naoi An Meatheamh, De' Ceadaoin ( 9 June, Wednesday), or in Scottish, naoi an t-Og-mhios In 597 Colum Cille, Irish monk and bard, who is honored in all the celtic lands, died. You probably are more familiar with the name Saint Columba. He was a cousin of Niall of the Nine Hostages. He was born in 521 at Gartan in Donegal. He is one of the twelve apostles of Eirann. Colum Cille was banished from his beloved Ireland being blamed for the great battle of Cuildremne in Sligo. He settled in Iona where his kinsman King Conel was. From there he took the Gospel to the Picts, the Brits and the Saxons. In 1981 William MacTaggart, Scottish landscape painter, died. This has nothing to do with celtica, but are there any Mel Torme fans out there? I had a chance to see him before his stroke and missed it. I am not a groupie type but his death has given me some sadness. His version of Little Man You've Had a Busy Day will touch anyone with a deep memory of their little ones. Mel had five children and you can tell in his singing how much he loved them. Sorry to get sentimental, but some people are worth it, I think mel was one of those people. Submitted by John Laughland