Here lies drowned the gold cover of Kells

In the year 1006-7, the Book of Kells (called in the Annals of Ulster "the great gospel of Columcille") wsa stolen by night from the western sacristy of the great stone church of Cevannus. It had a golden cover which has never been found since the theft. The book itself was recovered more than two months later and the Annals tell us how this treasure was then portected and watched over in good times and bad.

-- Otto Sims, Exploring the Book of Kells