Explore Kells
The Book of Kells
The World Famous Book of Kells was created around the year 800AD and researchers believe that it was originally produced in a monastery on the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. It appears to have been created by three artists and four scribes. When Iona was attacked by Vikings, the surviving monks moved to a sister monastery in Kells, Co. Meath. Some scholars believe that it was here that the Book of Kells was finished.
Trinity College Dublin was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth and is Ireland’s oldest University. Today, the Book of Kells is housed in Trinity’s 18th century Old Library building which is also home to the Long Room, a 65-metre long chamber considered to be one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
The Book of Kells remained in the town of Kells until 1653, when it was moved to Dublin after the town suffered serious damage during military occupation in the wars of the 17th century.
The Heritage
The heritage town of Kells contains many fine examples of early medieval Christian architecture. Kells derives from the Irish Ceanannas Mór, meaning ‘great residence`.
Long before the coming of Christianity, Kells was a royal residence associated with the legendary Conn Céadchatach (Conn of the Hundred Battles) and Cormac mac Airt. In 550 St. Columba, also known as St. Colmcille, established a religious settlement at Kells.
In 563 he went into self imposed exile of the Isle of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland and founded another settlement. The island was raided by Viking fleets in 795, 802 and again in 804 when sixty-eight people were killed. Shortly after, the community of St. Columba`s monastery on Iona were granted lands at Kells as a safe haven from invaders.
Generally, monastic settlements were surrounded by a circular boundary wall called a vallum, which acted as a frontier between the holy world within and the secular world outside. They often contained a church, graveyard, high crosses, monk`s cells and from the late 10th century round towers also became a feature.
The History
Although Kells became an important Anglo-Norman walled settlement, it is its monastic heritage that best survives. ‘Kells` round tower, though roofless, stands at height of 25m. In 1076 Murchadh Mac Flainn, who was fighting for the High Kingship of Ireland, was murdered in the tower.
The tower is surrounded by several finely carved high crosses, in various states of preservation. A stone church known as St. Columba`s House, dating from the 9th century is possibly the oldest surviving structure in the town. It is a classic example of an early Irish church with a steeply pointed stone roof.
The Kells Courthouse was originally designed in 1801 by Francis Johnson, who also designed the GPO on O`Connell St. Dublin. The Market Cross of Kells, which dates from the 9th century and depicts scenes from the Old and New Testaments, can be seen at the junction of the Navan / Dublin (N3) road and the Slane road in front of the Kells Heritage Centre. Commence the Kells Historic Trail at Kells Courthouse where a map can be obtained.
Things To Do
Headfort Golf Club in Kells is an outstanding 36 hole parkland complex dominated by magnificent specimen trees and river scenery. Both courses take full advantage of the natural beauty of one of Ireland’s oldest and finest estates.
The Loughcrew Cairns are a group of Neolithic passage tombs in nearby Oldcastle. Spread over four undulating peaks, the tombs are of great antiquity, dating to 3000 BC.
Causey Farm brings old fashioned Irish hospitality to modern Ireland. The Murtagh family have been farming on Causey Farm for three generations and love to share their heritage, food, farm traditions and stories with visitors.