December 7, 0521

St. Columcille was born on this day in Gartan, Co. Donegal. Columcille, who would also become known as Columba, Colum, Columbus and Columkill, was born to a royal family but given in fosterage to a priest at a young age. After studying under St. Finnian, he spent 15 years preaching and traveling through out Ireland. By 25, he had already founded about 27 monasteries, including Kells which would become famous for producing the Book of Kells. Columcille was also famous through out other celtic regions, including Scotland. He founded the monastery at Iona, a tiny Island off the coast of Scotland. Iona would become the center of Christianity for the Celtic world.