REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE KELLS HERITAGE TRAIL KELLS, CO. MEATH
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE KELLS HERITAGE TRAIL KELLS, CO. MEATH 27 MARCH 1999
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am delighted to be with you today in the beautiful and historical town of Kells to launch the Kells Heritage Trail and I would like to thank Penny McGowan and Jess Olohan for inviting me to join you here.
Last month I had the pleasure of launching the Book of Kells Exhibition “Turning Darkness into Light” at Trinity College. It is an extraordinary and beautiful exhibition which not only highlights the exquisite work of the Book of Kells, but also sets the historical context in which it was produced.
It is therefore wonderful to come here today to the place which has such a proud association with our greatest national treasure. The Kells Heritage Trail is an excellent way of exploring the rich culture, beauty and monastic history of the town. It gives a real insight to locals and visitors alike of the meticulous and inspired work of the monks in Kells from the 9th to the 11th century. Their legacy is evident not only in cultural treasures such as the Book of Kells, but in the town’s visual landscape and physical structure.
The trail retraces the path of the monks to the former monastery’s physical and spiritual focal point. It highlights the many places of interest along the way, including St. John’s Cemetery, Kells Town Hall, St. Columbus’s Church and, most spectacularly, Kells Round Tower. The round tower is of particular historical interest and overlooks the five ancient roads leading to the town, corresponding to the five medieval town gates: Canon, Carrick, Maudlin, Dublin and Farrell gates.
The trail brochure, together with the information signposts along the walk, allows the visitor to step for a moment into our rich cultural heritage, to absorb the unique atmosphere which produced such extraordinary works of beauty and spirituality. It enables us to peel back the curtain of time, to give us all a window on to that world from which we have come, and from which we have drawn inspiration for over a millennium. It is a world which still has relevance for us today as we approach the third millennium, a world where respect for art, for serenity, for the soul, has given us the greatest of our national treasures and continues to inspire and shape our culture. It is remarkable that over a millennium after the book of Kells was produced it remains a high water mark of Irish learning, spirituality and the fusion of faith with art.
I have no doubt that the tourism and public interest that the Heritage Trail will generate, will greatly benefit the town. I would like to congratulate Kells Heritage Trust and all those who have been involved in researching and organising the trail, for their hard work and dedication. The Chairperson of the Trust, Cathal McEntee, the main researcher, Ann Murtagh and Aidan Wall, deserve particular credit. I also commend the Meath LEADER group for encouraging and supporting the development of the trail.
I wish all of you associated with the project great success in your future activities.