Kells was once one of the great centres of Celtic Christianity, its was here that the famous Book of Kells may have been written and illustrated. The exact history of the book is shrouded in the mists of time and historians can only loosely piece together the book's history based on scraps of evidence and vague clues. It is believed that in 563 AD, St. Colmcille (St Columba) founded a monastery on the Hebridean island on Iona. When it was plundered in 802 by Viking raiders some of the monks fled to Kells, bringing with them their precious treasure, The Book of Kells.
The book depicts the four Gospels, richly illustrated in Celtic imagery on vellum (calf skin) parchment. The book was probably completed in the monastery at Kells, and is now kept in Trinity College. Reproductions of the book can be seen in the Kells town hall and in the Protestant church.
AS for the monastery itself, little remains, the churches which once stood there have long since crumbled however a house and Round Tower can still be seen aswell as three ornate 9th century High Crosses. One of the crosses is interesting grooved near the base where it is said that English soldiers sharpened their swords.
Map of Kells
Getting To and Around Kells
For information on getting to and around Co. Meath, see our Co. Meath Transport Guide.
Public Transport to and around Kells
107 Kells - Abbey Road Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
107 Abbey Road - Kells Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
108 Bailieboro (Opp Bailie Hotel) - Kells Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
108 Kells - Main Street Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
109 Kells (Business Park) - Busáras Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
109 Busáras - Virginia Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
109A Kells (Business Park) - Busáras Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
109A Busáras - Kells (Opp Business Park) Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
109x Cavan Bus Station - Dublin (Merrion Row) Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
109x Busáras - Cavan Bus Station Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
187 Oldcastle - Kells Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
187 Kells - Ballyjamesduff (Percy French Hotel) Bus route operated by Bus Éireann
Public transport route information is Irish Public Sector Data licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence
Places to Stay in Kells
- Farrelly's Townhouse 2 John Street
- Headfort Arms Hotel Headfort Place
- Tom Blake House Tom Blake House, Bective St
Things to Do in Kells
- Headfort Golf Club - New Course Kells
- Headfort Golf Club - Old Course Kells
- Kells Heritage Town Kells
- Kells High Cross and Round Tower Kells
Places to Eat and Drink in Kells
- Masala Zone Indian Restaurant & Take Away Castle Street
- Pebbles Newmarket Street
- Round Tower Farrell Street
- The Bective Bective Square
- The Forge Restaurant Potteragh, Carnaross
- The Martry Restaurant and Bar Kells Road, Navan
- The Railway Bar (Kells) Coopers Park
- Vanilla Pod Restaurant Headfort Arms Hotel
Events in Kells
- Hindsight Kells
- Hinterland Festival Kells