A son of Crinthainn and a disciple of St. Finnian of Clonard. When the latter was in extremis , from the plague, Columba administered Holy Viaticum. Having completed his studies, he took charge of Caemban, Fintan, and Mocumin, who are numbered among the saints. He founded the celebrated monastery of Tirdaglas, or Terryglass, 548. It is said that he visited Tours and brought thence relics of St. Martin. He died of the plague, 13 December, 552, and was buried within the precincts of his own monastery at Terryglass. Some fifteen other saints of Ireland, bearing the name Columba, are mentioned in the Martyrology of Gorman.

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