Patrick lore and the ruined monastery of monasterboice. Sleeping rough outside the bank of ireland on college green in dublin. Housed within the old library building, the book of kells is a precious 9th century manuscript, featuring an exquisite combination of ornate latin text. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may. Located in the heart of the city centre in trinity college dublin, the exhibition displays the book of kells, a. 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. Trinity college in dublin, to be exact, holds many a wondrous treasure for the insatiable scholar and fewer curiosities for the vaguely obligated tourist. Trinity college dublin, founded in 1592 by queen elizabeth 1, provides for a fascinating visit and it is one of irelands top attractions. Today, it is housed at trinity college library, dublin which usually has on. We had to wait for a few minutes before we were able to get close to the display. Book of kells and the treasures of dublin context travel tours.
The book of kells and the old library exhibition, dublin. 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. The book is a major dublin attraction and attracts many travelers, particularly during summer. Kells or in irish ceanannas, the name used on many maps is a sizeable town in county meath, 40 miles from dublin, and about half an hours drive from the hill of tara. Book of kells and the treasures of dublin context travel.
Dublin dublin has many places of interest and attractions to make a visit to irelands capital city a memorable one. This tour, with its combination of visits, will enable you to appreciate two, very different aspects of ireland. Located in city centre dublin, this luxury hotel is steps from the book of kells, trinity college, and oconnell bridge. Nov 05, 2015 arguably the most famous artifact on display in dublin is the book of kells also known as the book of columba at trinity college. The 10 best hotels near book of kells in dublin, ireland.
The book of kells, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon. Explore the history of ireland through one of irelands most popular tourist attractions and the worlds most famous medieval manuscripts, the book of kells at trinity college dublin. It is also home to the famous book of kells an ornate, beautifullyilluminated manuscript containing all of the four gospels of the new testament thats over years old. Its most famous section, known as the long room, has been known to resemble the jedi archives in. Dec 05, 2015 a visit to trinity college and the trinity college library to see the ancient book of kells truly made my dublin travel experience more complete. Seeing the book of kells in dublin changes in longitude. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript.
The book had a number of owners including the archbishop james ussher, until it was sold to the irish military and later presented to trinity college, dublin where it has remained since 1661. The book of kells is ireland s greatest cultural treasure and the worlds. Located in the heart of the city centre in trinity college dublin, the exhibition displays the book of kells, a 9th century manuscript that documents the four. The town lies off the m3 motorway, 16 km 10 mi from navan and 65 km 40 mi from dublin. 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. A visit to the book of kells at the old library in trinity college dublin is a journey through some of ireland s most iconic cultural heritage. College green trinity college dublin, dublin 2 ireland. For me, it held one of the crown jewels of literature, the book of kells. One thing to note is the area around the book of kells is not huge. Arguably the most famous artifact on display in dublin is the book of kells. Last year more than one million people visited the book of kells. Discover ireland is not a booking site but below are your booking options. Trinity to shelve book of kells for four months the irish times.
The old library building, trinity college, college green, dublin 2. The book of kells museums and attractions dublin city. In dublin we see the cultural treasures of ireland the exquisite book of kells, a precious harp, bronze age gold and then travel to the hill of tara with its st. Inside is housed the book of kells a 9thcentury gospel manuscript famous throughout the.
There are fantastic informational displays leading into the book of kells. Trinitys greatest treasures are found within the old library, built by thomas burgh between 1712 and 1732. Together with the gospels of lindisfarne and the book of durrow, i would say that the book of kells is one of the. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. 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 the librarys oldest volumes. Youll be able to view an exhibition on how the book of kells was made, and general exhibits of ireland, while waiting for entry to the viewing area. If youre looking for things to see and do in the area, you might like to visit grafton street and dublin castle. Abbey street station is only a 5minute walk and jervis station is 8 minutes. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century.
This illuminated manuscript contains the four gospels of the bibles new testament and other sacred texts, written in latin. Learn more about the book of kells with trinitys free online co. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the. Perhaps the reason the book of kells survived the viking raids.
