The historic Book of Lismore is returning to Ireland for a brief exhibition in Cork.
The 15th-Century manuscript, which, among other things, contains
chronicles of the lives of early Irish saints, will be on display at the
Lewis Gluckman Gallery in University College Cork (UCC) from July 22 -
October 13.
The book was seized during a raid in the 17th Century from Kilbrittain and was taken to England.
It is believed that the script was created to commemorate the
marriage of the Gaelic prince Finghin MacCarthy Reagh and his wife Lady
Catherine, daughter of Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond.
The book
was stolen by Lord Kinalmeaky and taken to Lismore Castle.
Through inheritance by marriage, the manuscript eventually found its
ownership and home with the Duke of Devonshire in Chatsworth, England.
This will be the first time that the manuscript has returned to
Ireland and will be available for public display in the country.
The manuscript contains 166 pages of vellum detailed in rich text and written in an old Irish which is not spoken today.
The manuscript was rebound in the 1940s after damage from water,
rodents and staining from the use of chemicals to improve the legibility
of the book's writings.