Talk:Iona

Somerled
No mention he is buried here? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.168.124.248 (talk) 12:06, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

St. Columbas Bay
Someone should include a bit about St. Colombas Bay (spelling, sorry, dislexic or something) and the legend of St. Columbas tears.

Monastery Of Sound
Can anyone confirm this event? Finavon 19:07, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Centre of Learning
I've heard Iona was a "centre of learning", I've head that learning and religion were highly corelated in antiquity. Can anyone add to the article regarding general learning and instruction, impact on the professional communities. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.168.116.148 (talk) 13:46, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Map?
This article could really use a map to show exactly where Iona is Thefuguestate 11:34, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

Columba Choose to leave?
Columba was exiled from Ireland as a result of the Battle of Cul Dreimhne, in order to save soul equal to the number that were killed in the battle - thought to be around 3000. Velkyal 10:03, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Name of island
Dear Deacon - you have removed "Possibly Norse for 'island of the den of the brown bear' ", which is a statement made by Haswell-Smith. He has been caught out recently claiming that 'Uist' is derived form the Old Norse for 'west'. which Talk:Old Norse are not happy with. Here is what he says: "In very early times called I [ee], IO, HIA, or IOUA - possibly from the Norse Hioe [ee-e] meaning island of the den of the brown bear. Later named ICOLMKILL (G. I Chaluim cille - island of Calum's monastery.... IOUA became corrupted to IONA in the 18th century through a typo... ." Any further information gratefully received. Ben MacDui (Talk) 07:54, 4 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Sorry, missed this, am unable to devote time to wiki atm. However, I will answer you're query. The name for Iona was simply Í (pronounced EE). Don't know what your Latin is like, but if you know any you'll know how hard it is to decline Í in that language. Well, that's exactly what medieval writers had to do. It gave Bede problems, however Adomnan came up with Ioua as the solution. Us in the writing of the period are almost identical to Ns (this is how St Uinniau became St Niniau/Ninian in Latin texts), hence Iona and hence why we know that the name Iona cannot possibly be Norse. The modern English name is fairly neologistic ... just taken from the Latin (the medieval Scottish English was the same as the Gaelic). Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 02:59, 15 July 2007 (UTC)
 * BTW, don't ask me where Í comes from, I dunno; but we'd have to have Norse expansion before the days of Columba for it to be of Norse origin. ;) As for Haswell-Smith, to speak generously, the topic is clearly not one he chose to research properly. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 03:06, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Translation
I don't know much Gaelic but as far as I'm aware "Chaluim cille" would mean Calum's Church not Calum's Island (which would probably be Eilean Chaluim?). Can somebody who knows the Gaelic fix this? Scroggie (talk) 20:13, 27 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Doesn't need fixing, the name is Ì Chaluim Cille, Ì being a now obsolete word for an island :) Akerbeltz (talk) 22:37, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Ah, I see. Thanks Scroggie (talk) 11:09, 28 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't think Ì was ever a word for an island. Though it was the word for Iona before Columba's name was appended to it, its etymology is obscure. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 15:23, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * It's listed in all major dictionaries as a common noun for "island". Granted, terms for islands are messy in Goidelic, with ì, inis and eilean at the very least overlapping but then, there are a lot of islands about. Dineen also lists í for island and says "an island, esp in place names, Iona Í Colaim Cille, id.; in compounds -í, -aí; Danish ey." It may just be the most rarely used word for island in Goidelic. Akerbeltz (talk) 16:24, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * This is based on reading an incorrect etymology from Ì Chaluim Chille (doubtlessly influenced as you said by Norse). Ì is just the original word for Iona, not for island. And remember this name pre-dates Norse influence by centuries (as attested by dozens of references). Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 16:54, 3 July 2009 (UTC)

