Ep.1 of 17 - How the Irish helped Save Civilization

SERIES 1 - Ep.1 - How an Irish boy born into a 6th century apocalypse helped to rescue Western Civilization.
TIME-STAMPS:
0:00 - Intro & Summary
2:05 - Ch. 1 England to Ireland
3:05 - Ch.2 The Dark Ages (Cumbria)
6:48 - A New Dawn (Ireland)
13:08 - Ch.4 Finding a Father (Ireland)
24:00 - NEXT TIME, From Bangor to Brittany
SAVING EUROPE - (Series 1 - Columban, Series 2 - Robert Schuman)
From Bangor to Bobbio, Brittany to Bregenz, up rivers, and across mountains, in crypts, caves and cathedrals; join the author on a 12-nation, 4000-mile cultural odyssey across Europe, exploring the lives, locations and legacies of the book’s leading characters. Includes academic Interviews and exclusive museum and library access.​ More at www.Saving Europe.com
HARDBACK BOOKS:
UK AMAZON - www.amazon.co.uk/Saving-Europ...
USA AMAZON - www.amazon.com/Saving-Europe-...
GERMANY AMAZON - www.amazon.de/Saving-Europe-T...
UK/USA BARNES & NOBLE - www.barnesandnoble.com/w/savi...
BELGIUM / NETHERLANDS - www.bol.com/nl/p/saving-europ...
EBOOKS available at:
UK AMAZON - www.amazon.co.uk/Saving-Europ...
USA AMAZON - www.amazon.com/Saving-Europe-...
GERMANY AMAZON - www.amazon.de/Saving-Europe-T...
JAPAN/CANADA: KOBO - www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/savi...
ITALY, LA FELTRINELLI - www.lafeltrinelli.it/ebook/he...
FRANCE: FNAC - www.fnac.com/livre-numerique/...
UK/USA BARNES & NOBLE - www.barnesandnoble.com/w/savi...
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - Many thanks to Tom, Will and Abi [my amazing film crew], to Dr. Alex O'Hara of Trinity College, Dublin for his interview and support, and also to the following Drone Pilots for their footage:
- DJI Iain for drone footage over Ravenglass. • Ravenglass Cumbria - b...
- Patrick Monahan for his drone footage around Mount Leinster: • Mt Leinster And Wicklo...
- Csaba Jonas: Drone Footage around Hardknott Fort: • The Lake District Arou...
- ‘Ireland from the sky’ for their footage above Lough Erne: • Lough Erne, County Fer...
- Aero Studios for footage above Bangor harbour: • Bangor Northern Irelan...

[@jonathansturm4163]

I very much enjoyed this as I did Thomas Cahill’s “How the Irish Saved Civilization” 20 years ago. I had to order the hardback from the US since it’s not available in hardback here in Australia and it’s not available for delivery from UK. It must weigh a lot-it cost twice as much to have delivered as 200 gm of gold cost me to have couriered last week!

[@savingeurope]

Hi Jonathan, thanks for getting in touch. It is a great book (I have read the whole 'hinges of history' series he did, the medieval one being my favourite) and I reference it a few times in my book. In Ep.3 you will see how Cahill and others were too sensitive to the sources regarding 'dark age illiteracy' but, that said, I was so enriched by his book that I really should just say that it was 'worth its weight in gold!!' best regards Henry

[@rebeccao8895]

Wow. That book is on my shelf and yet I’d forgotten about it. Thank you! I bought my copy in the States when it came out when I was working in a book store 20 years ago. The book biz is quite a bit different now I gather. I’m 50.

[@rebeccao8895]

Our American history is so young, but many of us still feel connected to our Irish ancestors.

