‘It’s time to bring the Book of Kells home’

Campaigners who want the return of the Book of Kells to the north Meath town say funding of €25million sought by Trinity College to redevelop their library could be used instead to build a purpose facility to house the priceless artefact in Kells.

"For €25 million, we could provide an extremely safe home for the Book of Kells here in Kells. We want it returned to the town," said local campaigner, Ronnie McGrane.

Trinity College has applied for €25 million in government finding to redevelop their historic library which contains the Book of Kells.

In its application the college has warned of the risk of a fire like that which struck Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral.

They said a “litany of destructive fires” at historic buildings around the world illustrated the risks of deterioration and damage to the library, which houses the Book of Kells.

Ronnie McGrane said that €25 million could be used instead to provide a purpose built replica “medieval monastery,” which could safely and securely house the Book of Kells.

"All the necessary fire proofing and conditions for keeping the book safe could be included.

"And for that money we could afford to have helicopters and gunships to guard it and keep it safe!'

"A purpose building could house many artefacts of the era and give visitors an experience of what life was like in the monastery in Kells," he said.

"We want the book back in Kells. If we had a facility where we could offer the complete visitor experience it would benefit the whole county.

"Trinity College doesn't advertise the town of Kells or send us visitors to see our high crosses," he said.

The university wrote directly to Taoiseach Micheál Martin recently seeking financial support and saying the fire at Notre Dame “underscores the urgency of the project”.

They said it had been 50 years since any major work had taken place at the Old Library and that it was now in “vital need” of upgrading.

The college's submission stressed the need for the updating and improving of the fire prevention and suppression systems in the Old Library, especially in the wood-lined, cathedral-like Long Room.

The university pointed out that collections contained in the Old Library are, collectively, the most valuable, and at the same time, the most vulnerable assets in the university.

Trinity also warned that the damage to Ireland’s reputation would be “incalculable” if anything were to happen to the famous Long Room or the Book of Kells.