Tickets are instant, flexible, guaranteed best value and valid for up to 365 days. The book is a major dublin attraction and attracts many travelers, particularly during summer. 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. 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. Scolar press for trinity college library dublin, 1994. Avoid waiting in long lines at the book of kells one of the most important highlights of irish heritage dating back to the ninth centuryon this earlyaccess tour. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. How to see dublins book of kells for free or half price.
Upon arriving at trinity college front gate i proceed to buy my ticket for the books of kells and the campus. Dec 17, 20 during my recent visit to dublin, ireland i was able to make my way over to the old library at trinity college, home to the book of kells exhibit. Talks last 1520 minutes and are free for ticket holders to the book of kells exhibition as well as trinity college students and staff. 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. Fainche ryan explores the hidden meanings behind the illustrations of the book of kells. 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. Lasting 35 minutes, the tour encompasses the four major squares of the college. Trinity college book of kells number 31 dublin luxury. The old library and the book of kells is a lovely library thats often crowded. Discover one of the most important highlights of irish heritage on this early access fully guided tour. Book of kells, dublin ticket price timings address. Trinity closes off book of kells and other tourist spots. Trinity gift shop official trinity college dublin gifts. You havent been to ireland unless youve seen the book of kells.
Apr 09, 2017 a walk around trinity college in dublin, inside the narrow room library and outside the building that houses the book of kells subscribe. Mark and i decided to take a tour in order to skip the long lines and have a historian to tell us. Frequently asked questions about the book of kells faqs. Ireland and the book of kells history course futurelearn. Visit trinity college dublin and the book of kells exhibition. An leabhar cheanannais dublin, trinity college library, ms a. Im a little worried about spending a lot of time in line. Learn more about the book of kells with trinity s free online co. Stay at trinity college dublin in the heart of dublin and explore all that tcd has to offer including the book of kells exhibition, trinity gift shop and more.
The library is home to one of the rare full color facsimiles created in order to increase education, study and access to the book of kells located at trinity college in dublin. The book of kells is a beautifully handilluminated manuscript, containing the four gospels of the new testament as well as various prefatory texts and tables bound in four volumes. The book of kells and the old library located inside trinity college dublin is a must see attraction for anyone visiting dublin. Does anyone know if the book of kells library is open on sundays. Google book of kells trinity college and it will pop right up first in the search results. See all 44 trinity college dublin tours on tripadvisor. Confusion over trinity collegebook of kells tours 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. Gifts featuring the book of kells, irelands greatest treasure. Authenticity tours, which operates trinity tours, can facilitate any tour requests from members of the public or tour groups. Trinity collegebook of kells dublin, ireland youtube. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. Dec 14, 2012 folio 32vfor many in ireland, the book of kells serves as an unofficial symbol of national culture.
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. Books the rich history of trinity college dublin makes for compelling reading. The book of kells is a permanent exhibit located within the mcclelland library. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. The book of kells site is open daily with varying hours by season may to september. Talks on preservation activities in the old library take place monday to friday in the long room at 3pm. We recommend booking trinity college dublin tours ahead of time to secure your spot. The book is a masterwork of western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of insular illumination. Trinity offers iconic meeting and event space, stylish dining and over 600 bedrooms on its historical campus.
The book of kells and the old library exhibition tripadvisor. The book of kells is an artistic masterpiece acclaimed as the most beautiful book ever written. 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, 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. Trinity college tour the book of kells ireland with locals. The book of kells exhibit is located on the campus of trinity college in the heart of dublin. Believed to have been created around 800 ce, the work is on permanent display at trinity college library in dublin. Trinity college dublin 2020 all you need to know before. Davids been here presents one of dublins main attractions, trinity college and the book of kells. Most people visit primarily to see the famous book of kells, just one of a wonderful collection of precious books in the old library. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the 800. Tripadvisor fasttrack easy access book of kells tour. The book of kells is hailed as the pinnacle of manuscript illumination and rightly so, with its sweeping illustrations of christian truths translated into symbols and pictures.
Patricks day special tshirts, my brotherinlaws tie and a special gift of the book of kells history and highlights to my doctor in germany. It is built on 47 acres and contains the library of trinity college which has over 6. 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. Tcd could lose at least 3 million after decision to close book of. This completely new official guide reproduces the most important of the fully decorated pages from the book of kells, as. 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 college has also announced that all lectures are to take place online for the rest of the semester april 10. The book of kells, dublin tourist information dublin. Dec 31, 2008 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.