[@juliahodgkins7615]

How totally awesome 👏😎, this is absolutely brilliant- well done 👍 x

[@savingeurope]

thanks Julia. In the bonus episode 'how we became travelling film makers, you might see a little boy you recognise! xx

[@AnBreadanFeasa]

Very good opening chapter of the account of 6th to 9th century Ireland. Almost all modern christian religious texts derived from Latin owe their existence to the work done by Irish monks and scribes, initially in Ireland and Scotland, but as depicted here also in Irish founded monasteries on mainland Europe... Bobbio, St. Gall, Nivelles and dozens more. Those texts preserved south of the Alps were written in Greek and to a large extent form the basis of the religious books of the various Orthodox churches. There is a historical irony in the fact that the Irish preservation of the latin bible became the source of the King James bible, quoted by fundamentalist christians everywhere today. To add to that, the pre-christian peoples of Israel spoke Aramaic, with Hebrew being the language of scholars, so today's King James bible is an SIXTH degree translation... Aramaic to Hebrew to Greek to Latin to "Hiberno Latin" to Elizabethan English. What could possibly go wrong?? However, the video repeats a major misconception about the Latin term Hibernia, stated here as "Land of Winter" because of the latin word. More correctly it came from a Greek transliteration of one of the early names for the island... Ivernia. First written down by Ptolemy the Greek in his Geographia, it probably derived from Éibher. He was the son of Mil, the mythological founder of the Gaelic Irish people. "Éibhir" is pronounced Ay-Vur (rhymes with Laver the tennis player) and is probably the origin word of the Ivernii a tribe supposedly living in the southwest of the country, modern Co. Cork, at the time Ptolomy created his Geographia.

[@HenryVynerBrooks]

Thank you for taking the time to do such an informative and thoughtful comment. And for this new info about Hibernia which I had never heard before, amazing. Thanks 👍 Henry

[@AnBreadanFeasa]

@@HenryVynerBrooks It is a fascinating time in history... Irish, British & European. Congrats on the series... now working my way through it and learning much. All the best with growing the channel.

[@davidlowe8619]

A brilliant informal in-depth introduction to Columbanus, handsomely presented by HVB (49 to go, thanks H! dx)

[@savingeurope]

Glad you enjoyed it David!

[@savingeurope]

Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@johnblackburn9402]

Well done! Interesting content and great editing.

[@savingeurope]

Thanks John, this was v. much a first effort at everything; presenting, filming, editing.... a brave new world! Anyway, hope you enjoy the rest...and hope to see you this summer xx

[@jeffslater9063]

This is fantastic. Really looking forward to the next episode!

[@savingeurope]

hopefully this weekend xx

[@savingeurope]

Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@charliehoran4118]

Great production Henry. Thank you for all your hard work and research. Very much looking forward to more episodes. P. S. Extra canoe here for you and the crew next time you are in Carlow. Best wishes. Go with the flow

[@savingeurope]

Brilliant Charlie, I'll take you up on that!! in the meantime if you could recommend the channel to anyone that would really help as it is hard getting started! anyway, thanks for the encouragement , the next episode is coming in a few days , best regards Henry

[@savingeurope]

Hi Charlie, we get the canoe out in Episode 2, just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@peterstewart7485]

Congratulations henry. 👍

[@IR240474]

The maker of this video sent me this link on a post made 2 years ago about an Irish Monk who saved Europe. I am here now thank you for the message.

[@savingeurope]

You are welcome David. Have you had a chance to watch this one yet? Hope you find time if not, best regards Henry

[@IR240474]

@@savingeurope What a great video, and thank you for the message. I am looking forward to the other 49! You have done outstanding work, and I will have to get the book for my Irish History Shelf. I am looking forward to joining you on the way while learning old Irish history that we have all forgotten, as it makes me proud that our little Island can do so much, and for one man to do so much without Facebook or KZbin. The mind can't figure it out. Thank you so much from every Irish Person, ever.

[@savingeurope]

@@IR240474 its a lesson for all of us! well done, keep at it xx

[@IR240474]

@@savingeurope I will, and I pray for 10,000 subs for you over the next month or two, to only grow to 100K. Thanks again, and the best to the lovely family, and keep safe, the world needs people like you.

[@savingeurope]

Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@charlottetucker6062]

Very interesting, Henry. What wonderful work you are doing. Looking forward to the next episode and getting the book. A little request - any chance of an audible version??? The best audible books are narrated by their author. Charlotte Tucker

[@savingeurope]

Ah Charlotte, thank you, yes, wouldn't that be nice! We have discussed it and could do it with 100 spare hours. As a dyslexic it takes 5 times more energy to focus my mind reading/decoding written words (which makes for lots of mistakes and therefor editing) but I did think Ruth might do it....just keep cups of tea coming. we'll see. I love audiobooks. love to you all down there. (was reading of the recent finds in the Nat Trust Magazine at the big house under the floorboards. v exciting. love Henry and Ruth

[@savingeurope]

Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@Sparkey]

Good lad!

