Media Release

For Immediate Release

June 11, 2008

Irish ambassador at home during visit to Saint Mary’s

Irish ambassador Declan Kelly had a chance to see the University's facsimile copy of the Book of Kells June 10 during a visit to Saint Mary's. Ambassador Kelly also visited the Art Gallery to see the Irish Collection of Aileen Meagher.

Declan Kelly, Ireland’s ambassador to Canada, was quite at home yesterday during a visit to Saint Mary’s.

While at the University, he met with Dr. Pádraig Ó Siadhail, the D’Arcy McGee Chair of the Irish Studies Program at Saint Mary’s and attended a reception with Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President of Saint Mary’s, and Dr. Terry Murphy, Vice-President Academic & Research.

He also had the chance to see the University’s prized facsimile copy of the Book of Kells at the Patrick Power Library and the collection of High Cross rubbings by Aileen Meagher that is part of the Permanent Collection at the Saint Mary's University Art Gallery.  

The ambassador was in Halifax to host a reception on an Irish navy ship that took part in Quebec’s 400th anniversary celebrations. During his stay, he met with community officials and business leaders to discuss and explore opportunities for economic development and partnerships.

The facsimile copy of the Book of Kells was presented to the University in 1990 by The Charitable Irish Society of Halifax. The copy is an exact reflection of the original, from the irregular page sizes to the worm holes eaten through the ancient vellum.

The Irish Collection of Aileen Meagher is a collection of approximately 150 rubbings and tracing of relief carvings taken from High Crosses throughout Ireland. Meagher made the rubbings and tracings on tissue, paper and fabric between 1960 and 1969 while traveling in Ireland. When she died in 1987, the collection was directed to the Chair of Irish Studies at Saint Mary’s.

-30-

For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca