The Book of Kells
The Book of Kells (Trinity College Dublin MS 58) is celebrated for its lavish decoration. The manuscript contains the four Gospels in Latin based on a Vulgate text, written on vellum (prepared calfskin), in a bold and expert version of the script known as "insular majuscule".
The place of origin of the Book of Kells is generally attributed to the scriptorium of the monastery founded around 561 by St Colum Cille on Iona, an island off the west coast of Scotland. In 806, following a Viking raid on the island which left 68 of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery at Kells, County Meath. It must have been close to the year 800 that the Book of Kells was written, although there is no way of knowing if the book was produced wholly at Iona or at Kells, or partially at each location.
It has been on display in the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin from the mid 19th century, and attracts over 500,000 visitors a year. Since 1953 it has been bound in four volumes. Two volumes are on public view, one opened to display a major decorated page, and one to show two pages of script. The volumes are changed at regular intervals.
Manuscripts Currently on Display
Book of Kells
Decorated opening
LUKE 23. 51-24. 1 ciuitate iudae qui exspectabant ... sabbato quidem siluerunt secundum mandatum / UNA / AUTEM SAB/BATI UALDE DELU[culo]. The entombment of the body of Jesus (folios 284v-285r).
Text opening
JOHN 6. 42-57 {58} hic qui di (sic) caelo discendi ... ego uiuo propter. Jesus' discourse on the bread of life (continued): 'I am the living bread which came down from heaven' (folios 309v-310r).
Garland of Howth
A copy of the four Gospels in Latin, preserved in St Nessan’s monastery on Ireland's Eye, an island off the Dublin coast. It is written in Irish majuscule script, sometimes called Irish half-uncial. 'Garland' is the medieval Dublin rendering of ceithre leabhair, Irish for the four books [of the Gospels].
Open at the initial page for St Mark, INITIUM EUA(NGELII) (folio 22).
Book of Armagh
The New Testament and other texts in Latin, including the Confession of St Patrick. Written in Irish minuscule script by Ferdomnach for Torbach the Abbot of Armagh in 807. Presented by Lord John George Beresford, Archbishop of Armagh, in 1854.
Open at Ego Patricius, peccator rusticissimus et minimus omnium fidelium et contemptibilis sum apud plurimos....‘My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many....' (Folio 22r).