Mullagh director’s ‘Great Book of Ireland’ to be screened on RTÉ tonight

RTÉ One will tonight premiere Mullagh director Alan Gilsenan’s documentary on ‘The Great Book of Ireland, (Leabhar Mór na hÉireann)’ which has been described as ‘Ireland’s modern-day Book of Kells.’

Samuel Beckett’s last handwritten poem is among the original work of 121 artists, 144 poets, and nine composers in this extraordinary 278 page single volume vellum manuscript, which also includes poems by Seamus Heaney and a poet in his late forties, one Michael D Higgins, the current President of Ireland.

The documentary – The Great Book of Ireland - commissioned by University College Cork (UCC) and directed by Alan Gilsenan, tells the story of the book, which was conceived originally in 1989 to help fund the capital plans for two support organisations for artists and writers. The original architects of the idea, and editors of the book were Theo Dorgan of Poetry Ireland and Gene Lambert of Clashganna Mills. Artists, poets, and composers were requested to contribute in their own medium what they believed represented their hopes, fears, dreams, or imaginings in the Ireland of that particular time, and which would have resonance in a thousand years - as the longevity of vellum allows.

Sebastian Barry, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Paul Muldoon are among those interviewed in the documentary. The Great Book of Ireland took two years to complete, contributors worked directly onto large vellum pages, with their work unified by calligrapher Denis Browne. Artists who contributed include Louis le Brocquy, Barrie Cooke, Patrick Scott, Tony O’Malley, Dorothy Cross, Pauline Bewick and Sonja Landweer. Among the contributing writers were Michael Longley, Eavan Boland, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Dennis O’Driscoll and John Montague. Bono and Daniel Day-Lewis also feature.

UCC acquired the book in 2012, so that it could be ‘preserved, promoted, and displayed in perpetuity on behalf of the Irish people’ commented John FitzGerald, Chief Librarian, UCC.

“The Great Book of Ireland is a tribute to the depth of Ireland’s art and culture and through the documentary we hope to illustrate the creativity, skill, and passion behind this remarkable book,” said Mr FitzGerald.

To display The Great Book of Ireland, UCC intends to develop a Treasures Gallery in its Boole Library, a fully secure and serviced space which will provide for public display and interpretation of a variety of artefacts.

RTÉ One will premiere ‘The Great Book of Ireland on Thursday, August 20th at 10.10pm.