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The Book of Kells is a medieval Irish manuscript containing the Four Gospels, a fragment of Hebrew and the Eusebian canons. It is known also as the 'Book of Columba' because it was written in honour of Saint Colmcille in the monastery of Iona. An entry in the 'Annals of Ulster' under the year 1006 records that the 'Gospel of Columba' was stolen from the Monastery at Kells in that year. According to tradition, the book is a relic from the time of Colmcille and even the work of his hands, but, paleographic evidence and the ornamentation would suggest otherwise and the date of its composition cannot reliably be placed earlier than the end of the 7th or beginning of the 8th centuries. The ornamentation and design in the Book of Kells is typical of Irish religious art at its zenith. Some small portions at the beginning and end of the manuscript have been lost, but otherwise it is in a very good state of preservation. The Book was held in the Cathedral of Kells (*Ceanannas*) in County Meath where it remained until the year 1541. In the seventeenth century Archbishop Ussher presented it to Trinity College, Dublin, where it is by far the most important manuscript in the Library's collection. © Is lámhscríbhinn í Leabhar Cheanannais a chuimsíonn na Ceithre Soiscéal, míreanna san Eabhrais agus na canónacha Eusebiacha. Tugtar "Soiscéal Cholmcille" air comh maith mar gur scríobhadh é in onóir do Naomh Colmcille i mainistir Oileán Í. Tá clárú a rinneadh in Annála Uladh sa bhlian 1006 ina bhfuil cuntas faoi mar a goideadh "Soiscéal Cholmcille" as Mainistir Cheanannais sa bhliain sin. De réir an tseanchais, deirtear gur iarsma an leabhar a mhair ó aimsir Cholmcille agus fiú amháin gur saothar í óna lámh fhéin, ach ceaptar ón fhianaise paleagraifeach agus fosta ón ghréas nach féidir linn bheith cinnte gur cumadh é níos luaithe nó deireadh na 7ú Aoise nó tús na 8ú Aoise. Tá an maisiúchán agus an gréas atá ar Leabhar Cheanannais mar is dual do Ealaín Diaganta na hÉirinn nuair a bhí sí i mbarr a réime. Ta míreanna beaga caillte ó thús agus ó dheireadh na lamhscríbhinne ach taobh amuigh de seo tá sí caomhnaithe go han mhaith. Coinníodh an leabhar in Ardeaglais Cheanannais, áit a raibh sí go dtí an bhliain 1541. San seachtú aois déag, bhronn an t-Ardeasbog Ussher i ar Choláiste na Tríonaide, Baile Átha Cliath, áit a bhfuil sí ar an lamhscríbhinn is iomraití atá sa bhailiúchan. © |
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