Generally speaking, the library closes at 1700, though there are some exceptions. I rented it first at the library but i knew id want to watch it many times so i purchased it. Admission to library to see book of kells is the last stop on the tour. We booked the book of kells early access tour with dublin castle. Ireland and the book of kells history course futurelearn. The book of kells has been on display in the old library at trinity college dublin from the mid19th century, and attracts over 500,000 visitors a year. Check out the best tours and activities to experience the book of kells. The book of kells was closed for health and safety reasons the day prior to my tour which means i could have cancelled and received a full refund but instead of viator reaching out to me either with text message or email i found out at time of tour and now will have to argue with viator to get my money back. The book of kells, housed in the trinity college library, is a fascinating manuscript. 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 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. The old library and the book of kells is a lovely library thats often crowded. In the wake of the removal of the book of kells, helen shenton, trinity college archivist and librarian, told the irish times that she and her colleagues take our role as stewards of this. Prepaid admission to the treasury to view the book of kells as well as to the exhibition turning darkness.
Book of kells removed from public display through march. Its a guided tour much more personal than you could get if you were visiting the book of kells in person. The book of kells is inches wide and 10 inches high. The book of kells and trinity college had been on my must see list for years. Admire the long room in the old library before gazing in awe at the illuminated manuscript of the book of kells. The work is the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for the intricacy, detail, and majesty of the illustrations. Demand for return of book of kells sir, in demanding the return of the book of kells home news, august 31st, it is a pity that the town of kells does not make more of the magnificent treasures that it already possesses. From what everyone is saying, we probably wont spend much time at trinity college, but everyone here keeps telling us we have to see it, so we will. The book of kells and the old library exhibition dublin. 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. The best way to see the book of kells is early in the morning, before the rest of dublin is awake. Book your tickets online for the book of kells and the old library exhibition, dublin. Admission to the treasury to view the book of kells, entrance to the exhibition turning darkness into light and a fully guided visit to the old library of trinity college.
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. Today the book of kells and the library that it lives in are a couple of the most popular attractions in dublin. Seeing the book of kells in dublin changes in longitude. We have prepurchased our book of kells ticket with a timed entry. The earliest historical reference to the book, and indeed to the book s presence at kells, can be found in a 1007 entry in the annals of ulster. 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%. Time allotment for book of kells and kilmainham gaol. Visit the book of kells and the old library exhibition on. I planned to buy the heritage island explorer guide but not su. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many. Your tour of the book of kells, trinity colleges library, and dublin castle meets in the front of trinity college in central dublin. It can be seen by the public during scheduled tour times.
It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. Visit the trinity college library, home to the famous book of kellswidely considered among the most important of all irelands ancient treasures. Located in the heart of the city centre in trinity college dublin, the exhibition displays the book of kells, a. This book is so special that certain callers actually get reported on.
Dont miss out on great deals for things to do on your trip to dublin. Apr 26, 2020 the book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. Book of kells early access and dublin castle guided tour. First your guide takes you through the colleges library, exploring the area known as the long room thats lined with books and statue busts of famous masters of science, literature, and art. Ronnie mcgrane, a campaigner and editor of kells online, speaks of the rightful ownership of the book of kells and boldly breathes new life into the controversy that has persevered in the years since the books move to trinity in the mid17 th century.
Beat the crowds early access to the 16 th century college to view the world renowned 7 th century book of kells and trinity colleges old library europes longest vaulted library experience a fully guided visit to both venues with an expert local english speaking guide. Compare ticket prices from different websites and book your trip to see the book of kells in trinity college dublin. Dublin tourism dublin hotels dublin bed and breakfast. Aug 15, 2019 these rotate throughout the year so youll see different pages if you go at different times. Kells abbey was plundered and pillaged by vikings many times in the beginning of the 9th century, and how the book survived is not known. 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. Book of kells tour monastic treasures with a historian. Considering how the book of kells is such a national treasure, if there are no large tour groups present youll get to spend a fair amount of time perusing the latin scrollwork and curlicued art. This is an ideal first time visitor tour for the curious traveller wanting. 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.
We entered directly for a morning tour time with online passes, but later in the day the queues were. The book of kells i have had the great fortune to travel to ireland a few times. It was created by celtic monks circa 800 or slightly earlier. First your guide takes you through the colleges library, exploring the area known as the long room thats lined with books and statue busts. Bought a timed ticket for 10 am, so had most of the tourists in dublin. How to see dublins book of kells for free or half price. We actually took time to explore a little more of the campus which is beautiful. Apr 02, 2017 as much as i love everything morgan library, i still cannot skip a visit to work called the most beautiful book in the world in an 1896 new york times article. Best of all was the chance to visit the book of kells as many times as i wanted. The book of kells is to dublin what the mona lisa is to paris and the sistine chapel ceiling is to rome. Avoid the crowds and explore irish history in peace on this book of kells and dublin castle exterior tour. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. You will explore the book of kells rich ornamentation, multilayered symbolism and meaning.
Using a backstory which includes wineries, vikings and remote scottish islands, the book of kells can depart the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. New research is rewriting the history of the worlds most famous early medieval manuscript a lavishly illustrated 1,200yearold copy of the gospels known today as the book of kells. The book of kells here, is a manuscript of the gospel. The abbey of kells mainistir cheanannais in irish is a former monastery in kells, county meath, ireland, 40 miles 64 km north of dublin. Some think of the book as some boring old medieval manuscript.
