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Ui Nialls claimed to trace their descent back to Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the
Nine Hostages) and were undoubtedly at that time the most powerful clan in
Ulster. Colum Cille himself was entitled for consideration as a candidate for
the Ard Righ (the High King of Eire). In choosing to follow a religious and
monastic path, it seems likely that Columba gave up this right. However it is
clear that even as a priest of the new Church, he was involved in many of the
most important political events of the era in both the North of Ireland and the
west of Scotland.
In 574 Columba inaugurated the new king of Dalriada, Aedan mac Gabrain, the
first ceremony of its kind, and prophesised that as long as Aedan's descendants
gave Columba his rightful place, they would continue as kings of Dalriada. This
arbitration and negotiation by priests with kings and noble families was
certainly nothing new. The Druidh of the old religion were the advisors to
kings, and held great political influence. In the Irish Celtic tradition both
kings and Druidh priests were seen to hold their position by the grace of divine
Providence, so long as they fulfilled their obligations with honour. Columba was
simply following a centuries old tradition.
There are many other signs that the early Celtic church maintained ties with
older traditions. In the monastic communities themselves we can see broadly the
same social structures of family and clan as those to be found in sixth century
Ireland and Scotland as a whole. The early Saints were the 'founding fathers' of
these religious communities, each of them being independent, self sufficient
units. The abbot would fulfil the role of the Celtic chieftain, guiding his
people. Another important role which the monasteries 'usurped' from the old
Druidh caste was that of teaching. The monasteries were not simply centres of
religion, but also, in time, became great centres of scholarship and learning.
In early Celtic society land was granted to certain families by the king, in
return for their loyalty and their services. This is exactly how Columba gained
Iona, so that: "the monks were not an invading spiritual sect owing allegiance
to far-off Rome, but were rather an element in the web of loyalties which held
society together." (Finlay, p.45).
Columba in his journeys to the Continent had come into contact with this new
Roman religion which had spread throughout Europe. As a trained priest with
knowledge of the older traditions of his country, he surely must have seen no
religious conflict in the idea of a new Sun King emerging and dying for the
greater benefit of Mankind; after all, this was the continuity of pagan beliefs.
However, it is well documented that Columba had no ambition of destroying the
pagan beliefs of his people, but only preached the acceptance of this new God
King into the greater Celtic cosmology.
Copyright: 1992 Sammy McSkimming
Dalriada Celtic Heritage Trust, Isle of Arran