St. Columb's House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Columb's House |
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| St. Columcille's House | |
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Teach Naomh Cholumba
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 St. Columb's House
Location in Ireland
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| 53°43′42″N 6°52′51″W / 53.728253°N 6.880766°W | |
| Location | Church Lane, Kells, County Meath |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Cellach mac Congaile, Abbot of Iona |
| Dedication | Columba |
| Relics held | Columba (formerly) |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | |
| Official name | St. Columb's House |
| Reference no. | 108 |
| Style | Celtic monastic |
| Years built | likely 10th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 5.8 m (19 ft) |
| Width | 4.7 m (15 ft) |
| Height | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Number of floors | 3 |
| Floor area | 27.3 m2 (294 sq ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Meath |
St. Columb's House, also known as St. Columcille's House, is a very old and special building in Kells, County Meath, Ireland. It was once a small place for prayer, called an oratory. Today, it is a National Monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by the country.
Where is St. Columb's House?
St. Columb's House is located on Church Lane in Kells, County Meath. You can find it right next to the famous Abbey of Kells, which was once a very important monastery.
A Glimpse into History
Most experts believe that St. Columb's House was built around the 10th century, which is over 1,000 years ago! It is named after a famous Irish saint, Columba (also known as Colm Cille). People think that the house might have once held some of his important relics (special items connected to a saint).
The roof of the house was changed a bit later on. Monks used this building for their daily prayers, known as the Liturgy of the Hours. It might also have been a shrine (a holy place) or even a burial spot for an abbot (the head of a monastery). There was once a large flat stone inside, called "St. Columb's Bed," which might have been a grave marker.
Saint Columba's relics were brought to Kells in the year 878. Later, they were moved to Skryne Church and finally to Downpatrick.
What Does the Building Look Like?
St. Columb's House is a rectangular building with a very tall, pointed roof. Inside, there used to be a high floor about 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the ground, but this floor is no longer there.
The upper part of the building, called the loft, has three separate rooms.
Old writings, like the Annals of the Four Masters and a survey from the 1600s, mention a secret underground passage. This passage was said to connect St. Columb's House with the nearby church!
