'The history of Ireland is preserved on the backs of calves': Calligraphy expert Timothy O'Neill 

Cork University Press has republished The Irish Hand, delving into the incredible story of Ireland's manuscripts 

The Book of Kells is the most famous Irish manuscript, and Timothy O'Neill's book explains how it was part of hugely important practice among the clergy. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

For a small island on the periphery of Europe, early medieval Ireland wielded a substantial cultural influence on the continent, largely through the monks who carried their ideas and artistic traditions there. 

The evidence of their significant impact can be seen in the manuscripts they produced, many of which are held abroad. When the National Museum of Ireland hosted its Words on the Wave exhibition in Dublin from May to October of last year, at its centre were 17 manuscripts loaned by the Abbey of St Gall, a Swiss monastery. St Gall was an associate of St Columbanus, another Irish monk who made a lasting impact on Europe in the 6th century.