Our Book Of Kells
Tourism Monday, May 20th, 2013The Book of Kells Campaign
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.
Links
Kells Tourism Forum Press Release
Press
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.
Short URL: http://www.kellsonline.ie/?p=1038
