Silver birch tree planted in honour of St Colmcille
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At the special tree planting ceremony at St Colmcille’s Senior NS were (from left) Ciaran Mangan, Meath Co Library; Dr Loreto Guinan, Heritage Office Meath Co Council; Deirdre Harte, Colmcille 1500 Co-ordinator, Donegal Co Council; Miriam Manning, chair Colmcille 1500 Kells; Cllr Sean Drew, Mary Corcoran, principal; Cllr Mike Bray, Rev William Seale, St Columba’s CoIlege and Mark Smith with students Amiee Lynch and Ryan Gillick Reilly.Image 2 of 4
Mark Smith of Kells Type Trail carries in the Silver Birch tree.Image 3 of 4
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Tree Planting at Kells School L to r Ciaran Mangan Meath Co Library, Dr Loreto Guinan Heritage Office Meath Coco, Deirdre Harte Colm Cille 1500 CoOrdinator Donegal and Derry Council, Miriam Manning Chair ColmCille 1500 Kells, Cllr Sean Drew Mary Corcoran Principle, Cllr Mike Bray, Rev William Seale St Columbas COI.and Mark Smith with Students at the Tree Amiee Lynch and Ryan Gillick ReillyNational Tree Day 2021 was marked on October 7th at St. Colmcille’s Senior NS in Kells by planting a native tree in honour of St Colmcille to celebrate 1500 years since his birth. A Silver Birch symbolising new beginnings and protection was presented by Miriam Manning, Colmcille 1500 Kells ‘to serve as protector to all who teach and study at St. Colmcille’s Senior National School’ this year and for many years to come.
St. Colmcille was a patron of the arts and writing. He is important most of all for the learning that he passed on to generations of scribes and scholars who followed him. His influence was lasting and the learning that he inspired and encouraged continued at Kells, an important monastic site for hundreds of years. Here, the monks, scribes, stonemasons and metalworkers carried on his work perfecting craftsmanship and skills handed down from teacher to pupil reaching its height in the magnificent High Crosses and the Book of Kells.
‘Colmcille is an intrinsic part of our identity in Kells and what better venue therefore than a place of learning, a school named in his honour, to create this memory of the 1500th birthday of one of our national patron saints, the man who inspired the wealth of heritage that is evident all around us as we live work and study in Kells’.
A warm welcome was extended to Deirdre Harte Colmcille 1500 Co –ordinator Donegal County Council who travelled to Kells especially for the occasion. Supported by Meath County Council Heritage Office, a commemorative tree has been presented to local primary and post primary schools in Kells by the committee as part of the Colmcille 1500 national celebrations which will continue until December 7th.
Colmcille 1500 will also feature in Meath County Library’s programme during the Children’s Book Festival October Family Weekend on 23rd/24th October. Michael Moylan who has been running ‘Irish history live’ sessions in schools all over the country since in 1999 combines historical fact with plenty of jokes to make for a hugely entertaining family experience. This is a recorded event based on the 1500 anniversary of Colmcille suitable for ages 10 to 12 or 4th to 6th classes.
Meath County Council have assisted in the distribution and promotion of the Colmcille’s Life and Legacy Education Pack for Primary Schools produced by Donegal County Council Archives Services, as part of Colmcille 1500 Commemorations. The pack contains a booklet which tells the history and legacy of St. Colmcille in a fun and accessible way for children. The workbook is packed full of quizzes, mindful colouring and other fun activities for classroom work.
Meath County Council Library Services also supported the supply and distribution of ‘Exploring Colmcille – also known as Columba’ by Mairead Ashe Fitzgerald to all school libraries in county Meath earlier this year.
Colmcille 1500 Kells committee are currently working with Deirdre Harte Colmcille 1500 Co-ordinator to organise a finale in December as a fitting closure to this important year.