A campaign is calling for the Book of Kells to be returned to the Meath town.

The 1,200-year-old handwritten copy of the four Gospels of the New Testament has been on display in the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin since the mid-19th century.

It comes as protestors blocked access to the book earlier this week as part of a 'Freeze the Rents' housing protest.

Kells campaigner Ronnie McGrane told Lunchtime Live they want their book back.

"We need the Book of Kells back in Kells because it was stolen in 1640 by... Henry Jones," he said.

"He didn't ask to bring it for safe keeping, he took it.

"We'd like it back so we'd have more footfall here of tourists."

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Book of Kells exhibition at Trinity College during their visit to Dublin in July 2018. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Asked if there is a still a grudge over the incident from the 1600s, Mr McGrane replied: "Oh yeah, yes is the answer to that - we want our book back and that's it."

Mr McGrane said he would like see a "purpose-built monastery of the period" erected to house the historic book.

"Our American entrepreneurs would be only too grateful to give us $10,000 or $100,000 to have their name inscribed on cut stone on the building of the monastery," he said.

"There'd probably be millions left over."

Mr McGrane said he believes tourists would travel to Kells as it is "only an hour from Dublin".

'Does everything have to be in Dublin?'

Caller Vincent told the show the book should stay where it is.

"It has been on display in Trinity College since the mid-19th century - so, a long time there," he said.

"I bring anybody who visits me here in Dublin... to Trinity to see the Book of Kells.

"I think it's a most magnificent exhibition."

Aidan Wall, a local Kells resident, told the show the book should come home.

"Does everything have to be in Dublin? Surely to God it doesn't," he said.

"It was given to Trinity for safe-keeping in the 1650s; but whatever justification there was for that at that time, there is no justification for it now."

Mr Wall said making money off the artifact seems wrong.

"Trinity make a lot of money out of it... there's a moral issue there surely, isn't there?" he asked.

"This is a religious artifact; it's the four Gospels of the Christian bible.

"Trinity are using it to make money... a religious artifact like that, you shouldn't have to pay to see it.

"I think there's a moral issue there," he added.

Listen back here:

Main image: The entrance to the Book Of Kells at Trinity College Dublin in 2007. Image: Pictures Colour Library / Alamy Stock Photo