Whether a rousing account of the history of women in the college, or a lushly illustrated coffee table edition, trinity s book collection will both exhilarate and delight. I love losing myself in their pages on a rainy day. Shop the trinity college bookstore for mens, womens and childrens apparel, gifts, textbooks and more. The book of kells exhibition welcome to the old library and the book of kells a must see on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. The exhibit is accessible from either the main gate into trinity facing dame street or from the side gate at nassau street access through the. The best way to get to the book of kells exhibition is to take public transportation. The book a stunning collection of the gospels in latin written around the year 800 is thought to have been crafted in the ninth century by columbian monks, though where remains uncertain. I am doing some research into ticket options for trinity collegebook of kells on their website which shows they offer a regular ticket at the door for 10 or online fast track ticket for for old library exhibition and book of kells then i found a link on their website for the trinity college tour which is a scheduled 35 minute guided tour of the four squares of the campus followed. As an irish citizen abroad, i have long enjoyed the trinity gift shop gifts and newslettersyour items have been my book of kells christmas cards, my sisters favourite necklace and jewellery, my two sons st. Get in touch if you would like to discuss any of the tours shown on this site, or if youre looking to customise your own tour and just want to pick our brains we. Enjoy ease of access with online fasttrack ticket entry to the book of kells. The rich history of trinity college dublin makes for compelling reading. The book of kells here, is a manuscript of the gospel. Jun 15, 2018 if you are not familiar with the book of kells, sometimes called the worlds most famous book, this 8th century illuminated gospel is held by trinity college dublin, where it has lived.
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. The book of kells official guide, bernard meehan if you, like so many others, are fascinated by the book of kells, irelands national treasure, then this is the book for you. Meet at the easytofind trinity college in central dublin, and set off listening to the elaborate history from a guide who unlocks secret mysteries of the book. The book of kells and the trinity college library are mustsees when visiting dublin, ireland. Dating from c ad800, it symbolizes the power of learning, the impact of christianity on the. The book of kells is to dublin what the mona lisa is to paris and the sistine chapel ceiling is to rome. 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. It was created by celtic monks circa 800 or slightly earlier. The exhibition that houses the ancient texts also provides for a visit of the old library which is well worth seeing. It is indeed an interesting place to explore and spend some time at. Pity the scholars who toiled over the book of kells. For conservation reasons, the book of kells is not on display from 4 november 2019 to early march 2020. Book of kells irish cultural center and mcclelland library. Most of your questions are answered on the trinity college website for the book of kells exhibition, especially the plan your visit and book online pages off the menu on the left side.
While it is possible to visit trinity college without paying for the tour, access to the book kells requires a ticket and the addition of the walking tour was only a few euros more. College green trinity college dublin, dublin 2 irlande. I planned to buy the heritage island explorer guide but not su. 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. Twelve years later the book of kells was brought to dublin for safekeeping and it has been in the possession of trinity college since at least 1661. Trinity s greatest treasures are found within the old library, built by thomas burgh between 1712 and 1732. For irish people, it represents a sense of pride, a tangible link to a positive time in irelands past, reflected through its unique art. The book of kells washingtoncenterville public library. I am doing some research into ticket options for trinity collegebook of kells on their website. 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. Making its way from a scriptorium of the monastery founded near 561 by st.
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. The book of kells is not only the finest existing work of its kind, its also an irish national treasure. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the. 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. From 1pm on tuesday, march 10, trinity closed off the book of kells exhibition and old library, the science gallery and the douglas. Amidst 47 acres of classic and modern buildings, stunning grounds and irelands oldest. A walk through the cobbled stones of trinity college dublin will bring visitors back to the 18th century, and offers a view of the book of kells, the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. The book of kells and trinity college had been on my must see list for years. 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.
Trinity college dublin has closed off the book of kells exhibition as well as other tourist attractions in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience trinity college dublin. 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. But now you can see it in close detail without ever setting foot on irish soil or even leaving home. Bicycles at trinity college, dublin how to see the book of kells for half price or free. A walk around trinity college in dublin, inside the narrow room library and outside the building that houses the book of kells subscribe. The old library and the book of kells trinity college dublin.
Visiting the book of kells at trinity college library, dublin. Trinity college and the book of kells are truly mustsee attractions for any visitor thats interested in immersing themselves in the rich culture of the celtic homeland. 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. Book of kells, trinity college dublin, college green, dublin 2, ireland. Buy tickets to trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition. Large selection of official apparel exclusives flatrate shipping. Dublin book of kells and trinity college rick steves. 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 located in trinity college in the heart of dublin city centre. Book of kells early access and dublin castle guided tour 2020. You will explore the 9th book of kells rich ornamentation, multilayered symbolism and meaning.
Situated just off grafton street in the heart of dublin, trinity is perfectly located to explore the city. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin. Colum cille on iona, just off the western coast of scotland, the book of kells has become widely known as the most stunning. You can take the dart to either pearse street, tara street or connolly stations, which are all a short walk away. Feb 12, 2010 davids been here presents one of dublins main attractions, trinity college and the book of kells. 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.