Efforts to be made to bring ancient Pangur Bán to Kilkenny for display

Efforts are to be made to bring a book containing an ancient Irish poem to Kilkenny for a period to be put on display.

Pangur Bán is an Old Irish poem written by an Irish monk about his cat. It dates to the 9th Century, originating at or near Reichenau Abbey, in what is modern-day Germany. The Reichenau Primer containing it is now housed in the St Paul abbey library in Lavanttal, Carinthia in Austria.

Local TD John McGuinness raised the matter in a recent Oireachtas Select Committee meeting with Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan, saying he had an 'unusual request' for him to consider regarding the manuscript.

"It is now being kept in Germany but a lady from Kilkenny, Ms Rosaleen Crotty, who has connections to the Minister of State's party that go back over the years, is anxious that that book from the 9th Century be brought to Ireland for a period to be put on display," he said.

"Is that something the OPW would consider? The keepers of the book are quite happy to engage with the authorities here to make the book available. I am sure those in academia and involved in other studies of history would like to see it.

"Would the OPW engage with the authorities on the other side where we have direct contact and where verbal permission has been given in terms of the project itself? Could it then be made available through Kilkenny Castle or the universities for a period of time?"

Minister of State O' Donovan said it was the first he had heard of the matter, but he certainly would look into it.

"If he could give me the details, I will ask our officials at senior level in the OPW to look at it and engage with the relevant authorities wherever this manuscript is to see whether it would be more suitable to us or to the National Library of Ireland or whomever. We will certainly explore it," he said.

In the 2009 animated movie from Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon, The Secret of Kells - which is heavily inspired by Irish mythology - one of the supporting characters is a white cat named Pangur Bán who arrives in the company of a monk.