Exploring Medieval Monastery Life Through Graffiti
A 1,300-year-old collection of graffiti reveals that life in medieval monasteries wasn’t just about sacred chants and texts. This fascinating graffiti is currently exhibited at Kildaa Street, in the National Museum of Ireland, as part of “The Word of Waves: Ireland and St. Gallen in Early Medieval Europe,” running until October 24th.
The museum has shared that the exhibition highlights over 100 artifacts, and guess what? Admission is free! A significant portion includes seventeen ancient manuscripts, some dating back to the 7th century, borrowed from the St. Galle monastery library in Switzerland.
One of the intriguing books on display is Priscian’s Institutions Grammaticae, written in the 6th century, while the graffiti originates from the 850s, crafted by Northern Irish monks. The museum suggests it was likely created in a monastery located in either Nendrum or Bangor, Northern Ireland, but within a decade, it made its way to the continent.
According to curator Matthew Sieber, this graffiti offers “a curious glimpse into the daily life and personality of early medieval Irish monks.” It’s characterized by humor and a sense of everyday struggles. For instance, one monk jotted down “Yelkild,” while others voiced complaints about the chilly weather and subpar materials. A lighthearted remark reads, “New parchment, bad ink. Ah, I won’t say anything more.”
Another entry reflects concerns over Viking raids, with the text describing “Bitter throws the wind of the night, the white hair of the ocean. I’m not afraid of a clear sea course by a fierce hero from Losslend.”
Sieber highlights the human aspect of the graffiti, saying it was full of “voice, humor, frustration, and resilience.” There’s also an 8th-century brooch, a Viking sword, and what’s deemed Ireland’s oldest and largest sacred book container featured in the exhibition.
In a statement, Cathal O’Donoghue, Chairman of NMI, expressed his honor in overseeing such a significant exhibition. He noted that it could be the most important one at the National Museum in decades, providing a unique context to showcase artifacts from their collections that have often been preserved and published for the first time.
