Iona ( ) is a small island
in the Inner
Hebrides
of Scotland
that has an
important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is
renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. Its modern
Gaelic name means "Iona of Saint
Columba" (formerly anglicised
"Icolmkill").
Etymology
The
Hebrides
have been
occupied by the speakers of at least four languages since the
Iron Age, and as a result many of the names
of these islands have more than one possible meaning.
Nonetheless few, if any, can have accumulated so many different
names over the centuries as the island now known in English as
"Iona".
The earliest forms of the name enabled place-name scholar
William J. Watson to show that the name originally
meant something like "yew-place". The element
Ivo-,
denoting "
yew", occurs in Ogham
inscriptions (
Iva-cattos [genitive],
Iva-geni
[genitive]) and in Gaulish names (
Ivo-rix,
Ivo-magus) and may form the basis of early Gaelic names
like
Eogan (ogham:
Ivo-genos). It is possible
that the name is related to the mythological figure,
Fer hÍ mac
Eogabail, foster-son of
Manannan, the
forename meaning "man of the yew".
Mac an Tàilleir (2003) lists the more recent Gaelic names of
Ì ,
Ì Chaluim Chille and
Eilean Idhe
noting that the first named is "generally lengthened to avoid
confusion" to the second, which means "Calum's (i.e. in latinised
form "Columba's") Iona" or "island of Calum's
monastery".Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 80. The possible confusion
results from "ì", despite its original etymology, becoming a Gaelic
noun (now obsolete) meaning simply "island".
Eilean Idhe
means "the isle of Iona", also known as
Ì nam ban
bòidheach ("the isle of beautiful women"). The modern English
name comes from an 18th century misreading of yet another variant,
Ioua, which was either just Adomnán's attempt to make the
Gaelic name fit Latin grammar or else a genuine derivative from
Ivova ("yew place").
Ioua's change to
Iona results from a transcription mistake resulting from
the similarity of "n" and "u" in
Insular Minuscule.
Despite the continuity of forms in Gaelic between the pre-Norse and
post-Norse eras, Haswell-Smith (2004) speculates that the name may
have a
Norse connection,
Hiōe
meaning "island of the den of the brown bear",, "island of the den
of the fox", or just "island of the cave" . The medieval English
language version was "Icolmkill" (and variants thereof).
| Table of earliest
forms (incomplete) |
| Form |
Source |
Language |
Notes |
| Ioua insula |
Adomnán's Vita Columbae (c. 700) |
Latin |
Adomnán calls Eigg Egea
insula and Skye Scia insula |
| Hii, Hy |
Bede's Historia ecclesiastica
gentis Anglorum |
Latin |
|
Eoa, Iae, Ie,
I Cholaim Chille
|
Annals of Ulster |
Irish, Latin |
U563 Nauigatio Coluim Chille ad Insolam Iae
"The journey of St Columba to Í"
U716 Pascha comotatur in Eoa ciuitate
"The date of Easter is changed in the monastery of Í")
U717 Expulsio familie Ie
"The expulsion of the community of Í"
U778 Niall...a nn-I Cholaim Chille
"Niall... in Í Cholaim Chille"
|
| Hi, Eu |
Lebor na hUidre |
Irish |
Hi con ilur a mmartra
"Hi with the multitude of its relics"
in tan conucaib a chill hi tosuċ .i.
Eu
"the time he raised his church first i.e.
Eu"
|
| Eo |
Walafrid Strabo (c. 831) |
Latin |
Insula Pictorum quaedam monstratur in oris fluctivago
suspensa salo, cognominis Eo
"On the coasts of the Picts is pointed out an isle poised in the
rolling sea, whose name is Eo"
|
| Euea insula |
Life of St
Cathróe of Metz |
Latin |
|
Folk etymology
Murray (1966) states that the "ancient" Gaelic name was
Innis
nan Druinich (the isle of
Druidic
hermits") and repeats an
apocryphal Gaelic
story that as Columba's coracle first drew close to the island one
of his companions cried out
"Chì mi i" meaning "I see her"
and that Columba's response was "Henceforth we shall call her
Ì".