Yes, but irrespective of whether ì as "island" pre or post-dates Ì Chaluim Chille, the translation of ì as a common noun meaning "island" is legitimate. Akerbeltz (talk) 17:15, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * It's not as you said however (which is what I was addressing) an obsolete word for an island. The new point, that it is a translation, would depend on whether the element is used elsewhere. But even then it'd be like "translating" Kinghorn from "Scots" as "horn of the king". Incidentally, now that you mention it, the infobox does give the impression that the "meaning" is the same as the etymology. This should probably be adjusted, perhaps noting Watson's argument that it is related to Gaulish Ivavo (Yew place) and Ivavos (a Gaulish deity). Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 17:24, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * The word at some point was used as a term for "island" irrespective of its derivation and the timing thereof. It is now no longer productive as a word, so it qualifies as an obsolete word. I take your point that the path may have been 1) Norse ey 2) Goidelic ì "island" 3) Ì Chaluim Chille "St Columba's Isle" 4) death of ì as a common noun or 3) 2) 4) or indeed a Celtic derivation of stage 1). Nonetheless, at some stage the word was considered a common noun in the dictionaries. It no longer is the case. So the path is irrelevant when judging the "current status" of the word. Akerbeltz (talk) 18:52, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I was not a common noun for island in Old Irish. Its assumed meaning, "island", is derived solely as far as I can see from a false folk assumption about etymology of Ì Chaluim Chille. If it ever was a common noun, presumably Norse was to blame, but I'd like to see evidence that it was. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 18:55, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I *never* said it was a common noun in Old Irish. I just pointed out that somwhere along the line, it was perceived as a common noun. Whether that was by folk etymology or not. Akerbeltz (talk) 19:01, 3 July 2009 (UTC)
 * It is perceived as a common noun now. Native Gaelic speakers will tell you that (but this is psychological, it being an island and being described by Chaluim Chille). Whether it ever was in practice is another question ... a question that would be answered with other place-names (I Bhrighde or the like). For this article, we need reliable sources which trace this development. I know myself that one of the Anglo-Norman writers (can't remember which one) uses something like Icolmkil for the island, but pre-Norse writers never call it that. So it plainly happened during the Norse period. We can both agree that the Norse were responsible for this in some way, but a reliable secondary source saying this is what we need. Do you agree at least that it is a best misleading to front "island of St Columba" as an "meaning"/etymology? Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 19:14, 3 July 2009 (UTC)

One of us isn't getting something here (it may well be me). Can someone else help out? I fail to see how the translation is misleading... Akerbeltz (talk) 19:20, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * "Do you agree at least that it is a best misleading to front "island of St Columba" as an "meaning"/etymology?" is two questions. I have no reason to dispute the translation (or modern meaning). On the other hand the etymology may well be much more complex than this. The modern "meaning" of Cairngorms is one thing, the origination of the name another. Iain Mac an Tàilleir suggests a variety of possibilities including the intriguing translation of "Columba's Iona". An etymology section beckons.  Ben   Mac  Dui  20:16, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Well, I'm not sure its two separate questions here. At any rate, from the reference you provided I Chaluim Chille definitely doesn't mean "island of St Columba" it means "Iona of St Columba". Otherwise Idheach would just mean "islander". So I, I Chaluim Chille and Iona have two different etymologies, the second two of which derive from the first. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 21:41, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Sorry but that's linguistic nonsense. Not every word has the full range of derivations in any language. And you still cannot deny the fact that Gaelic dictionaries list ì as a common noun, however right or wrong the derivation. A "parting shot" is an unetymological formation too yet the phrase exists. Akerbeltz (talk) 22:41, 3 July 2009 (UTC)


 * It should be relatively straight forward for you to prove it is a common noun if it is; it's clearly not, and Watson trumps dictionaries as an rs on etymology. At any rate, I is verifiably "Iona", not "island". Dunno what else to say. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 00:12, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

