Handover of Columban Charter of Partnership Signatures in St Gallen, Switzerland

L-R Hannah Irwin, Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down Council; Deborah Girvan, Chairwoman of Friends of Columbanus Bangor; Wolfgang Sieber, Chairman of Friends of Columbanus Switzerland; and Kenneth Irvine, President of Friends of Columbanus Bangor.

661 signatures of support for the Columban Charter of Partnership from Northern Ireland were handed over at the official European launch in St Gallen, Switzerland, on 7 July 2023.

The prestigious event was attended by over 90 people representing Friends of Columbanus groups from across Europe. The portfolio of signatures was given by Deborah Girvan to Wolfgang Sieber, Chairman of Friends of Columbanus Switzerland, in St Gallen Abbey under the Bangor Banner which hangs in the beautiful baroque-styled cathedral.

Father Gunn from St Comgall’s Church, Bangor, with the hand painted icons of Columbanus and Gall which are now displayed in St Gallen Abbey.

In addition, Father Joe Gunn from St Comgall’s Church, Bangor, presented two hand painted icons of Columbanus and Gall to Marcus Buchel, the Bishop of St Gallen Abbey, which are now displayed in St Gallen Abbey.