture is made from Wicklow stone and it has taken about three months
to complete.
When the granite figure is erected in front of Saint
Colmcille's chapel, it will depend on light and sun to emphasise and
contrast the facial features.
Fr Ferry said, “It's an absolutely wonderful creation and will stand
at the front of the Saint Colmcille chapel gazing at the mainland. We
hope to transport it to the island on Monday May 30 in good time for
Saint Colmcille's Feast Day on June 9.”