The Book of Kells

The Book of Kells and The Old Library is in Trinity College grounds, and it has always been on the top things to do list if you’re in Dublin. Situated in the heart of Dublin city centre, and just a step away from Grafton Street, it’s open 7 days per week. The Book of Kells is a impressively decorated manuscript Gospel book in Latin and also sometimes called as book of Columbia. The Book of Kells is the most beautiful book in the world, it was a bright light in dark ages. The handmade Images, symbols, colors, illustrations and decorations of the book are breathtaking- you’ll see the real masterpiece and how the Scottish monks worked to produce beautiful reproductions of the gospels ages before the 1 printing. It dates back around 800 A.D, and makes The Book of Kells one of the oldest books in the world. Trying to escape Viking raids, Scottish monks brought the book to Ireland. They took a refuge in Kells (Co.Meath) monastery and today there is no source telling whether it was produced all in Scotland, or Kells, or both locations.

From middle of the 19th century, the Old Library in Trinity College homes The Book of Kells. Since 1953 it has been bound in four volumes, and only two of them are accessible to the public. They are changed at regular intervals and what manuscripts are on display you can always check online (link below) prior to your visit.

The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s top treasures and you’ll be surprised at how well the story of the book is told- you can walk around and dive into history yourself, or you can take a very informative audio tour, explaining the process from creating and protecting The Book of Kells. So don’t miss this top Dublin attraction.

Built between 1712 and 1732, The Old Library is one of the most impressive libraries in the world: the length is 65 meters and its shelfs are filled with 200,000 oldest books. The most illustrious treasure in the spectacular Long Room is among one of the few remaining copies of the 1916 Declaration of Ireland which was read by famous political leader Patrick Pearse outside historical building General Post office on 24 April 1916 at the beginning of the Easter Rising. The harp is the oldest of its kind in Ireland and most likely dates from the 15th century. It is made of oak and is the model for the emblem of Ireland.

The temporary exhibitions in the Long Room, displays the rich Old Library’s holdings.