The earliest surviving Irish manuscript was written in the late 6th or early 7th century AD and is known as ‘An Cathach’. It contains the earliest examples of written Old Irish, apart from Ogham inscriptions (on standing stones). The Cathach is a book of Psalms (Psalter/prayer book) and its creation is attributed to Saint Columba/Columcille. The name of the book derives from the Irish Gaelic word, cath [KAH], meaning ‘battle’. An Cathach means ‘The Battler’. It became a holy relic for the Donegal clans. Before a battle, it was customary for the chosen monk to wear the Cathach around his neck, and then walk around the Donegal troops three times in order to give them protection and guarantee victory.

The Cathach is written on vellum and only fifty-eight leaves survive. It shows the distinctive Celtic half-uncial script (majuscule/capital letters). The initial capitals do not stand out from the text but are drawn into it by a series of letters of diminishing size (diminuendo). These capitals are often outlined by a series of red dots and their decoration is mostly in calligraphic spirals and trumpet designs. The manuscript’s poor condition may be due, in part, to the practices of superstitious farmers who used it as a cure for eye ailments in cattle, incurring water damage in the process.

The Cathach sparked the first ever dispute over ‘copyright infringment’. Columba loved books and when his old master, Finnian, brought back a Psalter from Rome, Columba surreptitiously made a copy in his own hand, with parts written in Gaelic. When Finnian discovered this, he laid claim to the copy. Columba refused to give it up and the question of ownership was put before King Diarmaid. The judgement went against Columba. The king proclaimed: “To every cow her calf, and to every book its son-book; therefore the copy you made, O Colum Cille, belongs to Finnian.”

A shrine was made for the Cathach sometime during the 11th century, consisting of a brass box measuring 9 inches long, 8 inches wide and 2 inches thick. The top is ornamented with silver, crystals, pearls and other precious stones. It shows an image of the Crucifixion and an image of St Columcille.

The Cathach is on view in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, and the shrine is on view in the National Museum, Dublin.