[@savingeurope]

Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@columbanwayturascolumbanus7595]

Henry congratulations on this production. This first episode is informative, enlightening and brings the legacy of Columbanus alive and into the 21st Century. This work is a significant contribution as we map the pilgrim route that Columbanus travelled from Mt. Leinster to `Bobbio in a journey of discovery. Well done to all the young camera team

[@HenryVynerBrooks]

Thanks Derry for all your help at Bangor harbour....so much enjoyed meeting you all and thanls for being a wonderful human microphone stand for the Prof Picard interview 😊

[@savingeurope]

Hi Kerry, Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@lukemcinerney7458]

Fantastic documentary and as we say in Irish, maith an fear! One could do such a documentary on a number of early medieval Irish, such as Adomnán, abbot of Iona who wrote a treatise about protecting non-combantents during war (Cáin Adomnán), possibly the first declaration of human rights dating from c.697. Also, it's worth mentioning, that Columbanus' real name was Colmcille bán which means the white Colmcille - clearly named after that other great Irish missionary, Columba (Colmcille) of Iona. Future documentaries focusing on other great Irish men such as Eriugene would be most welcome! Beir bua agus beannachtaí, Luke.

[@savingeurope]

Thanks Luke, and you are right about all this stuff....someone needs to make this stuff better known. I will see if I can get Comcille Ban reference in... keep watching. and thanks for the encouragement. all the best, Henry

[@savingeurope]

Episode 2 just uploaded, remember to subscribe!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-UnJedoNKJrJY

[@DaveSCameron]

I clearly have much more to learn about my Eireann home and can't thank you enough for your work and efforts uploading here, best wishes 😉

[@kurtbogle2973]

What the Irish have that at least I love and respect is the indomitable Irish Spirit! It's that spirit that continues to bring Celts back to center. It's that spirit that makes the Irish feared by tyrants and loved by everyone else!

[@savingeurope]

Thanks Kurt, Sigmund Freud said they were the only people incapable of psychoanalysis....so that is good enough for me!!

[@mrjoebot]

Great Videos!! I wonder, do we know how Columbanus got his name? Many people know it is "White Dove" in Irish (Colum Bán) Do we know what his name was before this? Is it worth mentioning?

[@savingeurope]

oooh, good question. I suspect your hunch (that he had a name before he joined Sinnel) is correct. Let's ask Alex O'Hara and see what he says. I'll ask him to join this thread. thanks for asking, best regards Henry

[@Fionan95]

As you know Columbán had an affinity for nature and birds. No surprise then that one of the most notable alumni of the Bobbio Monastery was none other than St. Francis of Assissi

[@DaveSCameron]

@@Fionan95 You appear to be a chap who I'd dearly like to have a pint with, take care Sir..

[@gallowglass2630]

If he was born between counties meath and carlow ,that would be kildare.Ireland wasn't shired at that time but it would be what is now county kildare.

[@savingeurope]

Thanks for watching and also for the correction, I will look into it. best regards Henry

[@gallowglass2630]

@@savingeurope Its a small thing don't worry about

[@corcaighogormghus4618]

9:07 Completely untrue! Come one, I expected much better than this for a documentary supposedly about Ireland. The Irish had a system of laws which ecnompassed all of the Irish kingdoms, the ones of Ireland, as wel as the Irish kingdom called Dál Ríata which held lands not only in the north of Ireland, but the Isle of Man and western Scotland. The Irish laws were more advaced than any other European nations as well mind you, as they didnt have capital punishment, being homosexual was legal, it focused on reperation of the victims of crime rather than punish the perpetrators..... the law of Ireland back then is one of its greatest and proudest aspects, for you to say they "didnt have laws" is insulting and ignorant. I'm very surprised at that.

[@savingeurope]

Hi Corcaigh, thanks for taking the time to comment and sharing your in knowledge on this important issue. At 9.07, I was reading a quote from Columbanus' 7th century hagiographer who was an Italian. I suppose, it shows a view that was probably common in late antiquity i.e. 'No one could have good laws who hadn't been Romanised!' Anyway, thanks again for keeping us right.

