Book of Kells Exhibition Receives €2.7 million Funding

Posted on: 28 July 2011

Transport, Tourism and Sports Minister Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring announced an allocation of €2.7 million in funding for the exhibition of the Book of Kells, in order to improve public access to the precious manuscript and the overall visitor experience. The funding was part of an allocation of €6 million to tourism projects in Ireland.

The Ministers announced the funding in the Old Library, Trinity College.  Minister Varadkar said the funding highlights the Government’s commitment to improving the quality of Irish tourist attractions so that Ireland can compete with the wide array of choice tourists are offered internationally.  Such investment will help to sustain and create jobs in the tourism sector and get Ireland back to growth.  The funding, from Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Capital Investment Programme, has been allocated to four projects across the country.

Welcoming news of the funding, Trinity College Librarian, Robin Adams said: “I am delighted that the generous grant from the Failte Ireland Tourism Capital Investment Programme will enable us to provide greatly enhanced access and understanding for the many visitors to the Book of Kells and the Library’s other great treasures, and to ensure that the iconic Old Library can be shared with the public as well as functioning as one of the world’s great research libraries.”

Other tourism projects which received funding were Garnish Island – €2.4 million; Killarney Downhill Mountain Bike Trail – €430,353; and Lough Rynn Infrastructure – €212,250.