Donegal parishioners travel to Iona in Scotland in the footsteps of St Colmcille

Parishioners Donegal travelled to the Island of Iona in Scotland, in the Jubilee Year of Hope, reflecting on faith and heritage in the footsteps of St Colmcille.

To mark the Jubilee Year of Hope and to honour the legacy of St Colmcille, parishioners from Glendowan, Termon and Kilmacrennan set out on a pilgrimage to Iona, a place deeply entwined with the life and mission of the Donegal-born saint.

Led by Very Rev Michael McKeever, PP, Parishes: Gartan, Termon & Kilmacrennan, Rev Martin Chambers, Parishes: Gartan, Termon & Kilmacrennan, Mgr Kevin Gillespie, Adm, VF, Parishes: Letterkenny (Conwal & Leck) and Very Rev Gerard Cunningham, PP, VF Parishes: Glenties (Iniskeel), the group journeyed from Donegal to the sacred island where Colmcille, born near Lough Gartan in 521, spent much of his life in service, prayer and mission after leaving Ireland in 563 AD.

The pilgrimage formed a powerful connection between the place of Colmcille’s birth in Gartan and the island where he spent much of his life in prayer, service, and leadership.

On Iona, the group walked the ancient paths Colmcille once knew, prayed in the shadow of the restored abbey he founded, and took time for reflection in the stillness of the island. They celebrated Mass together, shared stories, and found profound meaning in the quiet beauty of a landscape that has drawn pilgrims for centuries.

Each step on the island was a reminder of the saint’s journey, his departure from Ireland in 563 AD, his arrival on Iona with 12 companions, and his commitment to a life of mission and peace. In quiet moments, many found a deep sense of peace.

“There was a calmness on Iona that you can’t describe, it stays with you. The peace of Iona is unlike anywhere else,” said one pilgrim. You feel rooted in something greater, reminded of the strength that faith can give.”

This pilgrimage is part of a broader call during the Jubilee Year, a time for people of faith to step away from daily life and seek deeper meaning.

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It is a year of healing and hope, in which the act of pilgrimage itself becomes a sacred symbol of movement toward God, of journeying together as a community, and of returning home renewed.

St Colmcille left a powerful legacy of leadership, faith and learning that still resonates today. His mission from Iona brought light to Scotland and peace among tribes, and his monastery became a centre of spiritual and intellectual life for generations. For the Donegal pilgrims, the journey to Iona captured that spirit, a step away from daily life to rediscover peace, meaning and community.