Abbey of Kells Abbey of Kells The Abbey of Kells ("Mainistir Cheanannais" in Irish) is a former monastery in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, north of Dublin. It was founded in the early 9th century, and the Book of Kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the abbey in the 1650s. Much of the Book of Kells may have been created there, but historians cannot be certain of the exact date and circumstances of its creation. The Abbey of Kells was reportedly founded by St. Columba ca. 554, after High King Diarmuid Mac Caroll of Tara
Kells (County Kilkenny barony) west. The barony was part of the territory of the Ua Glóiairn clan of Callann, and in the historic kingdom of Osraige ("Ossory"). Kells Priory is located in the barony. Today it is part of the Roman Catholic Church diocese of Ossory and the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel and Ossory. Kells is currently administered by Kilkenny County Council. The name ""Kells"" developed from the ancient (pronounced Kannanas, accent on the first syllable). Still today "Ceanannas" is used by Irish speakers. After the Norman Invasion ""Ceanannas"" was corrupted into ""Kenelis"", and later into ""Kells"". From the 12th century onward,