Minister privileged to launch exhibition at packed Cathedral in Kilkenny

St. Canice's Cathedral has been humming with excitement, welcoming a wave of new visitors since unveiling its year-long exhibition, The Red Book of Ossory.

The much-anticipated 14th-century manuscript was recently returned to the Cathedral, where it was written 700 years ago. Last night, Thursday, August 29th, the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, T.D., was guest of honour at the official launch event.  

Minister Noonan said The Red Book was "a massive addition to an already remarkable array of culture and heritage on offer here in Kilkenny" and spoke about its potential to boost cultural tourism in the city and draw visitors from across the world before he declared the exhibition officially open.

 The exhibition is now open for all to step back through page and time to discover the lives of ordinary citizens in Medieval Kilkenny and learn about an 'extraordinary' bishop and his manuscript, The Red Book of Ossory. 

The Dean and Chapter welcomed over 100 guests, representing commerce, tourism, heritage, the church and the wider local community, to mark the occasion.

Other special guests at the packed event included Cllr Andrew McGuinness, Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr David Fitzgerald, Most Reverend John Mc Dowell, Archbishop of Armagh, Right Reverend Adrian Wilkinson, Bishop of Ossory, Bishop Niall Coll and Most Reverend John Mc Dowell, Archbishop of Armagh.

Speaking at the event, the very Rev. Stephen Farrell, Dean of Ossory, expressed gratitude to the Minister and welcomed esteemed guests. He said,

"Having the Red Book of Ossory back in Kilkenny is a huge boost for our city and for our collective tourism offering.  It is wonderful to be able to show such a book in its proper context – in the contemporaneous Chapter House in which some of it may have been written, only a few metres from Ledrede’s final resting place in the Chancel.  I trust that the Book will enrich the experience of many visitors to Kilkenny and offer an insight into one of the better-known figures in our medieval past."

Guests were entertained with a reflective monologue written by Kilkenny filmmaker John Morton and performed by well-known local actor Brendan Corcoran appeared, "not merely as a figure of authority, or as a representative of the See of Ossory, or even, as a ghostly spirit."

The piece highlighted that Ledrede’s record was crafted to preserve the essence of Kilkenny in the 1300s for future generations. It reflects on Kilkenny's resilience during challenging times, such as the famine, the Bruce invasion, and the Black Death and its ‘enduring spirit’ that continues today.  

The figure of Ledrede spoke of the importance of music, like The Red Book itself, a tradition that has endured the centuries, while the St Canice's Cathedral choir sang a piece composed by the good Bishop led by Dr Harry Meehan! 

Dean Farrell concluded,

"It is a proud moment for us in the cathedral to see the Red Book of Ossory return to this ancient place, and a great many people have been involved in the journey.

This exhibition would not have been possible without the support of a great many partners – the Heritage Council, Kilkenny County Council, Kilkenny Tourism, The Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, The Representative Body of the Church of Ireland, The Church of Ireland Priorities Fund, and Ecclesiastical Insurance.  I wish to thank each for their support and for their vision in realising what the Red Book could mean for Kilkenny."

St Canice’s Cathedral noted its gratitude to receive the Community Monuments Fund for St. Canice’s Cathedral Close & Tower project, kindly funded by CMF for €30,000 and thanked the Minister. The project is due to be completed in October 2024.

The Red Book of Ossory exhibition runs until August next year, 2025 accompanied by a series of talks, lectures, concerts, and educational programmes, available via Eventbrite. 

For more information and updates on The Red Book of Ossory, visit www.stcanicescathedral.ie