The life of a monk, and the functioning of medieval monasteries, revolved around the production and reading of sacred texts. Many monks would have had their own small manuscript volume for personal use (called a ‘pocket Gospel’) while the great wealthy monasteries would have had larger format, beautifully-illustrated Gospels, such as the Book of Kells. […]
from The extraordinary journey of the Book of Kells
The Book of Kells is known internationally as one of the finest surviving examples of early medieval art. But what exactly gives the 9th century manuscript, held in the Old Library of Trinity College Dublin, its renowned reputation? One of the most richly decorated pages of the Book of Kells, named the Chi Rho page, […]
from Symbolism in the Book of Kells: the Chi Rho page
In this blog, we’re sharing local knowledge to help you make the most of 1 day in Dublin, with an itinerary that captures the city’s vibrant culture, ensuring your time in Ireland’s capital is truly unforgettable. It’s walkable, so you won’t need to worry about public transport or traffic. Plus, it’s packed with variety, giving […]
from One day in Dublin: a local’s guide
The role of a Library Guard gives me a backstage pass to some of Ireland’s most loved historical treasures. There’s something about telling people I’m a Library Guard for the Book of Kells and Old Library that instantly sparks people’s curiosity. It’s not exactly your typical job title, and most people don’t even realise it’s […]
from 5 Surprising Facts about the Book of Kells and Old Library: Insights from a Library Guard
The Book of Kells is one of the most famous medieval manuscripts in the world, however people often ask “why is it so important?”. In this blog, I’ll delve into what makes the Book of Kells truly extraordinary and address some of the top questions I’ve encountered during my time as Visitor Services Manager at […]
from Why is the Book of Kells important?
“It will last until endless future times” Trinity’s motto, while perhaps too profound to reflect the typical undergraduate education, is a convenient phrase in a piece like this. Founded in 1592 and now home to 19,000 students, centuries of history have left their impression on the grounds of Trinity College Dublin. Today’s campus resembles a […]
from Historical landmarks on Trinity’s Front Square
The formal script in the Book of Kells is known as ‘Insular majuscule’. The Insular script that developed in Ireland spread to Anglo-Saxon England and continental Europe as the Irish monks carried out their missionary work. It was based on scripts from antiquity but adapted so that the detached letters were easy to read with […]
from Insular Majuscule
The Book of Kells Exhibition is proud to launch a series of multi-user friendly children’s animations which it created with funding from the Heritage Council of Ireland. The animations were specially devised to bring new accessibility and introduce children to the Book of Kells and The Long Room in a fun and enjoyable way. Two […]
from Book of Kells Animations with Irish Sign Language
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