Ireland’s Finest National Treasure

 

During my recent visit to Dublin, Ireland I was able to make my way over to the Old Library at Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells Exhibit. Making its way from a scriptorium of the monastery founded near 561 by St. Colum Cille on Iona, just off the western coast of Scotland, the Book of Kells has become widely known as the most stunning, elaborate, and lavish work of Insular illumination in history.

 

Made ca. 800 (or even earlier) by Celtic monks, is an illuminated manuscript written in Latin that contains the four Gospels of the New Testament. Mainly based on the Vulgate, it also contains passages from early versions of the Bible, the Vetus Latina.

 

The Long Library and the Book of Kells Exhibit in Dublin by Christa Thompson
The Long Library and the Book of Kells Exhibit in Dublin by Christa Thompson

 

The Old library at Trinity College in Dublin where the Book of Kells Exhibit permanently lives by Christa Thompson 2013
The Old library at Trinity College in Dublin where the Book of Kells Exhibit permanently lives by Christa Thompson 2013

It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland’s finest national treasure. -Wikipedia

The Book of Kells. Celtic Church scholars did ...
Celtic Church scholars preserved the ancient texts.

Its extravagant illustrations and ornate details surmount other Insular Gospel books. Its manuscript’s pages are decorated in great detail depicting humans, animals, and mythological beasts. Bordered with Celtic knots and vibrant patterns, the imagery in the Book of Kells is infused with Christian symbolism.

Book of Kells Facts:

It attracts over 500,000 visitors annually.

The manuscript has 340 folios.

Written on calf vellum.

Lettering is in iron gall ink.

Colors imported from far away lands many made from plant and animal pigments.

Named after the Abbey of Kells in Co Meath where it lived for centuries.

The entire manuscript can be viewed on the Library’s Digital Collections portal.

The manuscript was never finished.

 

The Fairytale Traveler Experience at the Book of Kells:

 

The entire first floor of the Book of Kells exhibit is set up nicely as a self-guided tour through blown up illuminated replicas of the manuscript. I strongly advise you spending the 5 euro to get the audio mp3 player with headphones that you keep. Well worth the extra cheddar.

 

You’re not allowed to photograph the exhibit downstairs so, best I can explain is it’s stunning, well laid out, and easy to work through. It is guided by numbers leading to the back where there are 2 displays of actual manuscripts that they rotate out. The ornate details are surreal and quite honestly, mind-boggling.

 

On display in the Long Room by Christa Thompson
On display in the Long Room by Christa Thompson

 

On display in the Long Room by Christa Thompson
On display in the Long Room by Christa Thompson

Upstairs in one of the most beautifully crafted libraries in the world, dating back to the 18th century, is the Long Room. The Long Room houses 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books in its oak bookcases. It also boasts a small display for Bram Stoker, with a first edition copy of the famous Gothic novel, Dracula.

 

On display in the Long Room by Christa Thompson
On display in the Long Room by Christa Thompson

 

 

Author

Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

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