Durrow, Book of

Late 7th- or early 8th-century illuminated gospel book, associated with the church at Durrow, County Offaly, Ireland. An early example of the illuminated insular (this refers to the script style) gospel books, the Book of Durrow contains a copy of Jerome's Vulgate text of the four Gospels. Symbols and techniques found in the artistry of the illuminated pages suggest a Northumbrian origin, and indicate that the book may have had some influence on Ireland's more famous insular Gospel, the Book of Kells.

The Book of Durrow is closely associated with St Columba and after its compilation it may have been held on Scotland's island of Iona, St Columba's most famous monastic foundation. The book was in the possession of the church at Durrow by the early 12th century, when information about the church and monastery was added to its preface. Since its donation in the late 17th century by the bishop of Meath, the Book of Durrow has been kept in Trinity College library, Dublin.