Builders move in to start work on National Typography Centre

Work has commenced in Kells on the development of the National Typography Centre at the Saw Mills.

The project will see a complete re-construction of the Saw Mills at Church Lane and will serve as a go-to place for tourists and people with an interest in traditional printing.

According to Mark Smith, who runs the annual TypeTrail Festival in Kells every summer, “It’s fantastic to see the builders moving in and starting to construct our new typography centre.

“It will house our completely restored printing works.”

According to Mark, “the site is within the monastic settlement of Kells and it’s going to be a wonderful asset to the entire country, in particular for people who have an interest in typography.

“The aim would be to establish a Centre of typographic excellence, building on our heritage of lettering as an artform dating back 1400 years or so to the Book of Kells.”

The new centre, when completed, will house the recently restored Kells printing presses which date back to the 1830s and began printing of the Meath Chronicle at Newmarket St in 1897.

The Chronicle subsequently moved to Navan where printing of the paper there commenced in 1907.

The big attraction in the Centre will be the Wharfedale printing press dating from the 1860s.

It is the same make as the Wharfedale press that was used in Liberty Hall, Dublin to print the Irish Proclamation in 1916.

The Wharfedale machine is one of only two if its kind currently on the entire island of Ireland.

According to Ken Murray, Chairman of Kells Local Heroes, this is shaping up to be a brilliant asset for the town.

“It will attract people to Kells which should increase spend in all retail outlets and will, no doubt, prove a huge hit with tourists.

“It’s the latest in a series of significant developments coming down the line that will bring huge benefits to Kells.

“A decision is due next month on a new shopping centre in the Town; work is expected to start shortly on the construction of 43 new housing units in the Carrick St/Maudlin St area; the Kells Public Realm Plan is being worked on and the Catherine McAuley Centre, we understand, was recently purchased.

“We’ve put in a lot of work over the past ten years to improve facilities and encourage development of certain projects and a number of them are now coming on stream.”

The new typography Centre has a construction budget of €1.7 million and a computerised video of the proposed final works can be seen on the ‘projects’ web page of Dublin architects OC&C.

According to Mark Smith, “this a dream come true for me. This project has been 14 years in the making.

“We’re very grateful to The Nevin Family from Moynalty who originally owned the property and let me use it to prepare displays for the annual TypeTrail Festival each year.

“Also, a special thanks to the Finnegan Family who donated the printing works and of course Meath Council, the District Council and the Irish Heritage Council as well as all the volunteers that have helped to make this a reality.

The National Typography Centre is expected to open towards the end of 2024.