BOOK OF KELLS What is it?The Book of Kells is a lavishly decorated manuscript of the four Gospels of the New Testament of the Bible.
Generally believed to have been written by monks in the scriptorium of the monastery founded by St Columcille on the Hebridean island of Iona, it was moved to a new monastery in Kells, Co Meath, after a Viking raid on Iona in the early ninth century. The book was sent to Dublin for safekeeping by the governor of Kells, Charles Lambert, in 1653 and reached Trinity College Dublin a few years later. It has been on display in the Old Library since the mid 19th century.
Why visit?Attracting more than 500,000 visitors a year, the Book of Kells is regarded as the greatest work of Irish visual art. Written in Latin on vellum (prepared calfskin), it incorporates abstract decoration and images of plant, animal and human ornament throughout the text. Since 1953, it has been bound in four volumes. Two volumes are on public view, one open to display a major decorated page and one to show two pages of script. The volumes are changed at regular intervals. Related manuscripts such as the Book of Durrow, the Book of Mulling and the Book of Dimma are also on show. Trinity College holds the largest collection of manuscripts and printed books in Ireland, and since 1801 has received a free copy of every book published in Ireland and Britain.
Why now?The Long Room of the Old Library hosts a temporary exhibition of books made by primary-school pupils after viewing some of the Pollard Collection of children's books spanning three centuries. The exhibition is the result of Bookmarks, a project in which fifth- and sixth-class children from three Dublin primary schools attended writing, illustration and bookbinding workshops. Their work will be on show in the Long Room until April 17th. As part of Dublin: One City, One Book, the Long Room is hosting an exhibition on James Joyce and his book Dubliners. This continues until the end of April.
How do I get there?Trinity College is in the heart of Dublin, at the junction of Dame Street and Grafton Street, and the Old Library is at the heart of the college. It is clearly signposted from the entrances. Admission costs €9 for adults; €8 for senior citizens and students; and €18 for families; children under 12 are free. It is opening Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm; Sunday noon to 4.30pm from October to April and Sunday 9.30am to 4.30pm from May to September. (Easter Monday noon to 4.30pm). A self-guided tour, which includes Turning Darkness into Light, an exhibition that puts the Book of Kells in its historical context, takes between 40 minutes and an hour; tcd.ie/library/bookofkells; 01-8962320.
