Kilkenny Homecoming of Historic Manuscript to St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower

The Red Book of Ossory on public display for the first time

St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower is set to launch a year-long exhibition dedicated to a remarkable 14th-century manuscript known as The Red Book of Ossory.  

The book was penned in Kilkenny almost 700 years ago by a most extraordinary bishop, the Bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede. On loan from the Representative Church Body Library, the book is returning ‘home’ to go on public display for the first time in history. Have a listen to Dean Stephen Farrell talking about the book and its history here.

People are invited to preview the exhibition and its centrepiece, The Red Book of Ossory, from Monday, July 29th at St. Canice’s Cathedral. The 79-vellum page artefact will “spark imagination and connect local people with their history,” according to the Very Reverend Stephen Farrell, Dean of Ossory.

14th Century Life of ordinary citizens through the lens of the extraordinary Bishop

The unveiling of a new exhibition at St. Canice’s Cathedral tells the stories of Medieval Kilkenny and the lives of our forebearers. It offers a glimpse into the life of ordinary citizens through the lens of the extraordinary Bishop Ledrede – who held the See of Ossory from 1317 to 1360.

A man of faith and science, Ledrede wanted to reinvigorate his See. To bring order and stability to the townspeople and clergy, setting traditions and laws to reflect the societal challenges of his time. He set out his vision within the pages of The Red Book of Ossory.

Dean Farrell commented, "The return of The Red Book of Ossory to where it was written is a significant part of our shared history from a hugely formative time in the life of our city.

Ledrede kept note of everything he thought was important. Just after the Black Death, he recorded the height of modern science, a three-page shorthand Latin recipe for aqua vitae. It would be like someone having a recipe for the COVID vaccine today. He tried to get the cathedral and the clergy into order."

Ledrede banned clergy from playing football on the grounds of the cathedral. He also said they should put away their concubines and 'none below the rank of a bishop is to absolve from murder'. In 1324, he famously accused noblewoman Alice Kyteler of witchcraft and heresy.

The earliest recorded recipe for distilling Aqua Vitae, a letter from King Edward III, an early provision of the Magna Carta, plus poems and songs composed by Ledrede are among its highlights.  

A journey through time and page

An important local artefact, The Red Book holds the earliest recorded recipe for distilling Aqua Vitae, used for medicinal purposes as the Black Death ravaged Europe. The 'water of life' is known as whiskey, today.

A letter from King Edward III is preserved along with an early provision of the Magna Carta and records of church state and law, theology, taxes and rents. Poems and songs composed by the good Bishop to replace the 'vile' secular songs of the townspeople.

It also set out several crimes that could lead to excommunication including, violence to the bishop, slander, tax avoidance and farming on church land.

The exhibition space will take visitors on a journey through the pages of the red book and look back at life in Ireland in the 14th century.

The exhibition features, Medieval Kilkenny, creating the book - why it was written, witchcraft, democracy and rights, poems and songs, aqua vitea - the water of life, The Magna Carta, King Edward's concern that the English in Ireland had gone native!

A hugely significant document that has survived the centuries and connects us with the past.

Despite plagues, war, and the passing of time, The Red Book has survived the centuries.

Written in Latin, Old English and French, it was intended for well-educated church members. Today it is displayed for all to see.

"Any day we welcome the people through the door of the cathedral is a good day! The cathedral that gives Kilkenny its name - Church of Canice, Chill Chainnigh, Kilkenny.

The book is as true to Kilkenny as it gets. Ledrede is woven through all our stories. We look forward to welcoming visitors from every corner of the world to see this remarkable piece of living history," Dean Farrell concluded.

The Red Book of Ossory exhibition opens on Monday, July 29th complemented by a series of talks, lectures, concerts, and educational programmes throughout the year at St. Canice’s Cathedral.

For more information and updates on The Red Book of Ossory visit the website here.