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In 559 AD St. Colmcille established a monastery in Kells and around the same time he also established monasteries in Derry and Durrow. The Saint then went into exile to the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. In 807 the monks at Iona abandoned the island and fled to Kells, bringing with them their most sacred manuscript known today as the Book of Kells, after 68 of the order were murdered by Viking raiders. The town of Kells is probably best known for The Book of Kells which was completed in the 9th century and remained there until 1541 to finally be moved to Trinity College in Dublin in 1661. The town of Kells continued to prosper until the 12th century when having sustained several attacks by local as well as Norse raiding parties, with the coup de grace being delivered by the arrival of the Anglo-Normans, Kells could take no more. After the arrival of the Anglo-Norman invaders in the 12th century, activity at the monastery ceased. In the years following the invasion, a castle was built and Kells became a walled town. Throughout the following centuries it sustained multiple attacks, either by the natives or by the invading English until the town was completely pillaged and destroyed in the 17th century.
Since the 17th century, Kells has managed to spring back and regain its status as a bustling and thriving town, but unfortunately, there are no remains of the castle to be seen. However a small portion of the wall remains at the back of Cannon Street. You could also visit the 100 foot round tower, Columbia's Stone House and sculptured crosses dating to the 9th and 10th centuries.
While in Kells you could shop in the many shops and enjoy the activities that are available such as horse riding, fishing, golfing, hiking, and swimming. At the end of the day you can enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the town by visiting one or more of the 18 public houses and finishing your evening in one of the many quality accommodations available to you during a visit to beautiful Kells.
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