I will concede any day that Watson trumps on etymology, though he's a bit out-dated on some points. But he is not the ultimate source on common usage. Let me put it this way. The etymology of the burger part in cheeseburger refers to the inhabitant of a city as its ultimately derived from the city of Hamburg. But in English usage, a burger has no connotations of citizens, it is food stuck in a bun. A marigold is a flower but in common British English usage its also a pair of plastic kitchen gloves. The etymology of Ì may be island, it may be a proper noun, it may refer to a sheep disease. I don't know. I don't claim to know. But it cannot be denied that the word picked up a different common use that may or may not have *any*thing to do with its original etymology. Words can change meaning and usage after all... Akerbeltz (talk) 01:02, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I' appears as far as I can't tell to only ever had one meaning in Gaelic: Iona, the "island" meaning to the extent it ever existed in dictionaries or beyond derives purely from bad etymologising [to make clear, bad etymologising that didn't as far as I can tell produce a new common word ... but you are welcome to cite evidence!]. PS, I'm very well aware that kind of thing, and it is very rare for examples like our one. And, in this case "burger" cleary does mean "meat in a bun" despite its etymology. I doesn't clearly mean island; it does clearly mean Iona though. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 01:57, 4 July 2009 (UTC)
 * PS, I've asked An Siarach to comment on Ì's usability in modern Gaelic as a "common noun". Cheers, Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 02:06, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * LOL you remember I referred to it as a "now obsolete noun"? Akerbeltz (talk) 10:46, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * "LoL"? Well you don't have any argument then. We can agree that I Chaluim Chille doesn't mean "island of Columba" now, and didn't originally. It's a fascinating theory that I may have meant island at some intermediate point, but the evidence for this seems to be one place-name (I Chaluim Chille) and it is in any case not relevant. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 14:20, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * A word can extend its meaning and then die out again.
 * Dwelly (1901) has ì s.f. ind Island.
 * Armstrong (1825) has (accents unmarked) i s. An island. ...I Cholum chille, Iona, or St. Columba's Isle, in the Hebrides was called I by way of eminence... He also cites various poems where the translation of I varies between Iona and island.
 * Dewar (1845) has ì s.f. ind Island.
 * Diccionarium Scoto-Celticum has ì s.f. ind. An island:insula. "Chual iadsan guth an athar, 's an ì" They heard their father's voice in the island".... He also lists it as a spelling variant of ighe. The source of his example is given as SD 139, Sean Dàna, Smith's Collection of Antient Gaelic Poems.
 * I could probably find more but I'm a tad busy right now. Akerbeltz (talk) 14:51, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I dunno, that's not very convincing, but it is reliable sources. As you yourself asserted, it doesn't mean that now, so "island of St Columba" isn't the meaning nor the etymology. Nonetheless, it could be added I suppose in an etymology section. Cheers, Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 15:00, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

Err... usually when a word becomes obsolete its meaning gets stuck on whatever its last meaning was. If that happens to be "island" in this case, then that's what it got stuck on; it doesn't somehow revert to older meanings. I'd rather check a Gaelic corpus database myself rather than crawling through old dictionaries but sadly we don't have one (yet). Akerbeltz (talk) 15:31, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Err.. like "yew place"? I think this conversation is resolved now, and there's little further value ... esp. if we're can't stop ourselves talking like teenagers on AIM. Cheers, Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 15:39, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

I have now added the etymology section, which may or may not encourage more debate. The lead, never very good, is now rendered absurd, but that's for another day. Ben  Mac  Dui  17:33, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Nice, tweaked a few things. Akerbeltz (talk) 17:46, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks. It needs the Watson stuff added, and as few more tweaks. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 18:05, 4 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Added some of the Watson stuff. References need cleaned. Also, I think we can distinguish between useful and non-useful secondary source. Clearly Iona never had bears; it's simply not large or biologically diverse enough to support one bear, let alone the number of bears needed for a self-sustaining population, and its land was fully exploited by humans throughout the medieval period. Also the island of Druids piece is simply made up speculation by modern romantics. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 18:27, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I am not a bear scientist, but whilst you are right about the islands size, bears are excellent swimmers and I can't think of any reason why they could not have visited from time to time. Nonetheless, an issue to be addressed more fully is the actual Norse name. Anther edit conflict and I see you have already replied to my comment re History below. Ben   Mac  Dui  20:46, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I dunno, I'm not really given to boosting the reproductive ability of nonsense like that to spread across the internet like a virus. Our civilization clearly has too many resources if stuff like that makes it into print. I think other improvements in the article are needed first.:) The druids thing and brown bear thing are clearly just well-intentioned but amateur printed day-dreaming. :) We don't need to include every source we find, just use editorial judgment about what sources should be given more or less weight. :) Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 21:00, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

Etymology
I have added back the intro as I can't see an explanation for its removal. Ditto the comment about Brythonic as I can't understand the explanation for its removal! (There may well be a good one).

I can't understand "The earliest form of the name indicated to place-name scholar William J. Watson it originally meant something like "yew-place"". Does this mean something like "The earliest form of the name according to place-name scholar William J. Watson suggests it originally meant something like "yew-place""?

