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Cathach of Columba

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description Cathach of Columba Overview

The Cathach of Columba is an early Irish psalter containing a surviving portion of the Latin text of the Psalms, traditionally said to have been copied by Saint Columba. Usually dated to the late 6th or early 7th century, it is among the oldest surviving manuscripts from Ireland and an important example of early Insular majuscule writing. Its name, meaning "battler," reflects its later use as a protective relic carried by the O'Donnell dynasty.

help Cathach of Columba FAQ

Is the Cathach really a manuscript written by Saint Columba?

Irish tradition attributes the psalter to Columba, but the surviving manuscript does not contain a contemporary signature proving his authorship. Paleographers generally date it to around the late sixth or early seventh century, which makes the tradition possible but not demonstrable.

Why is the Cathach associated with a battle?

A later legend says Columba secretly copied a psalter belonging to Saint Finnian and that a dispute over the copy contributed to the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne. The famous judgment about every copy belonging to its book comes from tradition rather than a contemporary record of the manuscript's creation.

What part of the Bible survives in the Cathach?

The Cathach preserves part of the Latin Book of Psalms rather than a complete Bible. Its surviving text begins within Psalm 30 and continues into Psalm 105, with losses at both ends.

Where are the Cathach manuscript and its shrine kept?

The manuscript is held by the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Its medieval book shrine, or cumdach, is a separate object associated with the National Museum of Ireland.

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