visit book of kells trinity college

The Story Of The Book Of Kells (Plus The Tour And What To Expect)

By Author James March

Posted on Last updated: July 26, 2023

A visit to the Book of Kells in Trinity College is one of the most popular things to do in Dublin .

Especially as, in the process, you can wander around the breath-taking Long Room Library , which looks like a set from a Harry Potter movie.

Dating back to 800AD, the Book of Kells history is an interesting one to say the least, and the tour is enthralling from begging to end.

Below, you’ll find info on everything from the Book of Kells tour and its history to what to expect from a visit. Dive on in.

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows about the Book Of Kells in Dublin

Photo left: Public Domain. Right: Ireland’s Content Pool

Although the Book of Kells tour is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

Note: if you book a tour through one of the links below we  may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Location

The Book of Kells is found next to The Old Library on the north-side of Fellows Square at Trinity College . Situated just south of the Liffey and to the immediate east of the popular Temple Bar, the college is easily accessible on foot.

2. How to visit

The Book of Kells tour is hugely popular, so it’s highly recommended that you book your tickets online in advance of visiting. This’ll save you having to queue (and the queues here can be huge!).

3. Admission

Standard adult entry to the Book of Kells tour will cost €18.50 for adults or €15 for students and seniors. You can also try this guided tour that’ll take you around Trinity and Dublin Castle (the reviews are excellent).

4. Opening hours

The Book of Kells is open for visits all year round between Monday and Saturday from 09:30 to 17:00. On Sundays between May and September, it’s open from 09:30 to 17:00 but that changes between October and April when it’s 12:00 to 16:30. 

5. A work of art

Perhaps I was a little gushing in the introduction, but I meant what I said! This book is more than just an ancient manuscript with a few pictures. It’s a bonafide work of art that should be appreciated as if you were strolling through a gallery. There are few books like it and the fact that it’s over 1000 years old just makes it even more extraordinary. 

The Book of Kells history

Now, it’s time to tackle ‘What is the Book of Kells’ and where did it come from. The Book of Kells history is an interesting one.

As it has been around since 800AD, it’s seen its fair share of action. And there’s a nice bit of myth and legend attached to it.

The origin story

Where does the Book of Kells even come from? Just a cursory glance at a map of Europe during the time period it was written (800AD) shows what a different world they were living in. The Roman Empire had collapsed, Charlemagne had his tentacles all over the continent, and Spain was an Islamic Caliphate – crazy! 

But miles away from all this drama on a wind-whipped island on Scotland’s west coast, the Book of Kells was being written (probably). There’s no way of knowing conclusively if the book was indeed written on the island of Iona by the monks at a Columban monastery, but that’s one of the main theories. 

The book may also have been created in the small town of Kells in County Meath. It stayed there for many years and takes its name from Kells (obviously), but it’s still difficult for historians to say if that’s where it was written. 

Despite the clear time and effort put into its creation, the book appears to have had a sacramental rather than educational purpose, with a lot more effort put into its lavish illustrations. In fact, there are several uncorrected mistakes in the text.

Lines were often completed in a blank space in the line above, and transcription of the text was rather careless, with letters and whole words often omitted. 

Clearly, it was designed for ceremonial use on special liturgical occasions such as Easter rather than for daily services. Let’s be honest, though. Preserving its appearance through limited use was probably a good thing for us!

The book remained at Kells throughout the middle ages and was venerated as a great gospel book. Following the Irish Rebellion of 1641, the church at Kells was in ruins, so around 1653, to keep it safe, the book was sent to Dublin by the governor of Kells, Charles Lambert, Earl of Cavan.

Some years later, it reached Trinity College and has been on display next to the Old Library at Trinity College since the mid-19th century. Two volumes can normally be seen displayed at Trinity on the Book of Kells tour; one opened at a major decorated page, and one opened to show two text pages with smaller decorations. 

What you’ll see on the Book Of Kells tour

Photo by James Fennell via Ireland’s Content Pool

One of the reasons that the Book of Kells tour is the most popular of the many things to do in Dublin when it’s raining is due to the sheer volume of things to see and do here.

