<P> The Secret of Kells is a 2009 French - Belgian - Irish animated fantasy film animated by Cartoon Saloon that premiered on 8 February 2009 at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival . It went into wide release in Belgium and France on 11 February, and Ireland on 3 March . </P> <P> It was directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, produced by Paul Young, Didier Brunner and Vivian Van Fleteren, written by Fabrice Ziolkowski, distributed by Gébéka Films, Kinepolis Film Distribution, StudioCanal and Buena Vista, edited by Fabienne Alvarez - Giro and music composed by Bruno Coulais and Kíla . It stars Evan McGuire, Brendan Gleeson, Christen Mooney, Mick Lally, Michael McGrath, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylak and Paul Young . It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature . </P> <P> Brendan, a young, curious, and idealistic boy living in the tightly knit community at the Abbey of Kells, is under the strict care of his stern uncle, Abbot Cellach . Cellach is obsessed with building a wall around the Abbey, in order to prevent Viking attacks . </P> <P> Brendan is apprenticed in the scriptorium of the monastery . After listening to the other monks of the monastery talk about Brother Aidan, the creator of the Book of Iona, Brendan is curious about the mysterious illuminator and "the book that turns darkness into light" (the unfinished Book of Kells). Aidan arrives in Kells, accompanied by his white cat, Pangur Bán, after his own monastery is destroyed by a raid . After eavesdropping on a discussion between Cellach and Aidan, Brendan wanders to the scriptorium, where he finds the still - to - be-completed book . Pangur Bán guards the book, but when the cat sees that Brendan means no harm to the book, she accepts him . Aidan arrives and tells Brendan about the book . </P>

Where does the secret of kells take place