Geography
Iona lies
approximately one mile (1.6 km) from the coast of
Mull
. The
island is 1 mile wide (1.6 km) and 3.5 miles
(5.6 km) long with a resident
population of 125. The island's stone base is
covered by a layer of basaltic lava. Like other places swept by
ocean breezes, there are few trees with most of these being located
around the parish church area.
Iona's highest point is Dùn Ì (101 m, 331 ft), an Iron
Age hill fort dating from 100 BC – 200 AD.
Its geographical
features include the Bay at the Back of the Ocean
and Càrn Cùl ri Éirinn (the Hill/Cairn of [turning the] Back to Ireland), said to be
adjacent to the beach where St. Columba first landed.
The main settlement, located at St. Ronan's Bay on the eastern side
of the island, is called
Baile Mòr and is also known
locally as "The Village".
The primary school, post office, the island's
two hotels, the Bishop's House
and the ruins of the Nunnery are here. The Abbey and MacLeod
Centre are a short walk to the north. Port Bàn (white port) beach
on the west side of the island is home to the Iona Beach
Party.
There are numerous offshore islets and
skerries of which Eilean Annraidh (island of storm)
and Eilean Chalbha (calf island) to the north, Rèidh Eilean and
Stac MhicMhurchaidh to the west and Eilean Mùsimul (mouse holm
island) and
Soa Island to the south are
amongst the largest.
The steamer Cathcart Park carrying a
cargo of salt from Runcorn
to Wick
ran aground on Soa on 15 April 1912, the crew of 11
escaping in two boats.
History
In 563
Saint Columba, also known as Colm Cille, was
exiled from his native Ireland
as a result
of his involvement in the Battle of Cul Dreimhne, and founded a
monastery on Iona with 12
companions. From there they set about the conversion of
pagan Scotland and much of northern
England
to Christianity. Iona's fame as a place of
learning and Christian mission spread throughout
Europe and it became a major site of
pilgrimage.
Iona became a holy island where several
kings of Scotland, Ireland and Norway
came to be
buried.
In the seventh century
Celtic
Christianity as practiced on Iona was in conflict with Rome
until the
Synod of Whitby
established Roman practice as the norm.
Many believe that all or part of the
Book
of Kells was produced on Iona towards the end of the 8th
century, the bi-centenary of Columba's death (
597) being an appropriate event to commemorate by the
production of such an outstandingly elaborate manuscript. A series
of
Viking raids on the monastery on Iona
began in 794 and, after its treasures had been plundered many
times, Columba’s relics were removed and divided two ways between
Scotland and Ireland in 849 as the monastery was abandoned. A
convent for the order of
Benedictine nuns was established in 1208, with
Beathag, daughter of
Somerled, as first
prioress. The present
Benedictine
abbey was built in 1203. The monastery itself
flourished until the
Reformation when buildings were
demolished and all but three of the 360 carved crosses
destroyed.
Iona Nunnery survives as a number of 12th-13th century ruins of the
church and cloister, and a colourful garden. Unlike the rest of the
medieval religious buildings, the nunnery was too fragmentary to
restore, though it is the most complete remnant of a medieval
nunnery in Scotland.
In the 19th century green-streaked marble was commercially mined in
the south-east of Iona; the quarry and machinery survive. Pebbles
of Iona marble can still be found on the island's beaches.
Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey
Enlargement, showing the location of
the abbey and monasteries.
Iona Abbey, now an
ecumenical church, is
of particular historical and religious interest to pilgrims and
visitors alike.
It is the most elaborate and best-preserved
ecclesiastical building surviving from the Middle Ages in the
Western
Isles
of Scotland. Though modest in scale in comparison to
medieval abbeys elsewhere in
Western
Europe, it has a wealth of fine architectural detail, and
monuments of many periods.
In front
of the Abbey stands the 9th century St Martin's Cross, one of the
best-preserved Celtic crosses in the British Isles
, and a replica of the 8th century St John's Cross
(original fragments in the Abbey museum).
