From Page to Stage: Irish Dance Costumes and Illustrations from the Book of Kells

The Book of Kells is the most famous of the centuries-old Gospel books held at Trinity College Dublin and is viewed by thousands of visitors annually. The Book ‘symbolizes the power of learning, the impact of Christianity on the life of the country, and the spirit of artistic imagination’ (Meehan, The Book of Kells. London: Thames and Hudson, 2012: 13). It is especially renowned for its illustrations, including zoomorphic images and a variety of Celtic knotwork that collectively form a second canon of visual symbols of Ireland, in contrast to the colloquial catalogue featuring shamrocks and leprechauns. By using art from the Book of Kells, a link with antiquity has been presented as the ideological foundation for establishing an independent Ireland. One context in which the Book’s illustrations have played a significant role is clothing: first in women’s everyday attire from the late nineteenth century, followed by the ornamentation of Irish step dance costumes from the 1920s onwards. This chapter explores the adoption of Kells-based decorations for step dance outfits and describes how such costumes were employed to promote a cultural nationalism based on principles akin to those possessed by the revered Book: learning (of the Irish language and culture), Christianity (a grounding in Catholicism) and artistry (the propagation of Irish dance and music). The chapter also describes how, with Irish step dance becoming a global phenomenon and individualism being privileged, the treasured artwork from the Book of Kells has been altered, reimagined and theatricalised in the modern competition era.