Back دير كيلز Arabic Abadia de Kells Catalan Abadía de Kells Spanish Kellseko abade-etxea Basque Abbaye de Kells French Mainistir Cheanannais Irish Biara Kells ID Abdij van Kells Dutch Kells abbedi NB Opactwo w Kells Polish
Mainistir Cheanannais | |
 Round tower at Kells | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 6th century/early 9th century |
| Disestablished | 12th century |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Columba/Cellach of Iona |
| Site | |
| Location | Kells, County Meath, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°43′38″N 6°52′48″W / 53.72722°N 6.88000°W |
| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Kells (round tower & High Crosses) |
| Reference no. | 158 |
The Abbey of Kells (Irish: Mainistir Cheanannais) is a former monastery in Kells, County Meath, Ireland, 59 kilometres (37 mi) north-west of Dublin. It was founded in the early 9th century, and the Book of Kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the abbey in the 1650s. Much of the Book of Kells may have been created there, but historians cannot be certain of the exact date and circumstances of its creation.