Kells council won't fight request to hand back artefacts

The National Museum of Ireland has asked Kells Town Council to return artefacts which have been on loan to the Kells Heritage Centre, which has been closed since last September. The museum wrote to the council expressing concern about the lack of curator care for the items, which include St Patrick's Bell Shrine, since the closure of the centre in the former Kells courthouse. The items also include the Shrine of the Book of Dimma as well as the Clogher Cross and are all monastic artefacts which show the artistry and reverence of monastic times. While the request is being seen as a further blow to the town's tourism potential, area manager Brendan McGrath said this week that the heritage centre could be up and running as something new and vibrant within two years. He told Monday night's meeting of the town council that Failte Ireland has indicated that it is willing to provide funding towards the centre, which is closed this year because the council cannot afford the running costs. The building is also in need of urgent repairs. The National Museum of Ireland has asked for the artefacts to be returned this month and, while the council is to meet with the museum, it is likely the council will have to return the items. However, the town's ancient crozier and facsimile copies of the Book of Kells are the council's own property and will not have to be handed over to the National Museum. At Monday night's meeting, councillors were informed about the letter from the National Museum, but were assured by Mr McGrath that the future of the heritage centre was bright and positive. He said the council had submitted a plan to Failte Ireland, which involved exploring the town's link with the Book of Kells and the rebranding of the centre as the Book of Kells Heritage Centre. Mr McGrath said that Failte Ireland had indicated it was willing to make capital funds available, as long as they were not solely for repairs to the centre. "We could be looking at physical works next year and, within two years, we could have something new, vibrant and alive in the centre," he said. Mr McGrath said that the Book of Kells was one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, and they could attract the people who go to see it in Trinity College to Kells to see the town from where it came. Cllr Sarah Reilly said they should be doing their utmost to keep the artefacts in the town. "We closed the heritage centre and we may not be seen to be taking our heritage very seriously," she said. Cllr Brian Collins warned that if the council "jumped up and down" and objected to handing back the artefacts, they might not get anything from the museum ever again and he urged the council to take the long-term view. Cllr Bryan Reilly said it was a reasonable request from the National Museum and they would have to show themselves to be co-operative. Cllr Oliver Sweeney said he had been delighted to see the town crozier on display in the town hall foyer and said it represented the total history of Kells. He suggested the council ask for special permission to display some of the artefacts in the foyer. "The council should ask what was needed to keep the artefacts in Kells," suggested Cllr Conor Ferguson. "We should consult with them and see what measures can be taken." Cllr Sean Drew pointed out that the crozier and the facsimile copies of the Book of Kells would not have to be returned as they were the property of the council. Cllr Tommy Grimes said the artefacfts had been on loan. Now, there was no heritage centre and they had to hand them back. He called for the clause which restricted the heritage centre to displaying the town's monastic history only be removed to allow other more recent historic displays. Cllr Frankie Lynch said they should look to the future and not get involved in hassle with the museum so that, when things were brighter, the museum might return the items to Kells again.