and there are very strong tides in this area. Colonsay Colonsay is a larger companion isle to Oronsay, separated by a narrow strait which dries at low tides. Kelly Kilpatrick notes that Hinba "is the second most widely attested island-name [in Adomnán]. After extensive research, I have concluded that Hinba is likely to be identified with Colonsay, and perhaps both Colonsay and Oronsay. The place-name Muirbolc már 'great seabag' is comparable with other muirbolc places (e.g. Kentra Bay, Adomnàn's "muirbolc paradise", and Murlough Bay, Co. Down, both characterised as being nearly empty of water when the tide is out, exposing sands). Muirbolc már should be identified with The Strand [between Colonsay and Oronsay]". Although little can be certain about the identities of the isles in the Ravenna documents, Youngson also writes that "MacEachern is the only scholar to write on the subject who pays any attention at all to the fact that in extract XXI Adomnán refers to an island called Hinbina - presumably "Little Hinba". Only Colonsay and Oronsay provide a large and little island". This sounds definitive enough, although Canna also has a smaller tidal island companion in Sanday. Mystical events Adomnán records that when Columba was visited on Hinba by St. Comgall, St. Brendan, and their two companion saints, during a Mass Brendan saw a luminous globe of fire above Columba's head. This "continued burning and rising up like a column of flame, till the Holy Mysteries had been completed". On a separate occasion whilst visiting Hinba, Columba saw "heavenly visions and revelations" that lasted for three days and nights. In another story from Adomnan, Columba was living on the island of Hinba and at night he entered into a mental trance and he saw an angel of God coming to him holding a glass book on the ordination of kings. Columba received the book from him and began to read it. In the book, the command was given that he should ordain Áedán mac Gabráin as king of Dal Riata. Columba did not want to do so, because he considered Áedán's brother Eoganán to be a better candidate. The angel then struck Columba with a whip, which gave him a scar that Columba carried the rest of his life. The angel then sternly spoke to Columba and told him that he had been sent by God with this glass book to have Columba ordain Áedán as