Aside from discovering the Book of Kells history, you’ll also be taken through an immersive exhibition and through the stunning Long Room.

1. The exhibition

The exhibition before you view the book is essential to understanding it. I’ve explained above briefly about how it came to be, but the in-depth exhibition is a great way of comprehending the religious society of the time and the artistry that went into its creation. 

2. The book itself

Made from high-quality calf vellum and extending to a total of 680 pages, the Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book written entirely in Latin and is opened at a major illustrated page and another one that shows two text pages with smaller decorations. 

3. The Long Room

Three hundred years old and 65 metres long, there’s a good reason why the Long Room is one of the most photographed rooms in Dublin! Carved with an elegant wooden barrel ceiling and lined with marble busts of prominent writers and philosophers, it’s arguably just as impressive as the Book of Kells.

4. Trinity College

The leafy grounds of Trinity College are some of the prettiest in Dublin and it goes without saying that you should spend a bit of time exploring. Some of the grandest buildings date back to the 18th century so grab a coffee and go for a stroll (autumn is particularly lovely for this). 

Things to do near the Book of Kells in Dublin City

One of the beauties of the Book of Kells tour is that, when you’ve finished, you’re a short walk from some of the best places to visit in Dublin .

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Trinity (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. National Library of Ireland

Photo by McCarthy’s PhotoWorks (Shutterstock)

The Irish know a thing or two about writing, and The National Library’s holdings are the most comprehensive collection of Irish documentary material in the world and offer an invaluable representation of Ireland’s history and heritage. Located just south of Trinity College, the library contains archive material from the likes of James Joyce, Seamus Heaney and W.B. Yeats. 

2. National Gallery of Ireland

Photo left: Cathy Wheatley. Right: James Fennell (both via Ireland’s Content Pool)

Just a short walk south of Trinity College, the National Gallery of Ireland is Ireland’s premier art gallery and showcases work by some of the all-time masters of their craft. Located in a stately Victorian building on Merrion Square , the gallery features an extensive collection of fine Irish paintings as well as work by European artists from the 14th to the 20th Century, including Titian, Rembrandt and Monet. 

3. Endless attractions in the city

Photo left: SAKhanPhotography. Photo right: Sean Pavone (Shutterstock)

With its handy central location, there are loads of other Dublin attractions to check out within a short walk or a tram or taxi ride. Whether you want to learn about the city’s most famous export at the Guinness Storehouse or go for a bucolic stroll through St Stephen’s Green , there’s plenty of entertaining directions to head when you’re leaving from Trinity College.

4. Food and old-school pubs

Photo left via Tomahawk Steakhouse on Facebook. Photo right via Eatokyo Noodles and Sushi Bar on Facebook

Located near to the famous Temple Bar area, there’s a ton of pubs, bars and restaurants to get stuck into when you’ve finished marvelling at the Book of Kells. See our guide to the best restaurants in Dublin for where to eat and our guide to the finest Dublin pubs . 

FAQs about the Book of Kells tour

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from the Book of Kells movie (The Secret of Kells) to ‘What is the Book of Kells?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is the Book of Kells?

The Book of Kells is an illustrated manuscript that covers the four Gospels of the New Testament.

Why is Book of Kells famous?

The Book of Kells is famous due to 1, how old it is (c. 800 CE) 2, as it is the best-known of the many medieval manuscripts and 3, due to its detail and beauty.

Who made the Book of Kells and why?

One of the theories is that it was written on the island of Iona by the monks at a Columban monastery. Another is that it was created in the town of Kells in County Meath.

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The Book of Kells and Trinity College

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Right in the heart of Dublin  – in the prestigious Trinity College – is a jewel of Ireland’s cultural heritage: the Book of Kells.

It’s one of the most famous manuscripts in history, a UNESCO Memory of the World item , and is described by the 11th century Annals of Ulster as “the most precious object in the Western world”.

