A South Ayrshire Parish; Being Articles on the History of the Parish of Dailly (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1908. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter ii. in the days of the early saints. st. queranus or kieran. Till the 6th century after Christ, Scotland lay in heathen darkness and idolatry. But at that period light began to dawn. Columba, along with a devoted band of missionaries, sailed from Ireland and landed on the Island of Iona, called also after Columba, Icolmkill, but at that time named Hy. There he founded a monastery, which soon became a centre of light in the midst of the gloom. This was in the year A.d. 563. Columba, we are told, had several "masters," who instructed him in the faith in early life. One of them was Kieran or Queranus, who has a special claim upon our interest. The ancient name of our parish, Dalmakerran, and still more clearly the name Kilkerran, indicate the presence and labours of the Saint among our savage progenitors. And this opinion is confirmed by the fact that there are undoubted traces of him, as we shall see, on the Cantyre peninsula, which is within sight of our Parish, and nothing would be more natural than for a man with the missionary spirit burning within him to hear and obey the cry of Macedonia wafted across the channel from our shores--"Come over and help us." We ought, therefore, to know as much as we can ascertain about one whom we might almost call, though his parish was far wider, "the first minister of the Parish of Dailly." He seems to have been a great man in his day. Both throughout his native Ireland and Scotland his name was well-known and revered. Columba himself held him in high esteem, and is said to have written a poem in Latin praising him. A few lines have survived, of which the following may be taken as a trans...