I love losing myself in their pages on a rainy day. The book of kells is a precious manuscript dating back, probably, to the 9thcentury a. The book of kells has a long and muchdisputed history with experts divided not only on where it originates but when and by who. Bicycles at trinity college, dublin how to see the book of kells for half price or free. Authenticity tours offers a combined ticket which incorporates discounts on the cost of a guided tour of trinity college dublin and the admission fee to the book of kells and old library exhibition. The tickets can be bought on location the till is located in the souvenir shop, just beside the library entrance or online and give access to both the book of kells and the long room. The book of kells is not only the finest existing work of its kind, its also an irish national treasure. The library is absolutely stunning, housing 200,000 of the librarys oldest books the room made an avid reader such as myself want to grab a book and spend the entire afternoon reading. Palmer expressed a keen interest in the fields of drama, poetry and french and irish literature. How to see the book of kells for half price or free. A visit to the book of kells has become almost compulsory for visitors to the city centre. Certainly the book itself is a marvellous artefact. Instead, the highlight for me was getting to see trinity college librarys magnificent, librarylustinducing long room. Using a backstory which includes wineries, vikings and remote scottish islands, the book of kells can depart the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Seeing the book of kells in dublin changes in longitude. Sep 26, 2017 to over 600,000 visitors a year, trinity is synonymous with the book of kells. We gave the book a quick glance, and then upstairs to meander in the library. Book of kellslong library the book of kells and the old. Ungarelli and the acquisitions librarians decided to purchase the fine art facsimile edition of the book of kells as the cornerstone of the library s commitment to her bequest. Welcome to the old library and the book of kells exhibition within historic trinity college dublin. Here are ten things you should know about this ancient masterpiece. In 1661, the book of kells was presented to the library of trinity college, university of dublin, by the bishop of meath, henry jones. This illuminated manuscript contains the four gospels of the bibles new testament and other sacred texts, written in latin. The book of kells and the old library e although the only things are books to watch, knowing the age and history of them, put goose skin on me.
Frequently asked questions about the book of kells faqs. Go through the narrow lane between the old library and the 1937 reading room and turn left to the old library entrance, where the book of kells is on display. Book of kells and old library in dublin attraction frommers. But that ninthcentury manuscript is only part of the story. Also incorporating the long room, the old library is one of irelands biggest tourist attractions, and holds thousands of rare, and in many cases very early, volumes. Visit the trinity college library, home to the famous book of kellswidely considered among the most important of all irelands ancient treasures. Bought a timed ticket for 10 am, so had most of the tourists in dublin. To see the book of kells and the old library for half price, visit 30 minutes before the library closes. While the book of kells would be justly famous for its age alone, its renowned for its spectacular artwork. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables. For conservation reasons, the book of kells will not be on display from november 4, 2019, to early march 2020. Photo about the book of kells, the long room library in trinity college library in dublin, ireland.
We wish to inform you that the book of kells and old library exhibition will temporarily close to visitors until further notice. A ticket to the book of kells includes access to the trinity college library s long room, where youll find an original copy of the 1916 proclamation of the irish republic and a medieval harp. The book of kells and the old library exhibition, dublin. The worldfamous, 9th century book of kells, written over 1,000 years ago. The gorgeous library at trinity college is home to remarkable treasures of irish identity. But despite visiting dublin on numerous occasions, i had never visited one of the most famous books, in one of the most famous libraries, in the world the book of kells in the trinity college library.
As well as being the largest library in the country, it also holds the book of kells, which was written by monks over 1200 years ago and is now one of the most famous and valuable manuscripts in existence. Talks last 1520 minutes and are free for ticket holders to the book of kells exhibition as well as trinity college students and staff. The two ways to avoid paying the 10 fee to see the books of kells are as follows to see the book of kells and the old library for half price, visit 30 minutes before the library closes. However, a team of trinity researchers discovered the pigment was produced from a flowering plant known as woad, which was cultivated in ireland around the time the book of kells was created. Generally speaking, the library closes at 1700, though there are some exceptions.
Before you visit the book of kells you will walk through the famous long room which star wars episode ii jedi archives were modeled to look like. Nov 05, 2015 together with the gospels of lindisfarne and the book of durrow, i would say that the book of kells is one of the greatest contributions to medieval art ever to come out of the british isles. The book of kells washingtoncenterville public library. The medieval masterpiece, the book of kells, is now. We also walked to the famine boat and that was worth the trip. Believed to have been created around 800 ce, the work is on permanent display at trinity college library in dublin. Visit the book of kells and the old library exhibition on. This decision has been made to protect the health and safety of our visitors and the university community. The book of kells, the long room library in trinity. Trinity college dublins old library and book of kells. We just returned from the 14 day tour, and waiting in that long line was not worth the book of kells. Visiting the book of kells at trinity college library, dublin.
An illuminated manuscript written around 800ce, this exquisite work of art has stood for 1,200 years as the greatest example of medieval illumination and is one of the most studied books in the world. Book of kells the catholic encyclopedia religionfacts. One of irelands major cultural and artistic treasures, the book of kells and the old library exhibition counts among the oldest texts in the world, dated to the 9th century. Trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition heritage. During this period, ticket prices are reduced by 15% and visitors can still see the book of kells exhibition and the long room. In the seventeenth century archbishop ussher presented it to trinity college, dublin, where it is the most precious manuscript a. The room is beautifully decorated, even the ceiling is a work of art, so dont forget to look up when you visit. A fullcolor replica of the book of kells will be available to view in the trinitys long room library, one of the worlds most beautiful libraries, which houses over 250,000 early printed. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin, ireland. During this period a fullcolor replica of the book of kells will be available to view in the trinitys long room library. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin.
