Recording the Past: The Annals of Inisfallen and the Making of Irish History

One of the most important surviving records of medieval Ireland, the Annals of Inisfallen chronicles more than a thousand years of history, capturing the lives of kings, monks, communities and events that shaped Munster and beyond. Associated with the monastic communities of Lismore, Emly and Inisfallen Island in Killarney, the manuscript is a priceless witness to Ireland's medieval past and a cornerstone of Irish historical scholarship.

On special loan from the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see the manuscript in person. Through original artefacts, archaeology, film, sound, digital technologies and interactive displays, visitors can explore the world in which the Annals were written. The exhibition places the manuscript alongside objects from Inisfallen and the wider medieval landscape (on loan from the National Museum of Ireland) revealing the cultural, religious and political networks that connected Munster to a wider world.

Bringing together scholarship, technology and creativity, Recording the Past invites visitors to discover how generations of scribes recorded the events they believed mattered most, and how those records continue to shape our understanding of Irish history today. The exhibition is organised by the Boole Library and accompanied by a programme of talks, tours, workshops and public event which will be announced at a later date.