The ancient burial ground, called the Rèilig Odhrain (Eng: Oran's
"burial place" or "cemetery"), contains the 12th century chapel of
St Odhrán (said to be
Columba's uncle), restored at the same time as the
Abbey itself. It contains a number of medieval grave monuments. The
abbey graveyard contains the graves of many early
Scottish Kings, as well as kings from
Ireland, Norway and France. Iona became the burial site for the
kings of
Dál Riata and their
successors. Notable burials there include:
In 1549 an inventory of 48 Scottish, 8 Norwegian and 4 Irish kings
was recorded. None of these graves are now identifiable (their
inscriptions were reported to have worn away at the end of the 17th
century). Saint
Baithin and Saint
Failbhe may also be buried
on the island. The Abbey graveyard is also the final resting place
of
John Smith, the former
Labour Party leader, who loved Iona. His grave is marked with an
epitaph quoting
Alexander Pope: "An
honest man's the noblest work of God".
Other early Christian and medieval monuments have been removed for
preservation to the cloister arcade of the Abbey, and the Abbey
museum (in the medieval infirmary). The ancient buildings of Iona
Abbey are now cared for by
Historic
Scotland (entrance charge).
Iona Community
Baile Mòr viewed from the Sound of
Iona
In 1938
George MacLeod founded the
Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian community of men and women
from different walks of life and different traditions in the
Christian church committed to seeking new ways of living the
gospel of
Jesus in
today's world. This community is a leading force in the present
Celtic Christianity
revival.
The Iona
Community runs 3 residential centres on the Isle of Iona and on
Mull.
These are places of welcome and engagement giving a unique
opportunity to live together in community with people of every
background from all over the world. Weeks at the centres often
follow a programme related to the concerns of the Iona
Community.
The 8 tonne
Fallen Christ sculpture by
Ronald Rae was permanently situated outside the
MacLeod Centre in 2008.
Transport
Visitors
can reach Iona by the 10-minute ferry trip across the Sound of Iona
from Fionnphort
on Mull.
The most
common route is via Oban
in Argyll and Bute. Regular ferries
connect to Craignure
on Mull, from where the scenic road runs 37 miles
to Fionnphort. Tourist coaches and local bus services meet
the ferries.
There are very few cars on the island, as they are tightly
regulated and vehicular access is not allowed for non-residents,
who have to leave their car in Fionnphort. Bike hire is available
at the pier, and on Mull.
Media and the arts
"Peace of Iona" is a song written by
Mike Scott that appears on the solo
album
Universal Hall and on
the live recording
Karma to Burn by
The Waterboys.
Kenneth C. Steven published an anthology of poetry entitled
Iona: Poems in 2000 inspired by his association with the
island and the surrounding area.
See also
Notes
References
- Dwelly, Edward (1911) Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le
Dealbhan/The Illustrated [Scottish] Gaelic- English
Dictionary. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1874744041
- Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Placenames" (pdf) Pàrlamaid na h-Alba.
Edinburgh. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
- Marsden, John (1995) The Illustrated Life of Columba.
Edinburgh. Floris Books. ISBN 0863152112
- Murray, W.H. (1966) The
Hebrides. London. Heinemann.
- Watson, W.J., The History
of the Celtic Place-names of Scotland. Reprinted with an
introduction by Simon Taylor, Birlinn, Edinburgh, 2004. ISBN
1-84158-323-5
Gallery
Image:Mull-topographic.iona.label.jpg|The Isle of Mull, showing the
location of IonaImage:St-martins-cross.jpg|Ninth century St
Martin's CrossImage:TyIonaNunnery20030825r19f31.jpg|
Iona NunneryImage:Iona.monochrome.jpg|Iona,
showing the location of the Abbey and Dùn ÌImage:Cloisters of Abbey
on the Isle of Iona.jpg|Abbey
cloistersImage:TyIonaStColumbasBay20030825r19f10.jpg|Looking
towards St. Columba's BayImage:Iona Book Shop.jpg|Iona Book Shop
External links
Top topics
Wikis
Quiz
Facts
Map
Misc
Search