[@corcaighogormghus4618]

@@savingeurope Thanks for the reply. I suppose your right with the view of the time being that the romanised nations had the better laws, they likely may of even looked down upon the Irish system of laws. And I must've missed that you were reading a quote! Very sorry if I came off the wrong way, it has always annoyed me the lack of any recogntiton of Ireland's laws or society at the time, and you are certainly giving it recognition with this series on Columbus, a person with little said about him in modern times. Thank you again for the reply 👍

[@savingeurope]

@@corcaighogormghus4618 no worries. I am a grateful Englishman...who is part Irish (and Italian) at heart!

[@peterww3241]

Wasn't Patrick born and kidnapped in South Wales?

[@savingeurope]

Aha Peter, well, I think you will find that each area on the west coast of Britain lays a claim.... simply because we don't know. I think I am right in saying that because he ended up in the North of Ireland that the Northwest of Britain has slightly stronger claim! anyway, thanks for watching and commenting. best regards Henry

[@peterww3241]

@@savingeurope Why am I not surprised?! BTW, in case you are not aware, Baram Blackett has recently published "St Patrick Identified" under the name Victor Von Orton. More grist for the mill! Blessings

[@edwardbrooks8700]

that cameraman looks very dashing...

[@savingeurope]

its genetic xx

[@corcaighogormghus4618]

2:37 I don't think theres any evidence of human sacrifice in Pagan Irish Religion?

[@savingeurope]

Thanks again for the comment. My reading on the subject is not vast but the sources I did study posited this view. Happy to explore this further. best regards Henry

[@jonathansturm4163]

I would have thought that three mutilated bodies recovered from bogs was evidence.

[@Fionan95]

Patricius brought Roman taxation to Ireland not Christianity which was already in Ireland, brought here in the Coptic gospel of Mark via the Mediterranean trade routes

[@savingeurope]

Thanks Fionan, we talk about this with and excellent scjolar Meredith Cutrer, and also the influence of the Greek and Egyptian Christians in the latest Book Distillery episode 5. lots to think about. thanks for posting (sorry I missed this earlier, regards Henry

[@rachelLadyD]

the patrick story is a bad place to start, possibly the fictional story which brings christianity to Ireland via british mainland, anyhow i will keepwatching

[@HenryVynerBrooks]

Thanks Rachel, Please bear with the limiations of the documentary genre...I have to paint with a v broad brush. In the book I am able to go into more detail about the origins of Christianity in Ireland but with film I was trying to form a quick link to columbanus from something peope already knew. Having said that, Patriciis' Confessio is generally accepted as genuine, even if the later traditions around Armagh were occassioned by ecclesiastical rivalries. Anyway, just v appreciative that you are watching and interacting. Keep the criticism and comments coming! best regardd Henry Ps. I think you would enjoy two of our book distillery podcasts on youtube...the ones with alex o'hara and meredith cutrer which go deeper into these things.

[@mariaefelices6543]

And now islam to rule

[@savingeurope]

Thanks for the comment Maria, apologies as I have only just seen this. I have been writing about this for nearly twenty years; particularly in the SAVING EUROPE book, and The Student Jihad novel. It is not easy to speak about, but if you are a Christian, then you have nothing to fear but compromise and nothing to lose if you make Jesus Christ your Lord in all things. God bless you.

[@anadmirer1019]

too much drama and smoke and mirrors, get to the point man

[@savingeurope]

Perhaps it was the click-baity title (taken from Thomas Cahill's book), if so apologies. But this is a long and complex story, very imperfectly told by me. I hope you persist with the other episodes and you get something from the achievements of those remarkable men and women. best regards Henry

[@yermanoffthetelly]

​@@savingeuropeDon't mind him, I found it fascinating. Dr. O'Hara was very interesting to listen to.

[@johnpurcell7525]

Yeah get message Immigration Good EU Good blah blah

[@HenryVynerBrooks]

That certainly is not my position on either the EU or immigration, but you would have to watch a bit more to find that out. It is a complex and nuanced history where the food and necessary intentions of one generation are co-opted by others. I did not fully get this at first and I still only see a small part. But that is why I did this project, so I could understand it more fully. Anyway, hope that helps. Best regards Henry