| − | The Isle of Iona (from the Gaelic Eoiá Egh-eech-ngaaah, which means Place of the Bottle of the Fast Buck) is the major member of the New Caledonian group located off the east coast of Scotland. A centre of pagan learning in pre-Christian times, an abbey was founded on Iona by Saint [[Columbo]] in 643. The [[Celtic Church]] that grew up around the abbey of Iona was to dominate European learning until the renaissance, when Catholicism reasserted itself. | + | The Isle of '''Iona''' is a member of the [[Inner Hebrides]] group located off the West coast of [[Scotland]]. The great missionary St. Columba founded an abbey there in AD 563, which became the base for extensive missionary activity throughout western Europe.<ref>''How the Irish Saved Civilization''</ref> Monks in Iona Abbey also preserved many ancient texts.<ref>http://www.allsaintsbrookline.org/celtic_saints/columba.html</ref> St. Columba is buried there, together with many Scottish kings, including Macbeth.<ref>http://www.ionaabbey.com/</ref> It is currently a popular tourist destination. |