The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin, ireland. Guided tours visitors and book of kells trinity college dublin. Wandering onto the gorgeous trinity college campus, i instantly fell in love with the beautiful architecture surrounding the campus. St matthew is represented by the man, st mark by the lion, st luke by the calf and st john by the eagle.
The old library and the book of kells is a lovely library thats often crowded. With the morgan hotel as your base, a visit to trinity college dublin couldnt be. The book of kells here, is a manuscript of the gospel. I am doing some research into ticket options for trinity collegebook of kells on their website. The book of kells is displayed at the end of an exhibit titled turning darkness. During our trip to dublin we spent some time checking out the book of kells and trinity college. No book evokes such passion amongst art lovers as the 9th century illuminated manuscript known as the book of kells. The book of kells exhibit and the old library are well worth the time and cost. Take your time here because when you walk into next room with the actual book. 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. Created in the years around 800, it survived viking raids and the theft of its jeweled covers. It is the oldest university in ireland, founded in 1592 by queen elizabeth i, and is famous for its graduates such as swift, goldsmith, wilde and beckett.
The monks kept a herd of as many as 1200 cattle, which also provided food and milk for the monastery. 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. Apr, 2020 the book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. The rich history of trinity college dublin makes for compelling reading. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists. Trinity college dublin could face losing at least 3 million in revenue.
The book of kells is one of irelands top tourism attractions. When it was recovered it did not have its gold cover binding or the jewels decorating the cover. Trinity college is home to the famous book of kells. It is an extremely fine example of insular art, works of art produced in britain and ireland after the departure of the romans, and many people consider it to be one of irelands national treasures. Fainche ryan explores the hidden meanings behind the illustrations of the book of kells. The book is the most famous manuscript in the library of trinity college dublin where it is permanently on display. For those who like to enjoy a more cultural or literary break, a trip to the trinity college library where the famous book of kells is housed, is a must. In order to protect it, the book was sent to dublin around year 1653 and it was donated to the trinity college in year 1661. The book of kells was probably produced in a monastery on the isle of iona, scotland, to honor saint columba in the early 8th century. Trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition heritage.
A combined ticket offers a consolidated discount on both the cost of a guided tour of trinity college dublin and the cost of admission to the book of kells and old library exhibition. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. Listen as your guide brings medieval ireland to life. It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. Visiting the book of kells at trinity college library, dublin. The book of kells, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon, and is among our top ten tourist attractions.
The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds. The book of kells site is open daily with varying hours by season may to september. Paper being then unknown, this parchment was their only source of writing material. The book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels. Dublin has many places of interest and attractions to make a visit to irelands capital city a memorable one. After a viking raid which killed many members of their community they moved inland to kells, county meath about 70 kilometers northwest of dublin and continued work on the book.
Written on vellum and containing a latin text of the gospels, it is one of the most popular sights in dublin. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin. 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. Avoid the crowds and explore irish history in peace on this book of kells and dublin castle exterior tour. The irish book of kells was originally written on about 185 animal skins.
The book of kells, a precious 9th century manuscript, is an exquisite combination of ornate latin text and intricate illuminations. The library is like a piece of heaven on earth for book lovers of course and also for others as it is exceptionally calm and informative. 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. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. I had heard it mentioned more times than i can count but was not sure what. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin 2020.
All members staff and students of the university are admitted to the library of trinity college dublin reading rooms on production of their trinity college dublin id card. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience trinity college dublin. Located in the heart of the city centre in trinity college dublin, the exhibition displays the book of kells, a. 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. Visit the trinity college library, home to the famous book of kellswidely considered among the most important of all irelands ancient treasures.
Please consult government travel advisories before booking. Going into our visit i honestly did not know much about the book of kells. Book online so you dont have to wait for tickets and try to get there early before the crowds. Trinity is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the most beautiful, with its imposing buildings and leafy grounds in the heart of dublin city. Trinity college dublins old library and book of kells. Trinity college, dublin is a sister college to st johns college, cambridge and oriel college, oxford. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript that contains the four gospels of the new testament, along with various supporting material. Tcd students without their id cards will be given a temporary oneday card a day ticket on payment of a 2 adminstrative charge. Meath, ireland, the book was brought there after the monastic community on iona. The book of kells holds a special place in the history of western art as a crowning achievement of the insular manuscript tradition.
The book of kells is kept in a lowlit gallery with only two pages displayed at a time, although they are turned after some period. The book is a major dublin attraction and attracts many travelers, particularly during summer. Book of kells early access and dublin castle guided tour 2020. Would recommend booking online and arriving earlier in the day. The long library and the book of kells exhibit in dublin by christa thompson the old library at trinity college in dublin where the book of kells exhibit permanently lives by christa thompson 20 it is a masterwork of western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of insular illumination. Tcd could lose at least 3 million after decision to close book of. Trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition. Enjoy your stay and visit the book of kells tour with our cultural package. Tcd could lose at least 3 million after decision to close. Trinity college dublin is the oldest university in ireland, founded in 1592 by queen elizabeth i and famous for its graduates such as swift, goldsmith, wilde and beckett. For bookings made on or after april 6, 2020, be sure to consider the risk of the coronavirus covid19 and associated government measures.
Trinity college dublin 2020 all you need to know before. Most people visit primarily to see the famous book of kells, just one of a wonderful collection of precious books in the old library. An illustrated introduction to the manuscript in trinity college, dublin second edition 9780500277904 by meehan, bernard and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. Book of kells trinity college dublin, dublin traveller. It is indeed an interesting place to explore and spend some time at. The strange imagination displayed in the pages, the impeccable technique and the very fine state of preservation make the book of kells an object of. Book of kells, dublin ticket price timings address. Bought a timed ticket for 10 am, so had most of the tourists in dublin.
If you dont book a flexible rate, you may not be entitled to a refund. Originally trinity was established outside the city walls of dublin in the buildings of the outlawed catholic augustinian priory of all hallows. You enter a room with large poster size copies of the book of kells and videos explaining more about it. Seeing the book of kells in dublin changes in longitude. Book of kells, trinity college, dublin, ireland top 10 things to see and do altitude. This official guide by the former keeper of manuscripts at the library of trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent display, provides fascinating insights into one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval art. Visit the 18th century old library at trinity college, in the heart of dublin city, to view the lavishly decorated 9th century book of kells.
Located in the heart of the city in trinity college dublin, the exhibition displays the book of kells, a 9th century manuscript that documents the four gospels of the. The book has been on display for almost 70 years since 1953. Folio129v contains symbols of the four evangelists. The book of kells 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 the centrepiece of an exhibition which attracts over 500,000 visitors to trinity college dublin each year. We recommend booking an option with free cancellation in case your travel plans change. I love losing myself in their pages on a rainy day. The magnificent old library built in the 18th century houses the book of kells a 9thcentury. Whether a rousing account of the history of women in the college, or a lushly illustrated coffee table edition, trinitys book collection will both exhilarate and delight.
The book of kells is a masterpiece of medieval arta brilliantly decorated version of the four gospels with fullpage depictions of christ, the virgin and the evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative painting. Welcome to the old library and the book of kells exhibition within historic trinity college dublin. Learn more about the book of kells with trinitys free online co. The book of kells is located at the trinity college in dublin and it is open for public visits, most times the book of kells contains the four gospels of the christian scriptures written in black, red, purple, and yellow ink in an insular majuscule script, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and concordances of gospel passages. To limit the spread of the coronavirus, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Book of kells, trinity college, dublin, ireland top 10. Alternatively you may enter through the nassau street entrance. We entered directly for a morning tour time with online passes, but later in the day the queues were.