The ‘Book of Kells’ was written around AD 800. It is a book of the Gospels. It isn’t known exactly who wrote it but it was completed by a number of monks in the settlement on Skellig Michael.

It is said that they worked on the book in a scriptorium. Printing had not been invented. Two monasteries in particular are said to have been the makers of this great book, Iona, off the west coast of Scotland and Kells in County Meath.

The close connection between Iona and Kells is backed up by the fact that St. Columba sailed between the two around the time of the creation of the books. It was also said that he loved to copy the scriptures.

Iona remained a monastery until the invading Norsemen attacked it and the monks had to move to Kells in Meath. St Columba also loved animals and so did his monks so it is no surprise that there were so many illustrated in the Book of Kells.

The Book is written in Latin. There are 680 pages, that is 340 calf skins which were turned into leaves or vellum. 150 calves were used and it weighs 20 pounds. It was written with a reed or quill. Ink was made out of the juices of plants, leaves and roots. There are sixteen to eighteen lines per page.

There are four parts, these being the Gospels, that is Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each gospel is the telling by these men of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Matthew is illustrated as an angel, John an eagle, Luke a calf and Mark a lion.

The portraits throughout the book are of Christ, Matthew, John, scenes from the life of Christ, that is, the birth of Christ, the temptation of Christ, the arrest of Christ, the crucifixion and resurrection, the cross, Christ’s family tree, little animals and capital letters. One of the names inscribed in the ‘Book of Kells’ is Sitria, a silversmith who also appears in another famous book called the ‘Cathach’.

In the year AD 1006 the ‘Book of Kells’ was stolen but was soon recovered and not much else happened to it until it reached Trinity College in 1661. It was put there by Bishop Henry Jones of Meath. The last page has been lost.

To see it is to experience an incredible piece of art and discipline. It seems never-ending in its complexity. The monks may have had a hard life and were attacked and killed on occasion but they managed to keep it relatively safe throughout all this with only one missing page.
The ‘Book of Kells’ is housed in the Old Library building in Trinity College.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30 to 5 pm, Sunday (May-September) 9.30 to 4.30 pm and Sunday (October-April) 12.00 to 4.30 pm.