I see what you are attempting to do with the table but it looks pretty awful on my browser at present. If you don't like folk etymology I can make it a separate sub-section, but I like the story. Ben  Mac  Dui  20:06, 4 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I can't see through your browser, maybe you'd want to clean it up for that. It works fine in mine. Or else, can you think of a better way of organising it? Re folk etymology, it reminds me too much of the "trivia" sections that used to be so common on wiki. I suppose there might be room for if it is treated separately from real etymology. Presentation is probably key. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 20:17, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

"The earliest forms of the name enabled place-name scholar William J. Watson...". Fair enough - but which of these many names are the earliest and mean, or are cognate with "yew"? Ben  Mac  Dui  19:27, 5 July 2009 (UTC)


 * The list is very incomplete. Adomnan's is the earliest there (though I don't think it's the earliest). Ivo- means yew I think, but Watson thought Iona came from Ivova meaning "yew-place". Ak will be able to elaborate on the rules that underly the changing phonology, like disappearance of unstressed syllables and grammatical endings ... Watson's piece is very thorough though on the point. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 00:32, 6 July 2009 (UTC)


 * On the move so not got any sources with me. The H+Vowel variations are all relatively easy to derive from each other as Goidelic often re-interprets initial fricatives by assuming lenition and reversing it or by dropping the offending fricative. So if H+Vowel was a loan, we'd *expect* just the Vowel or t+Vowel, possibly s+Vowel. So it is highly likely that all the Hii/Hy/Eo/Eu/Ì are reflexes of the same underlying word. Ivo(va) is a little trickier, though not impossible. You mentiond Watson being thorough, what is it he's saying? I can think of various ways in which you could derive either from t' other but would be hard to prove. Akerbeltz (talk) 08:41, 6 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Regarding Norwegian hi "cave" - surely the giver language would have been Norse, not Norwegian? That aside, I think it is nigh impossible to argue that Norse > Latin is responsible for the loss of initial h- when Goidelic is equally disliking of initial fricatives (except s). What is the basis of this claim that hi > i is based on Norse to Latin? Akerbeltz (talk) 09:49, 1 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I was not aware that Goidelic is equally disliking of initial fricatives. It only makes "Hi-ey" more likely. St.Trond (talk) 16:04, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

Yes but Norwegian and Latin? Akerbeltz (talk) 21:33, 1 September 2009 (UTC)


 * The norse name would include híð and ey, in Norwegian it would be hi and øy: Hiøy. Don't ask me about Latin. Wish you luck. St.Trond (talk) 15:08, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

I was told that Iona meant little bird by my aunt she said it was a native american name — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.42.23.138 (talk) 21:22, 5 July 2011 (UTC)

History
One of the reasons I am interested in Murray and his druids is that his beginning words to the chapter include "long before Christ, Iona was a centre of worship by the Druids". The current history section on the article page repeats this idea: "Prior to the 6th century, Iona may already have been a sacred island in the pre-Christian traditions of the Iron Age inhabitants of the Hebrides. Though there is no actual physical evidence for this, it would explain why Columba settled on this particular island." I don't have anything to hand that provide a definitive view, and there may be no evidence for this idea at all. Either way, I think it is interesting that a 20th century writer (who possibly got much of his information from locals rather than libraries) should promote the idea. Ben  Mac  Dui  20:38, 4 July 2009 (UTC)

?
how to pronouce it? 77.45.34.114 (talk) 20:02, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

Etymology intro
Ye Deacon removed the following text: "The Hebrides have been occupied by the speakers of at least four languages since the Iron Age, and as a result many of the names of these islands have more than one possible meaning. Nonetheless few, if any, can have accumulated so many different names over the centuries as the island now known in English as "Iona"."

It is not clear to me which sentence is supposed to be misleading - perhaps both? Neither are cited, but neither seem to be to be especially problematic and I have restored the text with an amendment so that it reads the vague "several" rather than "at least four". The languages are potentially:
 * Proto-Celtic - although I am sure I can find a cite that says something to the effect that some island names may contain elements of a pre-Celtic language, but no certain knowledge of any pre-Pictish language exists anywhere in Scotland.
 * Pictish/Brythonic was spoken at some point in the past, although we know the status of Pictish is moot.
 * I think we can agree that Gaelic, Old Norse and English have been spoken in the Hebrides.
 * Views on the the stature of the Scots language are varied.

I make that at least 3, and in my view it's at least 5 even excluding Pictish.

