A CALL for the priceless Annals of Innisfallen to be returned to their natural home has been made by Killarney councillor, Brian O’Leary.
He has initiated a campaign for the return of the Annals on a temporary loan of six months each year to facilitate public viewing in the town of their origin.
The Annals are currently housed at Oxford University but Cllr. O’Leary has called for the historic book6 to be returned to Killarney on a temporaty basis every year.
"I believe these Annals should be on display, possibly at Killarney House, for the benefit of tourists and the people of Killarney,", Cllr. O’Leary told The Kingdom.
He said Killarney House – the former residence of the McShain family – is due to be open to the public in the near future and it would be the perfect base for the Annals to be displayed.
Cllr. O’Leary has already requested the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Sile De Valera to contact the relevant British authorities to organise the loan. Display
The Annals were on display at Muckross House, Killarney for a successful two-month period in 198 and, since then, calls have been made for their return.
"It would be a nice gesture by Britain to allow them to be returned to their rightful home, if even for half year periods," said Cllr. O’Leary, a Fianna Fail member of Kerry County Council.
"Culturally, they would be a great boast to Killarney," he stated.
The Annals were compiled by a number of scholars between 300AD to the last entry in 1326AD.
During this time Innisfallen was an academic community similar to that of a University.
After the dissolution of Innisfallen, the annals passed through the hands of a number of private collectors until they were acquired by Richard Rawlinson in 1747, who bequeathed them to Oxford following his death.