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. Im a little worried about spending a lot of time in line. And it is definitely one of my top 10 recommended sights to see in ireland. Stephens green, trinity college bookmark the permalink. Visit the trinity college library, home to the famous book of kells widely considered among the most important of all irelands ancient treasures. In its original form the book of kells was both thicker and larger, writes erika harlitzkern. The book of kells, worlds most famous illuminated manuscript. The tour guy was knowledgeable but did not move the group out of the rain during the tour. Find the best deal for your dates to save time and money. The book of kells was closed for health and safety reasons the day prior to my tour which means i could have cancelled and received a full refund but instead of viator reaching out to me either with text message or email i found out at time of tour and now will have to argue with viator to. To see the book of kells for free, befriend a student or an alumni.
The book of kells is to be removed from public display in trinity college dublin for four months from next monday, due to conservation works required on the famous manuscripts display area. Book of kells early access tour with dublin castle avoid the crowds and explore irish history in peace on this 2. We booked a tour of the book of kells, trinity college and dublin castle through lets go tours thru viator. Fasttrack easy access book of kells tour with dublin castle. Discover one of the most important highlights of irish heritage on this early access fully guided tour. It is indeed an interesting place to explore and spend some time at. I planned to buy the heritage island explorer guide but not sure if there is a way to book ahead of time and apply this discount. Ronnie mcgrane thinks trinity stole the book of kells the. You enter a room with large poster size copies of the book of kells and videos explaining more about it. Reserve your spot today and pay when youre ready for thousands of tours.
Changes or cancellations requested less than 24 hours before the tour departure time are not possible. Victorian architecture, queen victoria, and the book of kells. A booking can contain no more than 10 tickets combined, please reduce the number and try again. The close up shots of the detail, together with historical details and comments by noted historians, make this dvd well worth the money. Throughout the tour i can also make suggestions for places you might like to visit during the rest of your stay. Given the popularity of the book of kells exhibit, i would recommend booking that in advance and then showing your tickets to get the tour for an additional 4. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. Since the book of kells has textual errors and such ornately decorated pages, historians believe it was for altar furniture for special occasions rather than for daily use. Tours leave every 30 minutes or so, you also get a tour of trinity college. Fasttrack easy access book of kells tour with dublin. To purchase a ticket for the guided tour, go to the authenticity tours desk, by the front gate, inside the campus.
Book of kells early access and dublin castle guided tour 2020. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. Well, first of all, it probably dates back to the 9th century. 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. Does anyone know if the book of kells library is open on sundays. This illuminated manuscript contains the four gospels of the bibles new testament and other sacred texts, written in latin. Enjoy ease of access with online fasttrack ticket entry to the book of kells.
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. The book of kells and the long library is very worth a visit. Located in trinity colleges treasury, the tour includes a visit to the extended space library, one of europes most glorious libraries home over 200,000 of trinitys oldest novels. The guide gave a lot of information out in a light hearted manner and kept us interested throughout. These rotate throughout the year so youll see different pages if you go at different times. Today our tour guide explained, that the book is protected from unwarranted autography and rests, as he put it, in a queenproof case. The magnificent book of kells is widely regarded as irelands most valuable national treasure.
For irish people, it represents a sense of pride, a tangible link to a positive time in irelands past, reflected through its unique art. Book of kells, dublin ticket price timings address. Tripadvisor fasttrack easy access book of kells tour. The trinity tour tix can not be prepurchased if you already have your kells tickets the cost of trinity tour is just 3. I went ahead a purchased tickets for book of kells for a tour at 2pm, and hop another bus to the gaol for a tour at 4. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to. Two volumes are on public view, one opened to display a major decorated page, and one to show two pages of script. Posted in ireland 2017, lena tagged book of kells, dublin, st. Would recommend booking online and arriving earlier in the day. It was founded in the early 9th century, and the book of kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the abbey in the 1650s. Guided tours are also an option and recommended by past travelers. Trinity to shelve book of kells for four months the irish times.
The book of kells, dublin tourist information dublin. It is known for its worldrenowned artistry, as well as its many hidden secrets and mysteries dating back to the 800. Im hoping im not cutting our time too close to get to the gaol. Visit the official website for the latest opening times. Take your group on the guided walking tour of trinity college campus with authenticity tours. So you may be wondering what is the book of kells and what is so special about it. Thirty folios of the original manuscript have been lost. The book of kells exhibit and the old library are well worth the time and cost. I also was thrilled to go to trinity college in dublin where the book of kells in viewable through a plexiglass box. 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. You can them get in line to enter and spend as much time.
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. Apr 01, 2019 originally created via traditional techniques that include the use of parchment made from calfskin, the book of kells has been rebound at least five times to keep it in good condition. Up close with dublin on foot a 5 hour tour covering the celts, viking, medieval and english dublin. You havent been to ireland unless youve seen the book of kells. Beat the crowds early access to the treasury to view the incredible book of kells and the old library. Earlier this week, he was standing outside front gate. The tour of the book of kells and dublin castle plus a very informative walk between the two places made for a fascinating couple of hours.
The book is located in the old library, in trinity college, dublin ireland. Children 3 years and under are complimentary the book of kells is being removed from 4th november 2019 until early march 2020 due to essential restoration, and will be replaced with the only fine arts version approved by the 16th century. A visit to the book of kells is included and your students will gain valuable insight in the history of the college and the significance of the book of kells a tour not to be missed. The book of kells site is open daily with varying hours by season may to september. 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. To see the book of kells and the old library for half price, visit 30 minutes before the library closes.