The 12th-century Book of Leinster, celebrated for its genealogy, history, mythology and early placename lore, has undergone painstaking conservation over the past two years and is now the focus of a new exhibition at Trinity College Dublin. The manuscript was written in Old Irish and Middle Irish by Áed Úa Crimthainn, abbot of Terryglass monastery in Co. Tipperary. The Book of Leinster was formerly known as the Lebor na Nuachongbála or Book of Nuachongbáil. Nuachongbáil, a monastic site in Co. Laois now known as Oughaval, is where the manuscript was discovered. Dr Mícheál Hoyne outlined more of its history: “The Book of Leinster was rescued from possible oblivion by the Welsh scholar Edward Lhwyd at the end of the 17th century. At that time, the native schools of history, poetry and law had collapsed and traditional Irish learning was in danger of being forgotten altogether. The manuscript then spent most of the 18th century inaccessible to Irish scholars in an English nobleman’s library. It was finally presented to Trinity College as a gift to the Irish people in 1786.” The Book of Leinster came to Trinity in an unbound state. For some time, the fragile condition of its 400 vellum pages prevented it from being put on public display or consulted by researchers… until now. Find out more 👇 https://irishheritagenews.ie/book-of-leinster-on-display-at-trinity-following-conservation/