Columba 1500 / Colm Cille 1500

As part of a year-long commemoration and celebration of the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Colum Cille (Columba) (c.521-597), this online exhibition will focus on a range of Columban texts held by the Royal Irish Academy and explore the traditions associated with them.

The RIA Library carries a wealth of Columban manuscript material, spanning a period of over 1,000 years and including most notably the earliest surviving and dateable Irish manuscript book, An Cathach, valuable recensions of the 9th-century poetic lament Amrae Coluimb Chille and the 16th-century biography Betha Colaim Chille, and Early Irish poems ascribed to or associated with the saint.

Curated by the Library, in collaboration with Foclóir Stairiúil na Gaeilge, the exhibition will highlight the rich treasures associated with Columba in the Royal Irish Academy. The exhibition is related to an upcoming lunchtime lecture series, organised in collaboration with Coiste Léann na Gaeilge, Litríocht na Gaeilge agus na gCultúr Ceilteach, which is also part of the 1500th commemorative programme.

Mar chuid de chomóradh agus de cheiliúradh bliana ar bhreith Cholm Cille (c.521-597) 1500 bliain ó shin, díreoidh an taispeántas seo ar líne ar raon téacsanna a bhaineann le Colm Cille atá i seilbh Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann agus pléifidh sé na traidisiúin a bhaineann leo.

Tá ábhar luachmhar lámhscríbhinne a bhaineann le Colm Cille i mbailiúchán Leabharlann ARÉ, ina measc an lámhscríbhinn Éireannach is ársa ar féidir dáta a chur leis, An Cathach, leaganacha den chaoineadh fileata ón 9ú haois, Amrae Coluimb Chille, agus den bheathaisnéis ón 16ú haois, Betha Colaim Chille, chomh maith le dánta Luath-Ghaeilge atá curtha ina leith nó a thráchtann air.

Cóirithe ag an Leabharlann, i gcomhar le Foclóir Stairiúil na Gaeilge, tarraingeoidh an taispeántas aird ar na seoda saibhre a bhaineann le Colm Cille atá i seilbh Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann. Tá gaol ag an taispeántas le sraith léachtaí a bheidh ag tosú go luath, atá á heagrú i gcomhar le Coiste Léann na Gaeilge, Litríocht na Gaeilge agus na gCultúr Ceilteach, mar chuid eile de chlár na bliana comórtha 1500.