COLUMBAN Irish saint and writer, was born in Leinster, and educated in the monastery of Bangor, Co. Down. About 585 he left Ireland with 12 other monks, and established himself in the Vosges, in an ancient fortification called Anagrates, the present Anegray in the department of Haute-Saone. He then built the abbey of Luxeuil, for the congregation of which he drew up his rule. His enemies accused him before a synod of French bishops (602) for keeping Easter according to the Celtic usage, and a powerful conspiracy was organized against him at the court of Burgundy for boldly rebuking King Theuderich II. and the queen-mother Brunhild. Being forcibly removed from his monastery, with St. Gall and other monks he withdrew to Switzerland, where he preached to the Suebi and Alamanni. Finally he was forced to retire to Italy, where he founded the monastery of Bobbio in the Apennines, where he died on Nov. 21, 615. His writings, which include some Latin poems, prove him a man of learning, acquainted with the Latin and Greek classics.