"The Irish in Film"

"The Irish in Film," the film series sponsored by the Irish Studies Program, continues on Wednesday, March 22, with "The Secret of Kells" (2009).  The film was nominated for an Oscar in 2010 for "Best Animated Feature." Director Tomm Moore and writer Fabrice Ziolkowski based their collaboration on the medieval Celtic manuscript of the Latin gospels, "The Book of Kells." The visually compelling film draws on Irish culture and fantasy, while adhering to the history of the sacred text. "The Book of Kells" was first undertaken at St. Columcille's monastery in Iona in the Hebrides. The text was completed at the Clonmacnoise monastery on the Shannon River, which was subjected to Viking raids. The text eventually found its way for safe keeping at Trinity College, Dublin, where it can be viewed today.