European economic depression, but also reflected the
substantial outflow of silver from Ireland in the thir-
teenth century. In the absence of new coinage, old,
foreign, debased, and forged coins circulated widely.
Minting was revived under Edward IV (1461–1483)
when the first attempt was made—at the insistence
of the Anglo-Irish parliament—to develop a distinc-
tive Irish coinage to a lower standard (i.e., containing
less silver), which was less likely to flow out of the
country. The first base-metal coinage—farthings and
half-farthings of copper and copper alloys—was also
introduced. Minting extended to towns such as
Drogheda and Trim and continued until circa1500,
after which Ireland’s coinage tended to be minted in
England. The first use of the characteristic harp on
Irish coinage was under Henry VIII in 1534, and the
first Irish shillings were minted under Edward VI
(1547–1553). Henry VIII (1509–1547), perennially
short of money for his campaigns, also began a seri-
ous debasement of the Irish coinage toward the end
of his reign. It is estimated that in 1535 Irish pennies
typically contained over 90 percent silver, while by
1560 this had fallen as low as 25 percent.
ANDY HALPIN
References and Further Reading
Doherty, C. “Exchange and Trade in Early Medieval Ireland.”
Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 110
(1980): 67–89.
Dolley, M. The Hiberno-Norse Coins in the British Museum.
London: British Museum, 1966.
Gerreits, M. “Money Among the Irish: Coin Hoards in Viking
Age Ireland.” Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of
Ireland115 (1985): 121–139.
Kenny, M. “The Geographical Distribution of Irish Viking-Age
Coin Hoards.” Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy87C
(1987): 507–525.
O’Sullivan, W. “The Earliest Irish Coinage.” Journal of the
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 79 (1949): 190–235.
O’Sullivan, W. The Earliest Anglo-Irish Coinage. Dublin:
National Museum of Ireland, 1964.
Seaby, P., ed. Coins and Tokens of Ireland. London: B. A. Seaby,
1970.
See alsoHoards; Sitriuc Silkenbeard; Trade
COLUM CILLE
Colum Cille (and other variations), the name by which
he became known throughout Ireland and Gaelic Scot-
land, was revered as one of the three patron saints of
medieval Ireland, along with Patrick and Brigit. He is
also known by the Latin name, Columba. Almost every
aspect of Colum Cille’s life became heavily mytholo-
gized, but around 700 his hagiographical Life was
written in Latin by Adomnán, which, together with
other sources, can be used to reconstruct some of the
details of the saint’s actual life. The annals assign
various dates to the main events of his life, suggesting
that he was born around 520 (or 523) and left Ireland—
ultimately to found the monastery of Iona—in 562 (or
shortly afterward). His obituary is dated to 597 by the
Annals of Ulster, which has been widely accepted,
although Dr. Daniel McCarthy has argued that the
chronology of the Annals of Tigernach, which would
place his death at 593, may be more accurate. Legends
say his birth occurred on December 7, the day St. Buite
of Monasterboice died, and that this fell on a Thursday.
There were strong traditions, especially in Scotland,
associating the saint with Thursday.
Colum Cille belonged to the Cenél Conaill, part of
the northern Uí Néill. Legends claimed that he could
have become high king. He certainly was extremely
influential in the highest aristocratic and royal circles
of his time, both in Ireland and northern Britain. Tra-
dition points to a number of sites in the Gartan area
of Donegal, said to be the locations of his birth and
other events in his early life. Eithne, his mother, among
other possibilities is claimed to have belonged to the
Corbraige of Fanad, north of Gartan. She too was
venerated as a saint. Her alleged grave is pointed out
on Eileach an Naoimh, in the Garvellachs, in the Inner
Hebrides. Colum Cille’s father, Fedelmid, was said to
be a great-grandson of Niall Noígiallach. The saint had
a brother, Iogen, and three sisters: Cuimne, Sinech,
and Mincoleth, who was mother of the sons of Enan
(after whom Kilmacrennan, Co. Donegal, is named).
Several other members of his family became monks
and priests, and some were also commemorated as
minor saints. Legends claim that his original name was
Crimthann, meaning something like “fox” or “deceit-
ful one.” It is not certain that the name Colum Cille
was ever used when he was alive, although it occurs
in very early texts about him. Almost certainly his
“Christian” name was the Latin Columba(Dove). The
Irish “Colum Cille” (Dove of the Church) may itself
be part of the growth of his cult.
While he was still a deacon, Colum Cille spent time
in Leinster studying with an “old master,” Gemmán.
He is also said to have studied sacred scripture with a
bishop Uinniau, identified by Pádraig Ó Riain as St.
Finbarr of Movilla, County Down. Although there are
many legends that purport to tell us about Colum
Cille’s life as a young cleric, it is only with his depar-
ture for Iona in 562 (at about forty-one years of age)
that we have any reliable information about him. He
is credited with founding Derry (his first and thus most
beloved church) as early as 546, but it is clear that this
date is too early, and the name of an alternative founder
is recorded elsewhere. He is said to have founded
many other monasteries in Ireland (such as Moone,COINAGE