2021 has marked the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Columba, or Colmcille as he’s known in Gaelic. Columba was a key figure in Scottish history, helping to embed Christianity but also bringing with him artistic styles that would spread across Scotland. From the art of high crosses to the places named for him, Columba’s Scotland shows us how our understanding of the landscape is shaped by our history, as well as forming an inspiring jumping off point for exploring the country.
With so many aspects of his legacy to explore, we were inspired by Columba’s role as the Patron Saint of Poetry to think about him and his relationship to Scotland in new ways. Over twenty weeks, poet in residence Alex Aldred created a new body of work that responds to both the landscape that Columba would have visited and the myths that surround him.
Explore Columba’s Scotland and the poetry inspired by it
View our StoryMapYou can read about Alex’s time with us in our blog
Connect with Alex: www.alexaldred.co.uk
Find out more about Columba’s Irish roots and more events celebrating Columba from organisations across Scotland and Ireland: https://colmcille1500.com/english/