History: This was an attempt to put into musical terms the eventful history of the island of Iona - 1400 years of history - in just 8 1/2 minutes! Notable events include; 563 - Columba arrives from Ireland to set up a Christian monastery and mission base from which the message of Christ is spread into Scotland and Northern Britain. 794 - Vikings sack monastery 806 - 68 monks killed by Vikings at Martyrs' Bay. Columba's shrine moved to Kells in Ireland - possibly along with the 'Book of Kells' which was reputedly begun on Iona and finished at Kells. 986 - Norse pirates plunder the island and kill the abbot and 15 monks on the White Strand of the Monks (White Sands) 1204 - Last of Columban monks leave the island 1561 - Scots parliament passes an Act suppressing all monasteries. 1840 - Iona parish church built by Thomas Telford 1938 - After years of neglect, the remaining abbey ruins begin to be restored by the newly founded Iona Community.