New movie to be made on Saint Columba

A movie that details the life of the Irish saint who brought christianity to Scotland is to be released next year with Oscar winner, Jeremy Irons heading the cast. 

The film on the life of St Columba by Shadowlands director Norman Stone will be shot either in Northern Ireland or the west of Scotland.  

Producers are disappointed however, that Liam Neeson will be unable to take part in the drama as he is still grieving from his wife’s death. 

Bafta-winner Stone, whose films include Florence Nightingale and CS Lewis - Beyond Narnia, said, "Jeremy is perfect for the role.  He is fascinated by Saint Columba, especially given his Irish ancestry and connections.” 

“He just can't wait to get started.  This will be a warts and-all portrayal.  I see Saint Columba as a man of incredible faith, integrity and strength - but at times flawed.  He struggled with hunger for power.  He was cunning, brave and an independent spirit which sometimes he found difficult to fit into his holy orders.”  But he was a gifted man who changed the religious and social map of Scotland and Britain.”

 Stone continued, “He was not a saintly saint and this film will be more of a character study and a political thriller than a Christian epic.  Columba will not wear a halo.  It needs big-screen treatment and in Jeremy we have the right person to deliver the performance we are looking for.” 

The movie, The End Time, will be shot in either the spring or autumn of next year, with screening six months later. 

Saint Columba arrived in Scotland from County Donegal and established a monastery on the island of Iona in 563AD.  He began converting the pagan Scots to Christianity and built several churches across the Outer Hebrides before his death at the age of 75. 

One of the few, if not the only, times he left Scotland after his arrival was toward the end of his life, when he returned to Ireland to found the monastery at Durrow. 

Columba died on Iona and was buried by his monks in the abbey he created.  He was later disinterred and is reputed to be buried in Downpatrick, County Down, with St. Patrick and St. Brigid or at Saul Church.

by Sean Ryan