Above : Book Of Kells

It was during this period that the oldest books written in Ireland, and still existing, were composed. It was then, also, that the earliest Gaelic literature which we possess was composed, or first put into the form in which it has come down to us. The oldest books, however, are not Gaelic literature ; they are, in fact, not original literature at all, but copies of the Gospels and the Psalms and are in Latin. These venerable books have been cherished and revered through thirteen or fifteen centuries. Attributed to the hands of some of the most celebrated of the early saints, they were, in later times, encased in beautiful and valuable shrines (called CtinroAc), and were generally consigned for safe keeping to certain families. Most of them, too, are remarkable for the wonderful illuminating art with which they are embellished.

These books represent but a tiny fragment of the work of the numerous Christian scribes and artists who occupied themselves in transcribing and illuminating copies of the Gospels, etc. The great majority of their productions was destroyed, either during the incursions of the Norse {Chap. VI)—who displayed great antipathy to these writings —or during the struggles against the invaders who succeeded them.

The most famous of these ancient books are the ” Domhnach Airgid,” the ” Cathach ” and the ” Book of Kells.” Of these the oldest is the ” Domhnach Airgid,” or the ” Silver Shrine,” so called from the beautiful triple ” Cumhdach ” of yew, copper, and silver in which it was encased in the tenth century. It was a copy of the Gospels, of which only a small portion now remains. The copy was supposed to have been made by St. Patrick himself, but in reality it was written some time later—in the fifth or sixth century. It is now preserved in the National Museum, Dublin.

Next in importance is the “Cathach” or ” Battler” which, despite its name, is a copy of the Psalms. Tradition attributes it to the hand of Colmchille, the story being that Colmchille made the copy surreptitiously from a MS. belonging to St. Finian of Moville. The latter appealed to the King, who ordered the copy to be returned to him on the principle —” To each cow its calf, and to each book its copy.” The ” Cathach ” became the great possession of the O’Donnells, the kinsmen of Colmchille, who always carried it with them into battle—whence it derives its warlike name. It, also, is in the National Museum.

The ” Book of Kells,” a copy of the Four Gospels, is the work of a monk in the Columban monastery of Kells during the seventh century. It is ” the unapproachable glory of Irish illumination,” whose pages are Ailed with intricate designs of the most elaborate art and exquisitely delicate skill—” the very passion of labour and devotion.” It is now in the custody of Trinity College, Dublin.

Other early books still existing are the ” Book of Burrow ” (another Columban monastery), which approaches in beauty to the ” Book of Kells ” ; the ” Book of Dimma,” written in the school of Roscrea ; and the ” Book of St. Moling ” of Ferns.