The Battle of Cul Dreimhne/ The Battle of the Books
3. The Battle
Colmcille decided to use force to settle the conflict in the year 561 and enlisted the support of the O’Neills, a formidable clan. Despite his monastic status, he led a force of 2,300 soldiers and showed no fear of combat. Colmcille spent the night in prayer, while Diarmait prepared with a Druid ritual on the eve of the fighting at the foot of Benbulben mountain in Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo. By the end of the Battle, Columcille emerged victorious, leaving 3,000 men dead. He had secured what he could not obtain legally through force. He held onto his copy.The violence shocked Church leaders, who held Colmcille accountable. He was exiled from Ireland by a synod of abbots and bishops, but the stubborn monk refused to accept his punishment. He went to the remote island of Inishmurray off the coast of Grange, Co. Sligo to confer with Saint Molaise, his Confessor, who had established an abbey there. The verdict was confirmed by Molaise, who stated that Colmcille should make reparations by converting the same number of people to Christianity as he had murdered. Colmcille took a small boat made of hides and wicker and he and his twelve disciples set out from his beloved Ireland.
Colmcille’s troublesome book copy remained in Ireland, in the hands of his allies, the O’Donnell clan. In keeping with its origins, it was known as the Cathach, or Battler, and for centuries, clan chieftains carried it around the field three times on the eve of battle as a talisman for victory.
Battle of the books written by Ealíann Kerrigan Student of Religious Education and History DCU