Above: Shrine of Dimma’s Book

Soiseeal Molaise, in the shape of a small oblong box, or cumhdack, was made for a copy of the Gospels believed to have belonged to Molaise who founded the monastery in Devenish in the sixth century. It is inscribed with a prayer for the successor of Molaise and for its artificer. Smaller than the Loch Eirne shrine, it seems to have been made in the first quarter of the eleventh century. Gold, silver, copper, bronze and red enamel were used in its manufacture.
The Domhnach Airgid, or cumhdach of St. Patrick’s Gospels, is a yew case, covered with bronze, and plated. It belonged originally to the See of Clogher. Both these cumhdachs are preserved in our national collection, as are the cumhdach of the Stowe Missal and the cathach or cumhdach of Colm Cille’s Psalter. The cumhdach of Dimma’s Book is in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin ; those of the great Books of Durrow, Armagh and Kells are no longer known to exist. A silver cumhdach of Irish manufacture is mentioned among the treasures of St. Gall’s.    The cumhdach is peculiar to Ireland.
The Ardagh Chalice was found in 1868, with a bronze vessel and four brooches, near Ardagh, Limerick. This chalice, of the two-handled minstral form in use in the early Church, is composed of gold, silver and bronze, richly set with enamel, amber and glass. The number of chalices of its kind known to exist in Europe may be counted on the fingers of one hand : it is the only Celtic example that has survived. The names of the Apostles occur on the bowl, in letters an inch long, and corresponding with those in the Books of Kells, Armagh, Dimma and Moling. The chalice is thought to be contemporary with the Tara Brooch to which it is hardly inferior in execution and excellence. Authorities place it variously between the eighth and tenth centuries. The bronze vessel found with it is exceptionally well made and fits exactly into the chalice. One of the brooches is also very beautiful, though not equal to the chalice in design. Cormac mac Cuileanain bestowed a gold and silver chalice on Lismore and bequeathed a gold and silver chalice to Cashel.