[MR] Wikipedia: Irish Soiscél Molaisse

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today's featured article on Wikipedia's home page is all about the Soiscél
Molaisse. This literally means "Gospel of Molaisse", but the book itself is
now lost and only its "cumdach" (an embellished box) remains. The book was
probably a "pocket gospel" and is associated with Saint Laisrén mac Nad Froích,
aka Molaisse, a 6th century Irish priest.

The amazing box is just 5.8 by 4.6 inches, but has a depth of 3.3 inches.
It is made of yew wood reinforced by bronze, and dates to the 8th century.
In the early 11th century the box was clad in silver plates. These were
enhanced with more silver in the 15th century. Some of the later
decorations are now missing.

The original box is in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soiscél_Molaisse .

There is a replica in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, with the
missing pieces "restored" as the box might have looked. Since you may not
want to travel just now, content yourself with this catalog listing:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/463159 .

A short biography on Saint Molaisse is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laisrén_mac_Nad_Fro%C3%ADch
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laisr%C3%A9n_mac_Nad_Fro%C3%ADch> .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