About
Part of the Columbanus Festival 2025
Pádraig Ó Macháin, Professor of Modern Irish at University College Cork, will examine the relics of a wonderful tradition of writing and craftsmanship by Irish monks ranging from Bangor to Cork from the 6th to the 19th century. Previously, as Professor at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, he founded the manuscript digitisation project, Irish Script on Screen.
Ireland boosts a rich tradition of hand-made books that survive from the 6th to the 19th century. In these books can be traced many aspects of the history of the island as well as the continuity of language, literature and script over many centuries. Today, the manuscripts are kept in libraries in Ireland and throughout the world and form part of a heritage which, through the digital age, is only beginning to be fully appreciated.
Professor Ó Macháin was recently involved in a research project which was featured in the "Words on the Wave" exhibition at the National Museum Dublin. It included DNA analysis of early medieval vellum manuscripts to determine the origin of cattle that provided the skins for the parchment, revealing the geographical source of the vellum used in Irish manuscripts housed in the St Gallen Library, Switzerland. This non-invasive research, led by Trinity College Dublin, used DNA from samples collected via a gentle eraser method to identify the genomes of the cattle, confirming the origin of the materials used for these significant historical texts.
Parking is available at SPACE theatre.
Online booking fees apply. Avoid the booking fee and buy direct through our Visitor Information Centres, by phone or in person. T's and C's apply.
Ticket sales will close at 12 noon on Friday 21 November.
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.00 per ticket |
Ticket sales will close at 12 noon on Friday 21 November.
Online booking fees apply. Avoid the booking fee and buy direct through our Visitor Information Centres, by phone or in person.
