We are not asking for a loan. We believe the Book of Kells was written and created in Kells. It was taken away. It simply needs to be returned home.
As for the concern about damage — modern conservation science means a manuscript can be safely transported and displayed under strictly controlled conditions. The Book of Kells has been moved before. It travels. The argument that it is too fragile to come home does not hold up to scrutiny.
What would it mean for Kells? Look at what happened to Clonmacnoise, or any site where heritage and place are reunited. The economic and cultural ripple effects would be felt across the whole of County Meath — in tourism, in jobs, in schools, in pride. This is not a small-town wish. It is a serious proposal with serious consequences for the region.