The book of kells site is open daily with varying hours by season may to september. Buy book of kells tickets from the official ticketmaster. I love losing myself in their pages on a rainy day. Learn about its dense symbolism and rich ornamentation.
The book of kells, dublin tourist information dublin. Jan 22, 2014 book of kells is the first exhibit you enter. Dublin dublin has many places of interest and attractions to make a visit to irelands capital city a memorable one. It is indeed an interesting place to explore and spend some time at.
Apr 17, 2014 the book of kells and the old library exhibition. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. I know you can book tickets online but these are for a specific time slot, which wont work for us as we have tours outside dublin and may not make it. Dublin tourism dublin accommodation dublin bed and breakfast dublin holiday rentals dublin holiday packages dublin flights dublin restaurants. 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. Trinity college dublin and the book of kells 2014 ireland trip. 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. Meath, ireland, the book was brought there after the monastic community on iona. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. 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. Making its way from a scriptorium of the monastery founded near 561 by st.
May 11, 2020 the book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. 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. The book of kells exhibit is located on the campus of trinity college in the heart of dublin. The book of kells isnt the only illuminated manuscript in the socalled insular style. Introducing the book of kells the book of kells futurelearn. Trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition heritage. We had to wait for a few minutes before we were able to. The book of kells, a masterful illuminated latin gospel form ca. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin. 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. It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. 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.
Amidst 47 acres of classic and modern buildings, stunning grounds and irelands oldest. The manuscript takes its name from the abbey of kells in county meath that was its home for centuries. The old library gets very busy during the summer months, so its recommended to go online and buy a fasttrack ticket, which gives timed admission to the exhibition and allows visitors to skip the queue. St matthew is represented by the man, st mark by the lion, st luke by the calf and st john by the eagle. The book has been on display for almost 70 years since 1953. Fasttrack access book of kells and dublin castle tour dublin. Trinity college and the book of kells, dublin city. Created in the years around 800, it survived viking raids and the theft of its jeweled covers. Confusion over trinity collegebook of kells tours dublin.
One thing to note is the area around the book of kells is not huge. The beyond the book of kells lecture series is lead by dr mark faulkner of trinity colleges school of english. Meath, ireland, the book was brought there after the monastic community on iona fled raids in the early ninth century. Monks from the original monastery founded by st columba also set up other monastic communities including. A digitised version of the entire manuscript may also be seen online. The book of kells holds a special place in the history of western art as a crowning achievement of the insular manuscript tradition. 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. Trinity colleges central location makes it highly accessible for all forms of public. 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. The book is a major dublin attraction and attracts many travelers, particularly during summer. Written on vellum and containing a latin text of the gospels, it is one of the most popular sights in dublin. Beat the crowds for earlyaccess to the old library in trinity college to get an upclose look at this celebrated text.
The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds. Trinity collegebook of kells dublin, ireland youtube. The book of kells contains 680 pages or 340 folios. Lasting 35 minutes, the tour encompasses the four major squares of the college. Enjoy ease of access with online fasttrack ticket entry to the book of kells. The book of kells, which is on display in trinity college, was written around the year 800 ad and is one of the most beautifully illustrated manuscripts in the world. 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. The book turning darkness into light when iona was. 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.
When it was recovered it did not have its gold cover binding or the jewels decorating the cover. Aug 15, 2019 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. Trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin, ireland. Folio129v contains symbols of the four evangelists. With so many people wanting to visit, i knew that lines would form outside the doors of the old library at trinity college first thing in the morning, to see the books of kells and the iconic long room. 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. I was priveleged to view the original 3 times, twice at its home in the trinty college library, dblin, and once in the late 70s at the philadelphia museum of art when the national. I read somewhere online that the book of kells offers half price admission a half hour before closing but the post was dated from 2012. Buy tickets to trinity college old library and book of kells exhibition. Youll still get only a fleeting moment with the book of kells, as the constant flow of viewers is hurried past.
