The Chapel of St Adamnan

This is the ruinous 15th century chapel of St Fidamnan, usually known as St Adamnan. The chapel sits sadly neglected in a small grove of trees in the corner of a field deep in the Buchan countryside. 

St. Adamnan, perhaps best known for his Vita Columbae, the biography of St Columba, was born at Drumhome, County Donegal, Ireland, around the year 624. He was initially educated by Columban monks in Drumhole, but in 650 he became a novice at the Abbey of Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. He rose through the monastic ranks and in 679 he became Abbot of Iona, a position he held up to his death in 704. 

St Adamnan visited the East Coast of Scotland on at least one occasion, landing at what is now the village of Collieston. A Kirk dedicated to St Adamnan was founded in the 8th century on the moors at Forvie just to the south of Collieston. Hundreds of years later the kirk, and the surrounding village of Forvie, were completely buried and destroyed by a great sand storm that that started on August 18th 1413, and which lasted for 9 days. This date coincides with a major eruption of Hecla, the Icelandic volcano.


The "extra" is a small (3 cm diameter) jellyfish medusa that I found on the beach this morning. I'm not at all sure which species it is; all suggestions will be gratefully received.