06/05/2024

Today’s ramble is to the beautiful Colmcille Lake (Lough Colmcille) in Cashelard, Donegal. As you’ll know if you’ve accompanied me on other rambles, Colm Cille ( or Columba) is one of the three patron saints of Ireland, born in Donegal in 521. Out of the three saints (Patrick and Brigid are the other two), Colm is probably the most ‘historical’ person, - but there is no shortage of folklore about him either. But you can hardly walk a mile in Donegal without coming to something- a well, or a stone, or a tree or a church that doesn’t have an association- mythical or historical- with Colm Cille.
Today, we have Colm Cille’s lake. And the story is that there was once a castle where the lake is, and in it lived a chieftan who had a big feast, but denied entry to the poor folk of his community. Colm Cille and some of his followers arrived to the feast, and saw that there were many hungry people outside. Colm Cille asked that the chieftan admit these people, but the chieftan refused. Silly boy. You don’t mess with CC. Colm Cille create a river which rises up to form a deep pool, and the chieftan’s castle is drowned - still lurking at the bottom of this beautiful lake.
These photos were taken last evening, there was an interesting sky, and I can’t help indulging in pictures of the gorse- it’s so super yellow right now- and the wild violets are out. Enjoy the ramble!
#donegal #colmcille #studyabroadireland