In the number of ANTIQUITY which appeared in March 1934 there was an article by Mr A. W. Clapham, the object of which was to show that the Irish art which is exemplified by the ‘Book of Durrow’ and the famous ‘Book of Kells’ seems to be derived from the Northumbrian art of which the Lindisfarne Book is an example. The popular tradition, at least of the last hundred years, goes the other way: the ‘Book of Kells’ is popularly regarded as not only very splendid, but also very Irish. The purpose of what follows is to test and illustrate these views by the evidence of textual criticism. Most of what I have to say will be dreary to the student of art, and crambe repetita to the Biblical critic, but I venture to persevere, because I cannot help feeling that the text does throw some light on the illustrations.