Knights of Saint Columbanus
The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus (Irish: Ridirí Naomh Cholumba) is an Irish national Catholic fraternal organisation. Founded by Canon James K. O'Neill in Belfast, Ireland, in 1915, it was named in honour of the Irish saint, Columbanus. Initially established as a mutual benefit society for working class Catholics, it has developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services to all areas of the Irish community.
Ridirí Naomh Cholumba | |
Crest of the Knights of St Columbanus | |
Area served by the Knights of St Columbanus | |
| Abbreviation | KOSC |
|---|---|
| Named after | Saint Columbanus |
| Formation | 10 April 1915 |
| Founder | Canon James Kearney O'Neill |
| Founded at | Belfast |
| Type | Catholic fraternal organisation |
| Focus | Charity, Unity, Fraternity |
| Headquarters | Ely House, Ely Place, Dublin |
| Coordinates | 53.337500°N 6.253822°W |
Region served | Island of Ireland |
Motto | Instaurare omnia in Christo (Restore all things in Christ) |
Supreme Knight | Brendan McCann |
Supreme Chaplain | Father Brendan Kilcoyne |
| Affiliations | International Alliance of Catholic Knights |
| Website | knightsofcolumbanus.ie |
There are 68 councils across all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. Membership in the order is open to all practising Catholic men and their families aged 18 and over. There is a youth division of the order open to younger men ages 16 and up, called the Associate Knights of St Columbanus. The Order is a founding member of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights.
Widely described as a secret society, the organisation rejects this assertion. The Knights of St. Columbanus has also had influence in government, business and trade unions.