There is currently a campaign to have one of the volumes of the Book of Kells returned to the town of Kells.  News, events and press coverage relating to the campaign will be posted on this page.

The priceless book, which was written by monks around 800 AD, disappeared from Kells before the arrival of Oliver Cromwell’s army arrived in Kells in 1654,  and was “given” to Trinity College in 1661 by a senior officer of Cromwell’s army, Henry Jones, who was also appointed Vice Chancellor of Trinity College.

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Press

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Irish Independent

Irish Times

Irish Times (2)

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Belfast Telegraph

Irish America Magazine

The Book of Kells dates back to the 9th century and is an exquisite and lavishly decorated copy of the first four gospels in Latin.

Completed in 800 AD, the Book of Kells is one  the world’s most famous  books. The book is Ireland’s most lavish and glorious of Ireland’s illuminated manuscripts. The book is an exquisite copy of the first four gospels in Latin. The vellum (calfskin) manuscript contains transcriptions of the four Gospels, lavishly illustrated and ornamented. It is the most elaborate manuscript of its kind to survive from the early Middle Ages.

The Book of Kells contains 680 pages (or 340 folios). Just two of the pages are without ornament, while about thirty folios, including some major decorated pages, have been lost.

The Book is the most famous manuscript in the Library of Trinity College Dublin where it is permanently on display. The Book of Kells is kept in a low-lit gallery with only two pages displayed at a time, although they are turned after some period.

The Book of Kells, first mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in 1007 A.D. as being present in Kells, was sent to Dublin for safekeeping during the time that Cromwell took the church of Kells as a garrison for his troops.

In 1953 it was rebound into 4 volumes by Roger Powell, and 2 volumes are in display at Trinity College, and they are rotated every 3 months.

Click here for a more detailed summary of the history of the Book of Kells

A replica of the Book of Kells is can be seen in the Tourist Office, Headfort Place, Kells.

http://www.boynevalleytours.com/

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) 

Open to the public by the Kells & District Tourism Forum & The Kells Archaelogical & Historical Society:

Full Calender of Opening Dates

This inland lighthouse was designed by Henry Aaron Baker (designer of the King’s Inn, Dublin) for the First Earl of Bective in memory of his father Sir Thomas Taylor in 1791 and provide work during the time of a local famine.

The plaque reads: ‘This pillar was designed by Henry Aaron Baker Esq. architect was executed by Mr. Joseph Beck stone cutter Mr. Owen Mc Cabe head mason Mr. Bartle Reilly overseer Anno 1791′.

At 30m (100ft) high, on the summit of the Commons of Lloyd, from 428 ft above sea level one can see magnificent views of the surrounding countryside as far as the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland on a clear day.

The Spire is said to have been used to view horse racing and the hunt in the 19th century.

Inside there is a 164-step spiral staircase, with a central protective cage.

The plaque on the east side of the Spire carries the Headfort Coat of Arms with the family crest – “Consequitur quodquinque petit” (“He follows what he seeks”).

The spire stands on the site of an Iron Age ring fort but evidence is mounting to show that the site dates further back to the Bronze Age.

The hill was known as Mullach Aiti, which graduates to Mulloyde and to the current day Lloyd.  The Hillfort guarded the approaches from the Kingdom of Bréifne (Cavan) to the ancient Kingdom of Midhe (Meath).

The legendary Queen Maeve (Medbh) was said to camp here with her armies on her way to steal Ulster’s prize stud bull in the story of Táin Bó Cúailnge(“The Cattle Raid of Cooley”).

Edward The Bruce also camped here following his victory at the Battle of Kells in 1314.

During the times of the Great Famine, destitute people lived on the hill.
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The community park (The People’s Park) includes the “Paupers Graveyard”, in which many victims of the mid-19th century famine lie buried.

View Larger Map

See www.kellsheritagepark.com for more details

(KAHS)

The object of the Society is to locate, preserve, examine, record, publish and illustrate the antiquities, records and traditions,oral and written, connected with the Town and District of Kells.Co. Meath, Ireland

kellsarchistory@eircom.net

More information is available on teh KAHS website, kahs.ie

Click on the map to get a larger version for printing

An attractive new website for Kells to match the Kells Tourism Brochure.  You can find it here: www.visitingkells.ie

Gallery Open  Daily Ring for Appointment:

Tel: 046 9245915. Mobile 086 8368936.

Email: bettyartist@hotmail.com
http://www.bettynewmanmaguire.ie/

Art Classes and Courses

with

Artist:  Betty Newman-Maguire

Tearmann Artist Studios and Gallery.

Castlekeernan, Carnaross, Kells, Co. Meath.
Tel: 086 8368936 and 046 9245915

10 weeks:  January, February and March 2012.

Ceramics/Pottery:

Hand built Pottery and clay sculpture for beginners and advanced.  Commencing Monday 16^th January, at             7.00pm to 8.30pm. €15.00 per class.

Painting:

To include Oil, watercolour and Acrylics. Individual attention, beginners and advanced. Commencing Tuesday 17^th

January, at 7.00pm to 8.30pm. €15.00 per class.