I have not citation to hand for the second sentence although H-Smith lists about seven variants, which is unusual at the very least. Ben  Mac  Dui  18:00, 27 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Well, only two languages are attested being spoken there ever, English (very recently) and Gaelic/Celtic. I guess Norse could be added (it's plausible), but "at least 4 languages" is bringing in much more certainty than any historian possesses. You amended the offending sentence at least, though don't see much usefulness in the paragraph. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 19:42, 27 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I read that "Captain Thomas, R.N., who very carefully investigated the subject some forty years ago, reports that in the Lews Norse names outnumber the Gaelic ones by four to one, and that in all Harris there are only two pre-Norse or Celtic names.". Even is this is an exaggeration I think it is evidence that more than hints at the language being spoken. Watson (p. xxxi) is happy to admit to a pre-Celtic population. Everything attested may be true, but not all that is true is attested. Sláinte, skol etc. Ben   Mac  Dui  10:40, 28 May 2011 (UTC)
 * But that's the Hebrides (and yes, it's exaggerated). At a quick glance (yes, OR) the only place-name on Iona that looks like it might not Gaelic is Loch Staoineag. The adjacent bits of Mull are also seemingly devoid of Norse elements or even elements that don't look clearly Gaelic. That of course is not proof that no other languages were ever spoken there but I think we'd better tread carefully with our claims here given how monolingually Gaelic Iona and that corner of Mull look. Akerbeltz (talk) 10:58, 28 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Going through Iona Past and Present, there are some Norse place-names after all - all of two: Eilean Chalbha (Calf Island), Mùsimul (Mouse-holm). It's patchy evidence. Is there any archeology that points to Norse activity other than raiding? Akerbeltz (talk) 12:55, 28 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm sure Norse had been used on the island, but in what sense is that meaningful? The island's primary inhabitants for 1000 years were Irish and mainland Scottish aristocrats who didn't have children. The island is too small to support any independent polity, and is too important for anyone trying such a thing to succeed. The monastery seems to have been constantly in use throughout the Norse period, overlooked by the Cenél nEógain, the Cenél Conaill and the Scots (whose rulers after 1034 were probably from the family of abbots of Dunkeld, daughter house of Iona). Hebridean Gaelic has of course high Norse influenced content, probably much higher in the central Middle Ages due to later archaicizing from the prestige dominance of Classical Irish; this is not Norse however, any more than Middle English is French. But even if we go out on a limb for Norse, that's still only 3. Obviously the island had pre-Celtic inhabitants before the Iron Age, but not necessarily since. Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 14:02, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Could we not just simply state that that the island has an unusually large variation of names acquired through several linguistic layers and settlement periods without counting? Akerbeltz (talk) 15:40, 28 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Well I think that's what it does say, but by all means add to the level of vagueness if that will lead to a quieter life. Note that the para begins "The Hebrides have been occupied" and so far as I know there is no firm evidence of significant Norse occupation on Iona itself (Amlaíb Cuarán "retired" there— one wonders what language he wrote his postcards home in). The place name information is however interesting - in the modern era we don't give French and German names to places just because they are our neighbours and occasional visitors. We are also missing another language in our list for Iona - one that was clearly spoken and indeed sung and would seem to be attested - Latin - which must have been a lingua franca throughout the isles for many centuries. I make that seven languages spoken by residents of the Hebrides in the last 3,000 years - it's really only in Argyll/Dalriada that the "Gaelic only" hypothesis holds up. Ben   Mac  Dui  09:13, 29 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately "vagueness" is just a accurate reflection of the evidence. Movie-makers make stuff up for better stories, encyclopedias don't. :) Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 14:06, 29 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I don't think there is a "better" story one way or the other - I am only referring to evidence for multiple languages being spoken over a broad area over a long period of history. I am quite willing to be persuaded this is wrong, but see e.g. Woolf's "The Age of the Sea-Kings: 900-1300" p. 95 or Gammeltoft's "Scandinavian Naming-Systems in the Hebrides—A Way of Understanding how the Scandinavians were in Contact with Gaels and Picts?" in Ballin Smith's West Over Sea. Happy to provide a copy if need be.  Ben   Mac  Dui  07:48, 30 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Woolf's article at p. 95 doesn't even mention Iona. Not sure what you're pressing for. :) There was a misleading passage, and you yourself have fixed it. End of story, surely? Deacon of Pndapetzim ( Talk ) 20:45, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Hebrew Connection?
If Iona is regarded as "St. Columba's Island", and "columba" is Latin for "dove", isn't is curious that the Hebrew word for "dove" is "יונה" (pronounced "YO-na")? 88.203.176.7 (talk) 00:02, 2 October 2012 (UTC)


 * I'd noticed that too. And of course the prophet Jonah, whose name means dove, has some parallel motifs to Columba in his biography. But of course it is just a coincidence. Iona has only had an 'n' since the 18th century. --Doric Loon (talk) 09:11, 2 October 2012 (UTC)

"Of course it is just a coincidence"? This is error and presumption - As the Irish church itself says concerning the Hebrew texts and teachings, "We gladly received from the east that which the east received from the west". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.63.54.80 (talk) 14:48, 4 April 2017 (UTC)