The book of kells is an artistic masterpiece acclaimed as the most beautiful book ever written. Book of kells and old library in dublin attraction. But now you can see it in close detail without ever setting foot on irish soil or even leaving home. The library at trinity college is home to six hundred. You enter a room with large poster size copies of the book of kells and videos explaining more about it. The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation.
The book of kells is inches wide and 10 inches high. The book of kells archives and special collections. Because back in 1801 the library was granted the right to claim a free copy of every book published in britain and ireland. Today the book of kells and the library that it lives in are a couple of the most popular attractions in dublin. The book of kells is located in the old library building, on the south side of library square, inside trinity colleges main campus. It stands over 200 feet tall and houses over 200,000 of irelands oldest books and manuscripts. For a long time, the blues in the book of kells have been thought include ultramarine blue, which comes from the precious mineral lapis lazuli. Lasting 35 minutes, the tour encompasses the four major squares of the college.
Visiting the long room at trinity college library in. Oct 10, 2011 exiting the small museum, containing the book of kells, you enter into, what to me is, a perfect slice of heaven the long room of the trinity college library. The two ways to avoid paying the 10 fee to see the books of kells are as follows. The library building itself was built between 1710 and 1732 so its almost a toddler in comparison. Pride of place is given to the book of kells, an illuminated gospel manuscript dating from the 9th century. The library houses one of the few remaining copies of the easter 1916 proclamation of the irish republic which was read outside the gpo by patrick pearse at the commencement of the rebellion. I did it as a short course so that i could teach second level students about it and bring students into the library at trinity college dublin to view the manuscript.
Alternatively you may enter through the nassau street entrance. You will also be able to visit the long room the main chamber of the old library, see the oldest harp in ireland and also one of the copies of the 1916 proclamation of the. The grand chained library holds many rare works on irish history and presents frequently changing displays of classic works. It was created by celtic monks some time around 800 ad. Book your tickets online for the book of kells and the old library exhibition, dublin. The book of kells exhibit and the old library are well worth the time and cost. This saved us a long wait, which was so worth it as i was having hip surgery three days after our trip and extra. The book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing four gospels of new testament matthew, mark, luke and john together with various prefatory texts and tables. The old library book of kells exhibition dublin visitor centre.
Trinity college dublins old library and book of kells youtube. The book of kells, the long room library in trinity college. The best way to see the book of kells is early in the morning, before the rest of dublin is awake. Entrance to the grounds of trinity collegethe book of kells, displayed at trinity college, is in a few words, an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels in latin that likely came from iona to kells when viking raiders forced the monks to leave with their relics and books. Discover the long room library at trinity college in dublin, ireland. Book of kells removed from public display through march. Among the things which people love about ireland is that nearly anyplace you see there is something unexpected. Book of kells tour monastic treasures with a historian. Campuses brooklyn post global pharmacy veterinary medicine regional locations. The star of the show is the book of kells, a breathtaking, illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the new testament, created around ad 800 by monks on the scottish island of iona, but more stunning still is the 65m long room, the library s main chamber, which houses around 200,000 of the library s oldest volumes. The book of kells and the old library a trip to trinity college to see the extraordinary book of kells has so much more to offer than the chance to see the book itself. Built between 1712 and 1732, the long room at trinity colleges old library holds the collections 200,000 oldest books. Written over years ago, it contains lavishly hand decorated copy, in latin, of the four gospels.
Visitors can combine a tour here with a visit to nearby dublin castle. Nov 12, 2015 we next hear of it at the cathedral of kells irish cenannus in meath, a foundation of columbas, where it remained for a long time, or until the year 1541. We next hear of it at the cathedral of kells irish cenannus in meath, a foundation of columbas, where it remained for a long time, or until the year 1541. To over 600,000 visitors a year, trinity is synonymous with the book of kells. The book of kells is located in the old library, along with the book of durrow, the book of howth and other ancient texts. The magnificent old library built in the 18th century houses the book of kells a 9thcentury. We entered directly for a morning tour time with online passes, but later in the day the queues were. Visiting dublin in not complete without a visit to trinity college with the book of kells and the long room library. The star of the show is the book of kells, a breathtaking, illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the new testament, created around ad 800 by monks on the scottish island of iona, but more stunning still is the 65m long room, the librarys main chamber, which houses around 200,000 of. Dec 10, 2010 welcome to the old library and the book of kells exhibition within historic trinity college dublin. Apr 19, 20 the book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing four gospels of new testament matthew, mark, luke and john together with various prefatory texts and tables. Talks on preservation activities in the old library take place monday to friday in the long room at 3pm. Visitors will have access to the book of kells exhibition and the long room, which houses over 250,000 of trinity colleges most ancient books. Review of the book of kells and the old library exhibition.
But the last and greatest trauma to the manuscript was inflicted by an ignorant and mischievous bookbinder in 1821. The long room is the longest library room in ireland and potentially in the whole of europe. How to see dublins book of kells for free or half price. This is a precautionary measure to minimise the spread of covid19. The book of kells and the long room are one of the most popular attractions in dublin so prepare for long lines. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds. Learners on the course will explore the art, theology and materiality of the manuscript and the meanings that it holds. Would recommend booking online and arriving earlier in the day. The long room library at trinity college dublin, ireland. Avoid the crowds and explore irish history in peace on this book of kells and dublin castle exterior tour.