The art of manuscript writing in Ireland developed with the introduction of the Christian monasteries in the 6th and 7th centuries.  One of the most famous manuscripts found in Ireland is The Book of Kells, which was found in Co Meath.  The manuscript dates back to 800 AD.  It is believed to have been written by the Columban monks at St Colmcille’s monastery, on the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland.  The book contains the four Gospels and is famous for its elaborate and ornate designs which cover the majority of the pages in the book.  It is one of the very few manuscripts of its time that survived the middle ages, and is now displayed at Trinity College in Dublin.