Historic links explored between Kildare and Strasbourg

ABOVE: Naas historian Liam Kenny presenting a copy of “The Book of Kildare” by Eadestown calligrapher Josephine Hardiman to the Irish Ambassador in Strasbourg, Ms Caitriona Doyle.

A relic of St Brigid who inspired the original Book of Kildare has been treasured in in the Alsatian capital for a thousand years.

Liam said: "I was on my work travels to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and I brought with me a copy of Josephine Hardiman's wonderful "Book of Kildare". Josephine is an exponent of the art of calligraphy and seven years ago she set out to create a modern interpretation of the long lost "Book of Kildare" from St Brigid's monastery which was said to rival the "Book of Kells."   Josephine's calligraphy highlighting Brigidine stories from all parts of the country is a triumph of publishing and indeed almost a lifetime's work. 

"I brought a copy with me to Strasbourg because some  years ago - by chance - I came across a devotion to Kildare's St Brigid on the banks of the Rhine based on a relic - still extant and just a few hundred metres from where I am writing - which had been brought to the Rhine valley by Irish monks way back, in 720 AD.

"I thought it would be appropriate to present a copy to the Irish Ambassador in Strasbourg, Ms Caitriona Doyle, who expressed delight at such a renewed focus on an ancient connection between Kildare and Alsace."