A Potted History

of Chase The Wild Goose Hostel
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AD c.389  

There is a difference of opinion about (Saint) Patrick’s nationality, whether he was of Scotch, or British, or French extraction. He begins his Confession: “I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and the least of all the faithful, and the most contemptible with the multitude (Ego Patricius, peccator, rusticissimus et minimus omnium fidelium et contemptibilissimus apud plurimos, or, according to another reading, contemptibilis sum apud plurimos), had for my father Calpornus (or Calphurnius), a deacon (diaconum, or diaconem), the son of Potitus (al. Photius), a presbyter (filium quondam Potiti presbyteri), who lived in the village of Bannavem (or Banaven) of Tabernia; for he had a cottage in the neighborhood where I was captured. I was then about sixteen years old; but I was ignorant of the true God, and was led away into captivity to Hibernia.” Bannavem of Tabernia is, perhaps Banavie in Lochaber in Scotland (McLauchlan); others fix the place of his birth in Kilpatrick (i.e. the cell or church of Patrick), near Dunbarton on the Clyde (Ussher, Butler, Maclear); others, somewhere in Britain, and thus explain his epithet “Brito” or “Briton” (Joceline and Skene); still others seek it in Armoric Gaul, in Boulogne (from Bononia), and derive Brito from Brittany (Lanigan, Moore, Killen, De Vinné).

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ST. PATRICK - patron Saint of Ireland - LOCHABER'S NATIVE SON?

In the past it was a little known fact, but in recent years the word has spread far and wide: Ireland's Saint Patrick was a Scotsman by birth. Experts seem divided on their opinions as to exactly where in Scotland he was born, but one popular theory currently making the rounds is that Patrick, the son of a Roman tax collector, was born at Banavie, near Fort William, around AD 389. His father had come to Banavie with the Roman Legions who had invaded the West Highlands and Islands, including the Great Glen area where Banavie is situated. Tenth century writers in their chronicles, stated: "St Patrick belonged to the village of Banavie - not far from the western seas." Professor Watson whose 19th century work on the 'History of Celtic Placenames' is considered unchallengeable wrote: "St Patrick was born at Banna-venta, an early town south of the Grampians."

Father Patrick O'Regan, an Irishman who was parish priest at Glenfinnan - just 15 miles from Banavie - produced a 36 page booklet in which, in 1948, he was in no doubt as to St Patrick's Scottish origins: "His father Calpurnius, carried out his Roman Imperial Government duties in what are now the West Highlands," said Father O'Regan. "No one who reads the 'Confessions of St Patrick' can fail to see that Banavie is the Banaventum which is described by St Patrick as 'the place of my early years among the Scots.'"

Other theories have been presented as well, including one that places St. Patrick being born at Bannavem Taburniae, which is said to be the Hadrian's Wall fort of Birdoswald (Banna), located in present day northern England. This area was once considered part of Scotland, Strathclyde to be specific.

The local reaction in Banavie? Some are calling for excavations, as to discover the hidden Roman forts and associated archeological treasures that would no doubt be found. Others are wary, for this 1600+ year old mystery may never be solved, and the excavations may be pointless. Nevertheless, it appears to many that Ireland's Patron Saint may have been a Lochaber resident early in his life, though it is doubtful that anyone could make a convincing argument for his being a member of the Clan Cameron - now that might be pushing it a wee bit!

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c.563 Columba, a student of St Patrick, arrived in Iona

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c.1830 Lochiel Arms Hotel

The late Lochiel, with Sir Duncan Cameron, divided the Gordon Kilmallie lands. He built the Lochy Bridge and a fairish inn at Banavie.

Many Tourism begins in the Highlands with the advent of regular swift Steamboats. The “Lochiel Arms Hotel” (later Banavie Hotel) built beside the Caledonian Canal for Tourists.

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c.1848 Banavie Hotel (built in front of Lochiel Arms)

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1873 Queen Victoria Toured the Highlands, waving from her train towards Banavie (Lochiel Arms visible centre-left).

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AD1924 Banavie Hotel was destroyed by fire (Lochiel Arms visible centre).

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c.1950 Lochiel Arms Hotel became a School Hostel

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c.1996 Banavie Guest House

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2006 Chase The Wild Goose Backpackers Hostel (name derived from Celtic and St Columba)

Stay at Chase the Wild Goose Hostel at Banavie near Fort William Scotland for comfortable, friendly backpackers accommodation