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. Two volumes are on public view, one opened to display a major. Nov 05, 2015 the book is believed to have been brought to kells following a viking raid on the monastery on the island of iona, scotland, in 806. Trinitys greatest treasures are found within the old library, built by thomas burgh between 1712 and 1732. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the 800. Colum cille on iona, just off the western coast of scotland, the book of kells has become widely known as the most stunning. It was created by celtic monks circa 800 or slightly earlier. Today, it is housed at trinity college library, dublin which usually has on. 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. I am doing some research into ticket options for trinity collegebook of kells on their website. With so many people wanting to visit, i knew that lines would form outside the doors of the old library at trinity college first thing in the morning, to see. We had to wait for a few minutes before we were able to get close to the display.
Just two of the pages are without ornament, while about thirty folios, including some major decorated pages, have been lost. The 10 closest hotels to the book of kells and the old. It is held as part of the manuscript, print, and book cultures research theme, in association with the trinity long room hub, the faculty of arts, humanities, and social sciences, and the library of trinity college dublin. The magnificent book of kells is widely regarded as irelands most valuable national treasure. The old library and the book of kells is a lovely library thats often crowded. It provides visitors with an insight into the more than four. The book of kells is displayed at the end of an exhibit titled turning darkness into light which provides historical context for the manuscript. 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 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, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon, and is among our top ten tourist attractions. 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. Beat the crowds for early access to the old library in trinity college to get an upclose look at this celebrated text.
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. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four. At the same time, a treasury for the display of irish medieval gospel manuscripts, principally the book of kells, the book of armagh and the book of durrow, was constructed in the east pavilion. You can book online tickets to trinity college and the book of kells directly from their. The book was created sometime around the year 800 but scholars have been unable to determine where. Book of kells, dublin ticket price timings address. You will explore the 9th book of kells rich ornamentation, multilayered symbolism and meaning. It is held as part of the manuscript, print, and book cultures research theme, in association with the trinity long room hub, the faculty of arts, humanities, and. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript.
No book evokes such passion amongst art lovers as the 9th century illuminated manuscript known as the book of kells. The debate centers on whether the book was begun on iona and finished at. Guided tours visitors and book of kells trinity college dublin. Books 17 the rich history of trinity college dublin makes for compelling reading. One hundred years later, in 1992, the area was reconstructed internally to form an expanded library shop and a new exhibition area. The book turning darkness into light when iona was attacked. 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. There are fantastic informational displays leading into the book of kells. A large, lavish gospel, such as the book of kells, would have been left on the high altar of the church and taken off only for the reading of the gospel during mass.
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 book is the most famous manuscript in the library of trinity college dublin where it is permanently on display. The book of kells and trinity college had been on my must see list for years. Trinity college is home to the famous book of kells.
Today the book of kells and the library that it lives in are a couple of the most popular attractions in dublin. 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. Scolar press for trinity college library dublin, 1994. 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. 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. Seeing the book of kells in dublin changes in longitude. You can take the dart to either pearse street, tara street or connolly stations, which are all a short walk away. Visiting the book of kells at trinity college library, dublin. The old library and the book of kells exhibition is a must see on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. Davids been here presents one of dublins main attractions, trinity college and the book of kells. Trinity college dublin, founded in 1592 by queen elizabeth 1, provides for a.
Discover one of the most important highlights of irish heritage on this early access fully guided tour. Located in the heart of the city centre in trinity college dublin, the exhibition displays the book of kells, a. The book of kells here, is a manuscript of the gospel. The book of kells has been on display in the old library at trinity college dublin from the mid 19th century, and attracts over 500,000 visitors a year. Book your tickets online for the book of kells and the old library exhibition, dublin. The best way to get to the book of kells exhibition is to take public transportation. 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. Hotels near the book of kells and the old library exhibition, dublin on tripadvisor. 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.