Children to take part in Columba pageant

The Community has joined forces with the Playhouse Theatre and the University of Ulster (UU) choir to bring the colourful pageant based on the life of their patron St Columba to the outdoor stage.

Over 200 local schoolchildren will take part in the colorful pageant on Thursday June 9 from 4pm – 6pm.

The pageant, ‘Columba Then & Now’, depicts aspects of the life of the saint from his legendary battle with the Loch Ness monster to his journey in reconciliation and his missionary work in Iona. The pageant is the brainchild of the Director of the Columba Community, Fr Neal Carlin.

“For many years we have neglected to really pay tribute to a great patron and founder of this city, Columba,” said Fr Carlin.

“Columba was the first of the great pilgrim monks to leave Ireland and evangelise Britain and Europe during the golden age of Ireland (6th to 9th century)” he said.

“In him we have a common Christian heritage and as Roman Catholic, Celtic Irish, Presbyterian, Celtic Scottish or from the Anglican tradition we owe a great deal to the vibrant Christian monastic tradition which once earned us the title the Island of Saints and Scholars. Ideally the entire community of Derry/Londonderry/Doire Colmcille and of course Donegal can come together on June 9th to celebrate our great patron.”

All members of the public are invited to celebrate with the Columba Community and enjoy the pageant at Guildhall Square Thursday, June 9, 4pm.