Benedict Week at Kylemore Abbey July 5-13, 2025

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To mark Benedict Week (5-13 July) the Benedictine Community of Kylemore Abbey will welcome visitors to a range of events at their new Monastery, including a Public Talk by noted academic historian and Benedictine monk, Br Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, of Glenstal Abbey.  

 

Public Talk:

The Book of Kells and the Myth of Monastic Perfection

DATE: Sunday 6th July

TIME: 4.00pm

VENUE: Great Hall, New Monastery, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Co. Galway

 

The Book of Kells is rightly regarded as a highpoint of medieval Irish art and one of the glories of the 'Golden Age' of Irish monasticism. Yet, it is a deeply flawed document, containing numerous errors, omissions and mistransciptions. This presentation explores how these faults and mistakes are emblematic of the monastic communities that produced the Book of Kells and other treasures. Far from invalidating these works, these 'happy faults' demonstrate how imperfect people can produce results of great beauty and enduring spiritual value.

 

Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB is a monk of Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick and a medievalist specialising in Irish monastic and religious history. The author and co-editor of several books and articles, his current research focuses on the social impact of religion in medieval Ireland.