The Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition
The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s most celebrated national treasures. This manuscript is the most exceptional example of insular art in existence and encapsulates the unique skill and artistic direction developed in the British Isles after the decline of the Roman Empire.
The document dates from 800AD and contains the four Gospels of the New Testament, and it is hosted in the old library of Trinity College Dublin, the longest single-chamber library in the world and worth a visit on its own merits.
The Book of Kells has a long and much-disputed history with experts divided not only on where it originates but when and by who. Popular theories suggest that the book was produced in Iona and moved to Kells when Viking raids started. Trinity college has housed this treasure since the mid 19th century.
