In the first of this year’s RME days 54 S1/2 pupils and 7 staff  from Tobermory High School spent the day on Iona learning about the history of Iona and the life and work of the Iona Community.  The day was the RME part of inter-disciplinary work on Life in 6th Century Scotland.  The group looked at why Columba chose to settle on Iona and why thousands of tourists and pilgrims flock there every year.  In St Oran’s Chapel they learned about the life of the early monks before exploring the cemetery where Scottish Kings and politicians are buried.

In the Abbey itself members of the Iona Community gave the group an insight into the way the Abbey is now run and how the work of the Iona Community has evolved, as well as learning about some of the problems so many visitors can bring (sawing the head of one of the statues as a souvenir being one example).  In the Abbey some took the opportunity to light candles or leave requests for prayers for those who were in our thoughts.  The group also heard a bit more about the Abbey from the Historic Scotland tour guide – staff were particularly interested to hear that Columba was ancient on his arrival on Iona (he was 42!)

Having postponed the visit in September due to poor weather it was particularly good to see Iona on a beautiful autumnal day and see for ourselves why Iona is such a special place and of course on the way back there were lollipops for good pupils (and teachers!)