Kells, or Ceanannas Mór, meaning Great Fort, was known to be a royal residence before St. Colmcille established a religious settlement in Kells in 550 is considered by many historians to be one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. Today Kells is a pleasant and attractive town with all the commercial and leisure facilities one would expect to find in a town in modern Ireland. Uniquely, Kells, a living town over a thousand years old has its ancient and medieval remains everywhere in evidence. A walk through the town will lead visitors to realise that its physical treasures are the monastic layout of the town, the Monastic enclosure with the High Crosses, Round Tower, St. Colmcilles House and the famous Scriptural Market Cross which now dominates the entrance to the Heritage Centre.

Kells Heritage Centre is a vibrant visitor attraction located in the Heritage Town of Kells. Housed in the beautifully restored Courthouse are a multi-media exhibition, gift shop, coffee shop and Kells Tourist Information Centre. The Exhibition comprises one of the foremost facsimile copies of the Book of Kells, gifted to Kells by Trinity College, a number of fine replica artifacts from Monastic times, and the Famous Scriptural Market Cross of Kells, all explained by a short Audio/Visual presentation of Manastic Ireland. An explanatory DVD accompanying the Book of Kells allows visitors to view each page at their leisure. A wonderful scaled model of the Monastic Site as it was in early medieval times completes the Exhibition.

Book Of Kells
The Book of Kells is the most decorated illuminated manuscript to survive from the early medieval period in Europe. Most scholars agree that it was created by Columban monks on the remote island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland in the monastery founded by St. Columba (or Colum Cille) in the 560's. It is not known exactly when the book was transferred to Kells. The reputation of the Book of Kells rests on the profusion of its decoration, and the complexity with which the decoration is integrated with the text.

More Information:
Kells Heritage Centre,
The Courthouse,
Headfort Place,
Kells,
Co. Meath,
Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)46 9247840
Fax: +353 (0)46 9247684
Email: kellsheritagecentre@eircom.net
Website: www.meathtourism.ie

Download: Kells Heritage Centre Brochure 2 Mbyte .pdf file

Go To Google Maps: Map Of Kells