Renowned by whom?
It must be very hard to renown an island: It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned[by whom?] Who was that heroe? Hercules? Obelix? A Gaelic knight? --82.58.112.36 (talk) 15:34, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

Add ? St Columba battle blessing
Via the Brecbennoch the Scot army was blessed before going into battle ... this reliquary / engine of blessing originated on the Isle of Iona with St Columba / Ilse of Iona relics / the Brecbennoch was supposed by all to have originated on the Isle of Iona, its former relics thought to be from St Columba (a Christian saint missionary from Ireland) who lived there (relics thought to be his bones e.g.) ... also related to what the relics actually were is the 'high' Christian 'higher' forms of rites, shown proven there in the Iona monastery courtyard - where an 'imprint' of the 'skull and cross bones' which represents the AO, the Alpha & Omega of Christ ... which you SEE in viewing the "holy mountain" with Christ stretching forth his arm to create the whole universe (right arm) (alpha) and dropped down alongside him, his left arm ends with the (Omega) symbol of skull & cross bones.... So rather than the Brecbennoch today BEING empty, it is the source of 'blessing' fo the Scot army advancing in battle ... an engine / technology engine of this blessing from that Godhead / Holy Mountain / all power .... This blessing of any army you also see in Asia related, similar blessings where the Shogun, Duke, Prince, Emperor (e.g. in Japan) extends his 'fan' forth to wave down blessing upon his army (3x) .... SO THE SYMBOLS Brenocbennoch demonstrate the technique / flow of this blessing ... THAT is what the ART is here ,,,,Vand so discussing ART / symbol shape divorced from its MEANING & use ... is meaningless ... as just proven. LIL ARDRI SR, high king AO 47.18.43.166 (talk) 00:38, 18 November 2014 (UTC)

an 18th-century misreading
If Haswell-Smith claims Iona is "an 18th-century misreading" of Ioua, he is simply mistaken. Broderick has a c.1276 attestation; see for more medieval instances. jnestorius(talk) 16:25, 23 February 2016 (UTC)

Another proposed etymology of "Iona": "Í-shona"
I remember reading it from an English language map in the varsity; the only source I can find now is here (page 261). From what's been written so far, I guess this derivation is spurious anyway. 176.221.123.116 (talk) 15:38, 5 June 2016 (UTC)

Iona subdivisions
Modern Hy (Iona) by John Bartholomy 1874.jpg, since the whole island does not even constitute one civil parish, but belongs to one. The order of magnitude would be like townlands, but those seem to exist in Ireland only, not Scotland?--Ratzer (talk) 20:09, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Ceann Tsear *Sliabh Meanach *Machar *Sliginach *Sliabh Siar *Staonaig]]

Geology
Removed some material from geography into geology and this: There are Torridonian sedimentary rocks on the eastern side entirely as the reference doesn't directly provide any info on the topic. Geopersona (talk) 11:02, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

Scots name
Earlier I removed the "Scots name" added to the article by YoungstownToast in 2020. However, it has since been replaced by Cactus.man. I'm not sure what benefit there is in listing the same name twice, once in English and once in Scots (a dialect not in fact native to Iona), but perhaps Cactus.man can explain. Zacwill (talk) 12:51, 18 September 2023 (UTC)


 * @User:Zacwill Yes, I reverted your bold edit because that entry had been present unchallenged for over 3 years, thus becoming effectively "status quo ante". I think that essentially means that any removal should at least be subject to discussion to reach broad consensus for such an edit. I understand your argument about linguistic redundancy, but I think the Guide and gazetteer produced by the Scots Language Centre is a suffuciently reliable source of information that contains multiple examples of such liguistic redundancy, that the entry may be worthy of retention. Perhaps that discussion can take place now, although I have no strong opinion for keeping or removing. What do others think? -- Cactus.man  &#9997;  16:43, 18 September 2023 (UTC)


 * If YoungstownToast was under no obligation to form a consensus before adding the name to the article, then I'm not sure why I should need to form one before removing it. All kinds of dodgy material gets added to Wikipedia without immediately being challenged, so the fact that the edit has not been called into question until now is not a strong argument in favour of retention. Since no better arguments have materialized, I am inclined to remove it again. Zacwill (talk) 17:08, 18 October 2023 (UTC)


 * In support of the above, I have personally encountered cases in which obvious nonsense was left unchallenged on this website for almost a decade. Longstanding-ness means little on Wikipedia. Zacwill (talk) 18:46, 18 October 2023 (UTC)