Cathy's Art Diary

Charming little exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology of relics associated with St Columba. The show celebrates 1500 years since the saint’s birth. He is one of the three patron saints of Ireland despite being best known for founding the monastery of Iona. There were just a handful of objects but their history was told clearly and you oddly felt like a direct link to the Saint even if the object had proved to be of a later date. My favourite pieces were the two silver encrusted boxes which were believed to have held some of his writings and which were both also used as battle standards. No closing date given

Interesting exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology looking at the monastic site of Glendalough in County Wicklow. The site was founded in the 6th or 7th century by St Kevin and, at its height, consisted of seven churches, a cathedral, a round tower and 1200 stone crosses. The exhibition told the story of the site and is role in pilgrimages in good, although wordy, information boards then showed objects excavated from the site and other monastic sites in Ireland to illustrate the narrative. I think the most moving item was some oat and barley from a kiln on the site. No closing date given.