Modern 'Book of Kells' celebrates Irish/Scottish links

Close historical links between Ireland and Scotland will be celebrated in a new Irish publication dubbed a ’21st Century Book of Kells’.

'An Leabhar Mór – The Great Book of Gaelic' brings together the work of 200 poets, artists and calligraphers from both countries.

It features colourful material from the sixth to the 21st centuries, including the earliest Gaelic poetry in existence.

Some 100 artworks used in the book have already toured five countries and have been seen by more than one million people.

Irish Gaels known as ’Scoti’ migrated into Scotland from the sixth century and gave the country their name.

The most famous artefact from Ireland’s golden age, the Book of Kells, was almost certainly begun on the Scottish island of Iona.

'An Leabhar Mór', which is edited by Theo Dorgan and Malcolm Maclean, will be launched tonight by Gaeltacht Minister Eamon O Cuiv in Dublin.

Publisher Ivan O’Brien of The O’Brien Press said: “Scotland and Ireland share a mythology, a rich music tradition, languages and history and we are honoured to celebrate that with the publication of this book.”

The 100 Gaelic poems have been nominated by leading poets and writers such as Seamus Heaney, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Máire Mhac an tSaoi.

The 100 visual artists – 50 from each country – were commissioned to respond to the poetry in a variety of media and include work by Scottish and Irish artists Allan Davie, Will Maclean and Rita Duffy.

This is the first time the book has been published in Ireland.

It was originally published in 2002 by Scottish publishers Canongate but has been out of stock for over two years.