Town council takes legal advice on Trinity's Book of Kells trademark

Kells Town Council will object "in the strongest terms" to an application by Trinity College to use the Book of Kells image on sweets, clothes and cutlery, among other items, which will be sold by the college to tourists. The council says it is taking legal advice on how best it can object to a trademark application lodged by Trinity College, which houses the book, with The Office of Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM), a European body which registers trademarks. Kells councillor Oliver Sweeney tabled a motion of objection that was unanimously support by the council at the last meeting of the town council. The application by Trinity College is now at the stage called 'published' with OHIM which, despite its name, does not mean it is approved, as it is open to objection until 28th June. "We're taking legal advice," said town clerk Jarlath Flanagan. "There's been no correspondence between Trinity and ourselves, we're waiting on advice (from Regan McEntee, Solicitors) and then we'll be able to see where we stand regarding the objection." The Kells Tourism Forum, with the help of Kells Town Council, recently organised a presentation of a copy of the Book of Kells to the US embassy in Ireland, marking President Barack Obama's visit to his ancestral homeland. The cathaoirleach of Kells Town Council, Cllr Conor Ferguson, and local artist Patrick Morris, made a gift of the copy of the Book of Kells on Wednesday afternoon 18th May to the US embassy for President Obama, who did not get to view the original on his whistle-stop tour. The cover work was designed and carved by Morris in Irish oak, with metal clasps in the style of the Cathach - the 'Battle Book' of the O'Donnell clan.