This exquisitely illuminated manuscript contains the four Gospels of the New Testament in Latin and dates back to around 800AD. Almost every one of its 680 pages features elaborate imagery of mythical creatures, wild and domestic animals, Christian iconography and Celtic symbols.

The Old Library at Trinity College, Dublin

A storied history

Scholarly opinion differs about the book’s early history but most agree that it was likely begun on the remote Scottish island of Iona and finished in the monastery at Kells in County Meath, where it was brought in 806 by monks fleeing Viking raids on Iona.

And there it stayed until the 1650s, a time of great political upheaval in Ireland, when it was sent to Dublin for safekeeping, and presented to Trinity College by the Bishop of Meath a few years later.

The book’s history is told in the fascinating Book of Kells Experience , where you can view the precious manuscript before enjoying immersive digital experiences that bring the vivid pages to life. But until you get here to see it for yourself, you can view high-resolution images of each of its pages in the Library’s Digital Collection .

The Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin

A manuscript as impressive as the Book of Kells needs a library to match its majesty – and Trinity’s Old Library is the perfect setting.

The magnificent building was constructed in the 18th century, and houses a vast collection that includes everything from illuminated medieval manuscripts and early printed books to correspondence from playwright and Nobel Laureate Samuel Beckett and pieces of art history.

The main chamber of the Old Library is the magnificent Long Room. This striking 65 metre hall – with a beautiful wooden barrel vaulted ceiling, dark oak beams, and marble busts – is a sight that will linger long in the memory (if you haven’t seen it on Instagram already).

The library is currently undergoing a major redevelopment and most of the books have been removed from the shelves of the Long Room for conservation. However, visitors won’t be disappointed as this unique space is currently home to the stunning Gaia installation – a spectacular illuminated sculpture of Earth by Luke Jerram.

Trinity College, Dublin

The newly launched Trinity Trails campus walking tours guide visitors through the college’s rich history. The tour is a 45-minute guided or self-guided loop of the college grounds that aims to uncover the institution’s hidden gems and give you an insight into student life.

It takes you to fascinating spots like the Old Anatomy Museum, the Rose Garden and the Zoological Museum. The self-guided option includes immersive 360 tours and AR experiences that bring some of the college’s famous artefacts to life.

If you really want to dive into Trinity’s history, continue your experience with the Book of Kells and Old Library exhibition. With so much to see, the best option is to slow down and absorb the atmosphere of this extraordinary place.

Need to know

A major restoration project of the Old Library is underway but visitors can still visit Gaia in the Long Room and the Book of Kells Experience remains open.

Online booking is strongly recommended for entry to both the Book of Kells and Old Library exhibition and guided tours.

Trinity College Dublin is right in the heart of Dublin city so access is easy whether you’re on foot or travelling by bus , Luas tram or Dart commuter rail service. There is no parking on campus.

There are several cafés and restaurants around the Trinity campus, including The Buttery restaurant, the Perch Café and the Pavillion Bar, a particularly popular spot with students and locals on a sunny day.

If you want to discover more about Ireland’s heritage and culture, make your way to the nearby National Gallery of Ireland , the Museum of Literature Ireland and Dublin Castle. The campus itself has a strong cultural pedigree – both the Douglas Hyde Theatre and Samuel Beckett Gallery have regular exhibitions and shows.

Book of Kells exhibition, Trinity College, Dublin

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Explore, engage and connect with Irish history and culture in 20 interactive galleries at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin City. Go beyond the stereotypes to help you discover what it truly means to be Irish. Winner of Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards 2019, 2020 and 2021.

FIRE Steakhouse & Bar is an award winning venue, located in the heart of Dublin City centre in the popular Dawson Street and St Stephen’s Green vicinity, offering a range of dining options. It has been awarded ‘Best Luxury Steakhouse Globally’ at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards on multiple occasions.

Hatch & Sons is a traditional Irish kitchen located in the very heart of Dublin on St. Stephen’s Green. Diners are warmly welcomed into the airy and light-filed south-facing basement of this landmark Georgian townhouse.

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The Book of Kells Experience

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s oldest university, and is home to its greatest cultural treasure, the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is a precious 9th century manuscript, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament. It is on display in the Old Library as part of the Book of Kells Experience.

