Ennis Town Commissioners Minute Book

 

 

 

Minute Book Conserved for Civic Reception in

Clare County Council

 

 

 

Old spine Linings

Ennis Town Commissioners Minute Book  was required for a civic function in Ennis on Friday 22nd February. Irene Franklin, Archivist, Clare County Council had the volume delivered to us in   the bindery in Muckross House.

 

The volume required overall dry cleaning using smoke sponge, cotton wool and erasers. The first few section and the last sections were loose and in need of paper repairs. We toned Japanese tissue  and commenced tear and spine repairs.

 

Old index tabs were removed as these had been crudely attached at a later stage. After sewing the volume was lined with Japanese tissue and Aero Linen.

 

Repaired Volume

 

 

 

As the volume had no binding we rebound in a similar style to its original . Acid free elephant boards were laced in under linen joints. Rebound in an Acid free Archival calf  spine with Heritage buckram sides and Archival calf lettering piece blind blocked.

We managed to complete the project and delivered it back to Clare County Archives in the tight time frame window required.

Mucros Conservation Bookbinding, Muckross House,Killarney,Co. Kerry, Ireland. Tel : + 353 (0)64 6670151     

The Great Book of Ireland

Conservation work on the Great Book of Ireland

 

 

The vellum manuscript, which  has been described by Mary Robinson as a modern day Book of Kells, has been acquired by UCC  and is now safely housed in Special Collections. I have been involved in book conservation in UCC for about 10 years, and in conjunction with Cronan O'Doibhlin and the archivists, have been preparing this volume for its relaunch

Careful housing, handling, future exhibitions, digital imaging and long term safe storage are issues, as well as condition reports and conservation treatments.


Cronan O'Doibhlin, Conservator Paul Curtis,
Seamus Heaney, President Michael D. Higgins


Over the past few months I have been working on digital imaging, ( using the  talents of David Davidson ) and controlling  the  display conditions leading up to the launch in UCC on 18th January.
The Great Book of Ireland , which comprises the original work of nine composers, 121 artists and 143 poets, is a handbound vellum manuscript with original artworks, poetry and calligraphy.

Bound using Irish vellum in goatskin, over elm boards hewn from a tree planted by W. B . Yeats in Thoor Ballylee.

Three literature Nobel Laureates, Samuel Becket, Seamus Heaney and Derek Walcott feature.

It was produced in Dublin between 1989 and 1991.

President Michael D. Higgins marked the acquisition at a special ceremony in UCC, attended by many of the original poets and artists.

With original pieces by Louis le Brocquy, with Samuel Beckett's last ever handwritten contribution receiving particular attention.



Head of Samuel Beckett by Louis le Brocquy

 Mucros Conservation Bookbinding, Muckross House,Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland, Tel: 064-6670151