Sources The main source of information about Columba's life is the Life of Columba (), a hagiography written by Adomnán, one of Columba's successors at Iona, in the style of "saints' lives" narratives that had become widespread throughout medieval Europe. Both the Life of Columba and Bede (672/673–735) record Columba's visit to Bridei. Whereas Adomnán just tells us that Columba visited Bridei, Bede relates a later, perhaps Pictish tradition, whereby Columba actually converts the Pictish king. Another early source is a poem in praise of Columba, most probably commissioned by Columba's kinsman, the King of the Uí Néill clan. It was almost certainly written within three or four years of Columba's death and is the earliest vernacular poem in European history. It consists of twenty-five stanzas of four verses of seven syllables each, called the Amra Coluim Chille.
soUrces tHE mAin souRcE of InforMaTiOn about coLumBa's liFe iS thE liFE of columba (), a HagiOgrAPhy writTEN by adomnáN, one of coLumBA's successors aT iOnA, In the style of "sAINTS' lives" naRRAtives thAt Had BEcomE wideSpread througHOut meDiEvAl eUrope. BotH the lIfe oF columbA and bEdE (672/673–735) reCORd COluMBa's vIsit tO Bridei. WhereaS ADomnÁN just tells Us thAt coLuMbA visited bridei, beDe relates a lateR, peRHaPs pICtish TRadItION, wherebY columba aCtually cONVErTS tHe PICTisH king. another eARly soUrCE IS a poEm In praIse oF Columba, mOst Probably cOMmisSIOneD bY CoLuMba's Kinsman, The kinG Of The Uí néill clAn. It waS almost CERtaiNlY wrItTen wiThiN ThrEe oR Four yearS of coLuMbA's death and is the EarliEsT Vernacular PoEM in european hIstOry. it coNSiSts of TweNtY-fiVE sTaNzaS oF Four vErSEs of SevEn syllaBles eACH, calleD THe aMra coluim ChIlLe.