A meticulously handcrafted replica of the 14th-century manuscript, The Red Book of Ossory, is on display at St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.
The original volume will be archived at the Representative Church Body (RCB) Library for a conservation “rest”.
The model has been meticulously reproduced by manuscript conservator Dr John Gillis, and calligrapher and historian Timothy O’Neill, for an exhibition exploring medieval Kilkenny through the lens of Bishop Richard Ledrede, who wrote the book 700 years ago.
In 1324, he famously accused noblewoman Alice Kyteler of witchcraft and heresy, which led to the first witch trials in Ireland.
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The manuscript contains historical records. Four pages are outlined in the exhibit, including the earliest recorded recipe for distilling Aqua Vitae (whiskey), a letter from King Edward III, an early provision of the Magna Carta, and poems and festive songs composed by Bishop Ledrede.
Creating the replica took five months. It involved sourcing sheepskin as per the original, and quarter-sawn oak for the cover from a wind-felled tree in Glenstal Abbey. The text block and end bands were sewn around treated rawhide supports with linen, and were oversewn with decorative blue and red threads.
“There have been a few technical issues, things I’ve had to work out that are not typical of medieval structures, and so I’ve had to make models of the model, almost, to overcome the technical hitches,” Dr Gillis says.
The Dean of Ossory, the Very Reverend Stephen Farrell, said the replica meant the Cathedral’s heritage could now be shared “openly and safely, ensuring the original can endure for future generations”.
