Elegantly interlaced ornaments, elaborate lettering and precious manuscripts open the door to a world hardly ever seen nowadays. ‘Words on the Wave’ shows how knowledge, writing and ideas circulated between the European mainland and Ireland during the early Middle Ages. The legacy of this early exchange shaped Europe’s cultural heritage and its impact is still felt today. Gall the monk was a central figure in this story; St Gallen was named after him.

The exhibition centres on ornate manuscripts from the Abbey Library of St Gall and Trinity College Dublin plus unique archaeological discoveries from the National Museum of Ireland. The principal exhibits among the items on display dating from the 7th to the 9th centuries are the richly illustrated Irish Gospels of St Gall, the Book of Armagh with texts about Saint Patrick as well as the famous Tully Lough Cross, one of Ireland’s most significant preserved processional crosses. They provide fascinating insights into the pictorial and written culture of the early Middle Ages, along with ornate art works, writing instruments and early documents of Old Irish. The exhibition reveals the close ties between Ireland and the European mainland over 1,000 years ago.

‘Words on the Wave’ is an adaptation of the exhibition of the same name that took place in Dublin in 2025. It was created in close cooperation with the National Museum of Ireland and the Abbey Library of St Gall. Important manuscripts and high-quality loaned items will be added to the National Museum Zurich exhibition.