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. There is dublin castle with its unique place in irish history it was the seat of english rule. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin 2020 all. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the 800. Discover one of the most important highlights of irish heritage on this early access fully guided tour. The book of kells is displayed at the end of an exhibit titled turning darkness into light which provides historical context for the manuscript. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin, ireland. Rome2rio makes travelling from dublin to kells easy.
The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24hour front desk and room service, along with free wifi throughout the property. Jan 22, 2014 book of kells is the first exhibit you enter. Top 10 dublin hotels near the book of kells ireland. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin. Book of kells and old library in dublin attraction. 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. Located in the heart of dublin city, a walk through the cobbled stones of trinity college dublin will bring visitors back to the 18th century, when the magnificent old library building was constructed. The book of kells site is open daily with varying hours by season may to september.
In this historianled book of kells tour with skiptheline tickets, we will visit the book, explore trinity colleges famed old library, and examine celtic artifacts at the national museum of ireland, revealing how the light of learning shined brightly in ireland during the dark ages. Apr 19, 20 the book of kells, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon, and is among our top ten tourist attractions. Nov 17, 2019 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. It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. 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 offers iconic meeting and event space, stylish dining and over 600 bedrooms on its historical campus. 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. The book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels.
Grafton street and oconnell street are also within 5 minutes. This made kells popular with dublin commuters looking for a home in the country, the town population grew massively during the celtic tiger years when ireland experienced an economic boom in the early 2000s. You simply cant travel to the capital of ireland without the book of kells being mentioned. The book of kells is to be removed from public display in trinity college dublin for.
Book your tickets online for the top things to do in kells, ireland on tripadvisor. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four gospels of the new testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. Book of kells early access and dublin castle guided tour 2020. 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. With over 2000 of the oldest books housed in this gorgeous library, plus the book of kells, the 9th century gospel manuscript, what else could you ask for. Enjoy ease of access with online fasttrack ticket entry to the book of kells. It is thought the book was created as a showpiece for the altar, not for daily use, because more. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world.
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 irish republic. This illuminated manuscript contains the four gospels of the bibles new testament and other sacred texts, written in latin by celtic monks. Besides the jawdropping long room and its 250,000 books, the main treasure to be found in the 18thcentury building is the book of kells, a medieval gospel manuscript often described as irelands greatest cultural treasure. Situated just off grafton street in the heart of dublin, trinity is perfectly located to explore the city. The 10 best hotels close to book of kells in dublin, ireland. The book of kells attractions museums and attractions. A visit to the book of kells at the old library in trinity college dublin is a journey through some of irelands most iconic cultural heritage. 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. Fainche ryan, loyola institute, trinity college dublin. The book of kells is located in the old library building, on the south side of library square, inside trinity colleges main campus.
Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. The book of kells is ireland s greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. During this time, a full colour replica of the book of kells will be displayed in long room and ticket prices will be reduced by 15%. You will explore the 9th book of kells rich ornamentation, multilayered symbolism and meaning. At the conclusion of the tour, you may remain in the center of dublin for shopping or independent sightseeing, or return with your guide to your ship. Dublin to kells 4 ways to travel via bus, taxi, car, and uber. Its in a welcoming neighborhood well known for its great entertainment and bars. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. The book of kells, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon, and is among our top ten tourist attractions. I arrived at the library exhibit entrance and purchased my ticket to view the book just before it started to rain. Find all the transport options for your trip from dublin to kells right here. A visit to trinity college and the trinity college library to see the ancient book of kells truly made my dublin travel experience more complete.
May 4, 2020 the book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. The book of kells and trinity college had been on my must see list for years. Round tower, abbey of kells round tower at the abbey of kells. The book of kells is one of the finest and most famous, and also one of the latest, of a group of manuscripts in what is known as the insular style, produced from the late 6th through the early 9th centuries in monasteries in ireland, scotland and england and in continental monasteries with hibernoscottish or anglosaxon foundations. Located in the heart of the city centre in trinity college dublin. The book of kells is the centrepiece of an exhibition which attracts over 500,000 visitors to trinity college in dublin each year jeff pioquintoflickr. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. Nov 22, 2019 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. The book of kells stunning illuminated manuscript ireland. It is best known as the site of kells abbey, from which the book of kells takes its name. 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.