PREFACE

When I visited Iona in 1917 I tried to obtain a modest handbook which should give a concise and comprehensive account of the island: its history and significance in the progress of our Western civilization; its antiquities of the Celtic and mediaeval periods; and, not least, its folk-lore, which gives life and colour to almost every nook and cranny in the little island. But although all this ground had been covered admirably, and with much detail— notably in Trenholme’s Story of Iona, to which, and to Macmillan and Brydall’s Iona: Its History and Antiquities, I am indebted for much information regarding the antiquities and topography of the island—a small handbook at a popular price was lacking. I have tried here to compile the book I vainly sought, and trust it will meet the need which many others have felt.

F. M. McNeill.
April, 1920.

CONTENTS

Chapter I. Introductory
Chapter II. Scotland before Columba
Chapter III. Columba in Ireland
Chapter IV. Iona
Chapter V. The Celtic Church
Chapter VI. Later History
Chapter VII. The Antiquities
Chapter VIII. Topography
Chapter IX. Conclusion

Appendix

Appendix I. The Neighbouring Isles and Staffa
Appendix II. Chronological Table
Appendix III. Bibliography
Appendix IV. Some Useful Addresses

Iona and the Ionians
Manners, Customs and Traditions, with a few remarks on Mull, Staffa, and Tyree By W. Maxwell (1857) (pdf)

Iona
By the Rev. W. Lindsay Alexander (pdf)

Iona Cathedral and Historic Slavery
By The Iona Cathedral Trustees (2021) (pdf)
Please note that the history of Iona Abbey has been re written due to the fact that the 7th Duke of Argyle married twice into slavery derived wealth and the 8th Duke of Argyle who inherited this wealth owned Iona Abbey for 50 years conducting building works. Today’s Abbey now has a legacy that involved the proceeds of slavery and the Iona Cathedral Trustees Board have accordingly re-written the account of Iona Abbey.