Portfolio Preperation Course:

For students wishing to compile a portfolio for entry to Art College. Wednesday 6.00pm to 8.30pm. and Saturdays

2.00pm to 4.30pm. Ongoing from September to May each year.

Drawing:

Observational Drawing, Still Life and Life Drawing for beginners and advanced. Commencing 19^th January, at

7.00pm to 8.30pm. €15.00 per class.

Children’s Art Classes

Children aged 7 to 13 years, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture and Printing. Commencing Friday 13^th January, at

4.30pm to 6.00pm. €15.00 per child per class.

Children’s Art Classes

Children aged 7 to 13 years, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture and Printing. Commencing Saturday 14^th January, at

10.00am to 11.30am. €15.00 per child per class.                .

Registeration:

Class numbers are limited and offered on a first come basis. Basic material supplied. Tea/coffee making facilities

and parking.  To register for any of the above classes or courses please contact Betty Newman Maguire at

086 8368936 /046 9245915

Directions

Tearmann Artist Studios and Gallery is home to artist Betty Newman-Maguire. The studios are located just beside

the historic St. Kieran’s Well in Castlekeernan, approx 1 ½ miles from Carnaross, and 3 miles from Kells.

Tearmann Artist Studios

Tearmann Artist Studios are located in Castlekeeran, Carnaross, Kells, Co. Meath, beside the historic St. Kieran’s Well, 3.5 miles from Kells, and only 44 miles from Dublin.

The old stone cottage farmhouse at Tearmann Artist Studios has been fully restored with thatched roof and adjacent stone outbuildings in courtyard fashion. This cottage is home to the artist Betty Newman-Maguire and has a number of bedrooms that may be available while working at the studios.

A number of the stone outbuildings have also been restored and now operate as a Gallery, studio space for artists and for workshops.  There is a fully fitted kitchen, feature fireplace, upstairs loft, toilet, central heating, sunroom and patio area with garden attached to the studios. Some of the studios have been finished to a very high standard with double glazing, timber floors and ceilings and spot lights.  To the rear of the property is an old raised orchard with herb garden and an array of cottage garden plants that stimulates the senses and is home to the many birds throughout the year.

A separate double studio with stone arch doorway, double industrial sink, benches with power stations etc. is used for all plaster work, clay modelling, wax moulding and finishing of metal work for all sculpture purposes. This building has an outside yard space for stonework.

There is plenty of parking space available to the front and rear of the property.

Betty Newman Maguire – www.bettynewmanmaguire.ie

She is a practising artist who graduated with a First Class Hons B.A. Degree in Sculpture from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin in 1988 and was awarded a Master of Fine Art from the University of Ulster, Belfast in 1998.  She has exhibited widely and is the recipient of many awards, public commissions and residencies in Ireland, France, Germany and America.  Newman-Maguire has mounted 16 solo exhibitions in Ireland, Germany and America.    Her work is in numerous private and public collections worldwide.

Mother Earth Dancing - Betty Newman Maguire

Henry McGrane – www.henrymcgrane.ie

Henry McGrane

He is an artist inspired by nature. This is reflected by his many scenes of rural life. His landscapes of cattle grazing capture the peace and tranquility and at time magical imaginary, that reflects well the rich landscapes and lush pastures of his homeland in Co. Meath. His keen powers of observation can capture many rural scenes that arefast disappearing; yet he has managed to capture them in his paintings. His ouvre is not limited to outdoor scenes. His work can be intensely personal yet versatile as can be seen in his large works of the human figure and more recent still life studies. Henry studied art in Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design. He started working with O’Sullivan Bluth Animation in Dublin. He went to Phoenix, Arizona in 1995, where he worked for 20th Century Fox Studios. He furthered his career whilst in Arizona by studying oil painting under the tuition of renowned American artists.

The Work of Henry McGrane

  Self  Catering
Bensfort Lodge Outside Kells 0469243626
Avilla Crossakiel 0469243689 . Kates Cottage Fordstown, Kells 046 9434982 ]]> http://www.kellsonline.ie/?feed=rss2&p=1587 0 http://www.kellsonline.ie/?p=940 http://www.kellsonline.ie/?p=940#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:43:48 +0000 admin http://www.kellsonline.ie/?p=940 website: www.kellstourismforum.com

The Kells & District Tourism Forum was set up in October 2010 with a constitution in a response for the need for a tourism brochure for Kells. A group of volunteers from the community came together and put together other action plans, which was a requirement for the grant application, which came from Meath Partnership.

This is a dedicated group of people that meet every week on a Wednesday in different establishments around Kells and District, and bring their talents, enthusiasm and experience to bear on a number of plans and challenges.

Hailing from all walks of life, the group is made up of tourism providers, local business people, community workers, academics, elected representatives and is a well balanced team in which everyone has a say and in which everyone takes pride in working as part of a team, whose mission statement is the promotion of our wonderful heritage and town.

All are welcome to join and lend their enthusiasm to maximising the tourism potential of our Heritage Town. (Application Form)

The Kells & District Tourism Forum have a good working relation locally with Meath County Council, Kells Town Council, Meath Partnership, Fáilte Ireland, Kells Chamber, the arts Kellective, the Local Heroes group, and further afield with academic and heritage bodies in Ireland.