Saints in Scottish Place-Names

Colmán of Inis Bó Finne

Other names

Colmán of Inishbofin (Ó Riain, Dictionary, 190) Colman of Lindisfarne (ODS)

Introduction

It is usually assumed that this is the Colmán who was bishop of Lindisfarne and participated in the debate about Easter, as described by Bede. According to Bede, after the Synod of Whitby Colmán 'returned to the land of the Scots (Scottiam regressus est) in order to consult his compatriots on their future course of action' (HE III.26 p 193). Elsewhere it is said he 'returned to his own country' (HE IV.1 p 203). In a further account is the following (HE IV.4 p 213): 'Meanwhile the Scots bishop Colmán left Britain (Interae Colmanus, qui de Scottia erat Episcopus, relinquens Brittanian), taking with him all the Scots he had collected at Lindisfarne, together with about thirty English whom he had likewise trained in the monastic life. Leaving some brethren in his own church, he first visited the isle of Hii, from which he had originally been sent to preach the word to the English. He subsequently retired to a small island at some distance from the west coast of Ireland (Hibernia), known in the Scots tongue as Inisboufine, meaning the Isle of the White Heifer' AU 668 Nauigatio Columbani episcopi [cum] reliquis sanctorum ad Insolam Uacce Albae, in qua fundauit aeclesiam Following a dispute between the Irish and Saxon monks, Colmán went on to found a monastery at Mag Eó (Mayo, parish in Co. Mayo). It is notable that his association with Lindisfarne is not mentioned in the early Irish sources, and that he has no genealogy. He may, however, be identical to Colmán m. Aeda (qv) whose feastday is commemorated in Scotland. This day (18 Feb) is given by the Aberdeen Breviary, among others, as the day of Colmán of Lindisfarne.

Obituary

AU 676 Columbana episcopus Insole Uacce Albe, & Finain filii Airennain pausant.

Related Saints

Belongs to the group Columb, Colmán, Commán, Mo Cholmóc, Mo Chommóc, Mo Chumma, Columba, Columbanus etc (ns) (certain)

Related Personal Names

Name

Colmán (certain)

Name

Columban (certain)

Source

The Annals of Ulster

AU 676 Columbana episcopus Insole Uacce Albe, & Finain filii Airennain pausant.

Feast days

Day of Year

August 8

Calendar

Martyrology of Tallaght

Quote from source

Colmani episcopi Insi Bó Finni. .lxxx. anno etatis eius quieuit.

Day of Year

August 8

Calendar

Martyrology of Gorman

Quote from source

Colmán gloss: epscop, ó Inis bó finne i cConmacnibh mara i n-iarthar Connacht.

Day of Year

August 8

Calendar

The Martyrology of Donegal

Quote from source

Colmán, epscop ó Inis bo finne, a cConmaicnibh mara i niarthar Connacht, [anno domini 674]

Day of Year

August 8

Calendar

Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee

Quote from source

Colmán epscop aille, ó Inis Bó Finde.

Notes

Notes in F: Colmán .i. alathair, o Hi Coluim cille & o Inis bo finne for muir tiar i Conmaicne mara i n-iarthar Connacht. 'ie a pilgrim from Colum Cille's Hí and from Inis bó finde in the sea west in Connemara in the western part of Connaught.' Notes in LL 361b 'Colmani episcopi Insi bó finni .lxxx anno etatis eius quieuit'

Day of Year

Nov 13

Calendar

Martyrology of Gorman

Quote from source

Colman gloss: i Maigh Éo

Notes

This is not certainly a commemoration of the bishop of Lindisfarne. Note that MT is missing for this day.

Day of Year

Feb 15

Calendar

The Calendar of Fearn: text and additions, 1471-1667

Quote from source

Colmani episcopi

Notes

This may not be a commemoration of Colmán of Lindisfarne.

Day of Year

Feb 18

Calendar

Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis

Quote from source

Colmani epi et cfes ix lec

Notes

It is clear from the lessons, which are taken from Bede, that Colmán of Lindisfarne is meant here.

Day of Year

Feb 18

Calendar

Scottish Entries in the Martyrology of Aberdeen

Quote from source

In Scocia Sancti Colmanni episcopi et confessoris sepultus dyocesi Rossensi apud Terbert. Cuius vite sanctitas morum honestas et virtutum merita ad eius gesta veneranda fideli populo prebent incrementa.

Notes

Usually Mart. Ab. is in accord with Brev. Ab. so it is likely that Colmán of Lindisfarne is meant here. But see Colmán of Moray.

Day of Year

Feb 18

Calendar

Calendar of Adam King

Quote from source

S. Colmán success. to S. Finnane and cofess. in scotl. 689

Day of Year

Feb 18

Calendar

Calendar of Saints by Thomas Dempster

Quote from source

In Scocia Colmanni confess. K.

Notes

Dempster claims to be following Adam King here, so must mean Colmán of Lindisfarne.

Day of Year

Feb 18

Calendar

Calendar of Saints by David Chambers

Quote from source

Sanctus Colmannus Episcopus & Confessor

Notes

Note Chambers' other feast-day for Colmán, more explicitly commemorating the saint of Lindisfarne.

Day of Year

Feb 18

Calendar

Kalendarium de Arbuthnott

Quote from source

Sci colmani epi & conf.

Notes

It is not certain that the bishop of Lindisfarne is here meant. Likewise he appears without geographical coordinates in Glenorchy psalter (Colman b.), K. Dean Brown ('Colmaci' b. & conf), Fowlis Easter Brev.(Colman b. & conf.), Perth (Colman b.) and the Scottish Kalendar (Colman).

Day of Year

March 7

Calendar

Calendar of Saints by David Chambers

Quote from source

Sanctus Colmanus Episcopus Lindisfarnesium Apostolus Nordanimbrorum & Haebridum

Saint in place-names

Names