Visitors can see the ancient masterpiece, before marvelling at the Long Room, considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful libraries. As part of a landmark conservation project 200,000 books have been removed from the Long Room. Continue your journey into a new Pavilion next to the Old Library, where you will be enchanted as stories, collections and sculptures come to life. Before embarking on an extraordinary immersive voyage in the Book of Kells 360. This is a spectacular adventure in light and sound of the ancient masterpiece’s history. Finally, step into a reimagined Long Room and see both the past and future through breath-taking digital projections.

After visiting the impressive Book of Kells, why not take a guided walking tour around the Trinity College Dublin campus with Trinity Trails. Learn all about the hidden gems and fascinating history that make Ireland’s oldest university such an interesting place.

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The Book of Kells

The Book of Kells Exhibition

What is the Book of Kells?

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 Gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including "canon tables", or concordances of Gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists; summaries of the gospel narratives (Breves causae); and prefaces characterizing the evangelists (Argumenta).

The book is written on vellum (prepared calfskin) in a bold and expert version of the script known as "insular majuscule". It contains 340 folios, now measuring approximately 330 x 255 mm; they were severely trimmed, and their edges gilded, in the course of rebinding in the 19th century.

Where and when was the Book of Kells written?

The date and place of origin of the Book of Kells have attracted a great deal of scholarly controversy. The majority academic opinion now tends to attribute it to the scriptorium of Iona (Argyllshire), but conflicting claims have located it in Northumbria or in Pictland in eastern Scotland. A monastery founded around 561 by St Colum Cille on Iona, an island off Mull in western Scotland, became the principal house of a large monastic confederation. In 806, following a Viking raid on the island which left 68 of the community dead, the Columban monks took refuge in a new monastery at Kells, County Meath, and for many years the two monasteries were governed as a single community. It must have been close to the year 800 that the Book of Kells was written, although there is no way of knowing if the book was produced wholly at Iona or at Kells, or partially at each location.

Why is the Book of Kells famous?

The manuscript’s celebrity derives largely from the impact of its lavish decoration, the extent and artistry of which is incomparable. Abstract decoration and images of plant, animal and human ornament punctuate the text with the aim of glorifying Jesus’ life and message, and keeping his attributes and symbols constantly in the eye of the reader.

There are full pages of decoration for the canon tables; symbols of the evangelists Matthew (the Man), Mark (the Lion), Luke (the Calf) and John (the Eagle); the opening words of the Gospels; the Virgin and Child; a portrait of Christ; complex narrative scenes, the earliest to survive in gospel manuscripts, representing the arrest of Christ and his temptation by the Devil. The Chi Rho page (folio 34r), introducing Matthew’s account of the nativity, is the single most famous page in medieval art. There are portraits of Matthew and John, but no portrait of Mark or Luke survives. These were probably executed, like other major pages of the manuscript, on single leaves and they are presumed to have become detached over time and lost. In all, around 30 folios went missing in the medieval and early modern periods.

How many artists produced the Book of Kells?

Three artists seem to have produced the major decorated pages. One of them, whose work can be seen on the Chi Rho page, was capable of ornament of such extraordinary fineness and delicacy that his skills have been likened to those of a goldsmith. Four major scribes copied the text. Each displayed characteristics and stylistic traits while working within a scriptorium style. One, for example, was responsible only for text, and was in the habit of leaving the decoration of letters at the beginning of verses to an artist; while another scribe, who may have been the last in date, tended to use bright colours - red, purple, yellow - for the text, and to fill blank spaces with the unnecessary repetition of certain passages. The extent to which there was an identity between scribe and artist is among the key unanswered questions about the manuscript.

What pigments did the Book of Kells artists use?

A range of pigments was employed, including blue made from indigo or woad, native to northern Europe. Recent research in the Library of Trinity College Dublin has indicated that blue from lapis lazuli was probably not used in the manuscript as had previously been thought. Orpiment (yellow arsenic sulphide) was used to produce a vibrant yellow pigment. Red came from red lead or from organic sources which are difficult at present to identify. A copper green, reacting with damp, was responsible for perforating the vellum on a number of folios. The artists employed a technique of adding as many as three pigments on top of a base layer.

