To Find a Heathen Place and Sound a Bell LISTEN HERE
Through a mix of poetry and music, To Find a Heathen Place and Sound a Bell tells the story of these monks. Written by poet and novelist Kerrie Hardie, with Broadcaster Olivia O` Leary, and performed by musicians David Power and Ciaran Somers and readers Barry Mc Govern, Olivia O`Leary, Alan Counihan and Eamonn Hunt, this unique and poetic work resurrects the forgotten story of Columbanus, a saint of the early Celtic Church and arguably one of the most consequential figures in European history.
AD 591. Rome has fallen and Europe is in chaos. In Ireland, a handful of monks leave the austere rule of Congall of Bangor. One of them, Fiachra, walks south to found a monastery at Ullard. Others, led by Columbanus of Leinster, set sail, carrying the teachings of the Celtic Church into the very heart of Europe....
This is a history of three men now counted saints. They owned no wealth, ate little, let their spirits soar. It made strange beings of them—men who had somehow lost themselves and carried grace like light. To understand their story you will have to let yourself imagine the fierce times they lived in. The Legions had long gone from Britain and the wild tribes of the North seized lands that once were Roman-held, they squeezed the Pax Romana ever Eastwards. The Irish raided: burning, taking slaves—and in their turn their coasts were raided and their people taken. Some thought the Old Ways should be honoured and could still be their salvation, but others saw a new light in the teachings brought to Ireland by the slaves they took. It was a time of change-
This is a history of three men now counted saints. They owned no wealth, ate little, let their spirits soar. It made strange beings of them—men who had somehow lost themselves and carried grace like light. To understand their story you will have to let yourself imagine the fierce times they lived in. The Legions had long gone from Britain and the wild tribes of the North seized lands that once were Roman-held, they squeezed the Pax Romana ever Eastwards. The Irish raided: burning, taking slaves—and in their turn their coasts were raided and their people taken. Some thought the Old Ways should be honoured and could still be their salvation, but others saw a new light in the teachings brought to Ireland by the slaves they took. It was a time of change-
Next Performance-
May 7th Sat: Garter Lane, Waterford
Nov 1st Sun: Drama on One, RTE radio 1 @8pm LISTEN HERE
November 22nd Sun: Bangor Abbey at 3.30p.m. on Sunday November 22nd with Vincent Higgins as Columbanus as part of an interfaith festival to celebrate the 1400th anniversary of Columbanus death.
Premier - August 9th Sun: Parade Tower, Kilkenny Arts Festival
May 7th Sat: Garter Lane, Waterford
Nov 1st Sun: Drama on One, RTE radio 1 @8pm LISTEN HERE
November 22nd Sun: Bangor Abbey at 3.30p.m. on Sunday November 22nd with Vincent Higgins as Columbanus as part of an interfaith festival to celebrate the 1400th anniversary of Columbanus death.
Premier - August 9th Sun: Parade Tower, Kilkenny Arts Festival