Early Irish literature is the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe. The earliest existing examples of the written Irish language are Ogham inscriptions dating from the 4th century. Extant manuscripts do not go back farther than the 8th century.

Two Irish monastic foundations in the North of England, on the Island of Iona off the Scottish coast and in Durrow, had important insular scriptoria which produced the most glorious manuscripts in the seventh and eighth centuries. The Abbey of Lindisfarne, where one of the earliest masterpieces of Western book painting originated, was founded by Iona as a daughter house on an island not far from the mouth of the River Tweed.

Around the end of the seventh century the artistic activity of the Irish monks shifted from Scotland to England. The monastery of Lindisfarne was founded in Northumbria. Its unique manuscript, the Book of Lindisfarne (Lindisfarne Gospels) was produced around 700 and inspired artists in German scriptoria to adopt its use of sophisticated pictorial patterns.

Early Irish manuscripts are not just texts but works of art in their own right.

Preview	Picture Data	File Info	Comment
	Book of Durrow 650-700 Manuscript (Ms. A.4.5 [57]), 245 x 145 mm Trinity College Library, Dublin	750*1248 True Color 231 Kb
	Book of Durrow 650-700 Manuscript (Ms. A.4.5 [57]), 245 x 145 mm Trinity College Library, Dublin	811*1200 True Color 214 Kb
	Book of Durrow 650-700 Manuscript (Ms. A.4.5 [57]), 245 x 145 mm Trinity College Library, Dublin	801*1100 True Color 245 Kb
	Book of Durrow 650-700 Manuscript (Ms. A.4.5 [57]), 245 x 145 mm Trinity College Library, Dublin	820*1300 True Color 226 Kb
	Book of Durrow 650-700 Manuscript (Ms. A.4.5 [57]) Trinity College Library, Dublin	693*1200 True Color 209 Kb
	Book of Durrow 650-700 Manuscript (Ms. A.4.5 [57]) Trinity College Library, Dublin	515*1200 True Color 87 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	900*1229 True Color 236 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	839*1200 True Color 236 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	900*1255 True Color 254 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	800*1006 True Color 241 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	900*1035 True Color 250 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	900*1321 True Color 198 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV) British Library, London	954*1200 True Color 105 Kb
	Book of Lindisfarne c. 700 Manuscript (Cotton Ms. Nero D. IV), 340 x 245 mm British Library, London	817*1100 True Color 145 Kb
	Echternach Gospel Book c. 700 Manuscript (Cod. lat. 9389), 335 x 260 mm Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris	1000*1337 True Color 190 Kb
	Echternach Gospel Book c. 700 Manuscript (Cod. lat. 9389), 335 x 260 mm Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris	900*1267 True Color 164 Kb
	Echternach Gospel Book c. 700 Manuscript (Cod. lat. 9389), 335 x 260 mm Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris	821*1153 True Color 134 Kb
	Echternach Gospel Book c. 700 Manuscript (Cod. lat. 9389), 335 x 260 mm Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris	900*1281 True Color 145 Kb
	Echternach Gospel Book c. 700 Manuscript (Cod. lat. 9389), 335 x 260 mm Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris	900*1205 True Color 135 Kb