How was the Book of Kells used in the Middle Ages?

The transcription of the text was remarkably careless, in many cases due to eye-skip, with letters and whole words omitted. Text already copied on one page (folio 218v) was repeated on folio 219r, with the words on 218v elegantly expunged by the addition of red crosses. Such carelessness, taken together with the sumptuousness of the book, have led to the conclusion that it was designed for ceremonial use on special liturgical occasions such as Easter rather than for daily services.

The history of the Book of Kells

The Book of Kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. The Annals of Ulster, describing it as "the chief treasure of the western world", record that it was stolen in 1006 for its ornamental cumdach (shrine). It remained at Kells throughout the Middle Ages, venerated as the great gospel book of St Colum Cille, a relic of the saint, as indicated by a poem added in the 15th century to folio 289v. In the late 11th and 12th centuries, blank pages and spaces on folios 5v-7v and 27r were used to record property transactions relating to the monastery at Kells. In 1090, it was reported by the Annals of Tigernach, that relics of Colum Cille were brought to Kells from Donegal. These relics included ‘the two gospels’, one of them probably the Book of Kells, the other perhaps the Book of Durrow. Following the rebellion of 1641, the church at Kells lay in ruins, and around 1653 the book was sent to Dublin by the governor of Kells, Charles Lambert, Earl of Cavan, in the interests of its safety. A few years later it reached Trinity College, the single constituent college of the University of Dublin, through the agency of Henry Jones, a former scoutmaster general to Cromwell’s army in Ireland and Vice-Chancellor of the University, when he became Bishop of Meath in 1661. It has been on display in the Old Library at Trinity College from the mid 19th century, and now attracts in excess of 500,000 visitors a year. Since 1953 it has been bound in four volumes. Two volumes can normally be seen, one opened to display a major decorated page, and one to show two pages of script.

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The long room and the book of kells, dublin: guide for visitors.

The Long Room and the book of Kells, in Dublin’s Trinity College Historical Library, are two of Dublin’s most popular attractions. Discover what makes them special and how to visit. Updated 2020.

The Old Library of Trinity College Dublin, aka the Long Room, is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Ireland and a site to behold.

Hosted in the historical buildings of Trinity College and academic institution dating back to 1592, the room is 65-meter long, has dark wooden vaulted ceiling and it is walls covered wall to wall by double story bookcases containing an incredible collection of 200.000 volumes.

Elaborate cast iron staircases daring the reader to venture to its highest recesses and regularly spaced marble busts guard the library recesses with their white severe stare.

The library is one of the most popular tourists attractions in Dublin , for a few reason.

The first is just its looks: the room is imposing and iconic of the city, often being chosen to grace the cover of travel brochures for the most culturally curios travelers.

The second, is what the library contains: 200,000 books but also the harp that is the national symbol of Ireland and the exhibition of the Book of Kells (more about it later)

Last but not least, the library often attracts Star wars fans. As unlikely as this may sound, there is a good reason for this: the library is said to have inspired the Jedi Temple Archives!

If you like fun facts, you may find more fun facts about Ireland for kids here.

Table of Contents

The old Trinity College Library and its treasures

The Old Library of Trinity college and the Long Room, its main chamber, is interesting both for its architecture and the treasures is contains.

The most famous of all is the Book of Kells, which is at the center of am exhibition hosted in the same building as the library. Tickets for the two are combined, you get to the library after the rooms devoted to the book.

The Long Room at Trinity college Dublin: a bit of history

The Long Room is the most imposing and beautiful part of the vast Trinity College Library, an impressive collection of over 3 million manuscripts and books hosted in the grounds of Dublin’s oldest university.

Trinity college dates back to 1592 when it was funded by charter of Queen Elisabeth, but the oldest library buildings we see now only date back to XVIII century, when construction started following the designs of Thomas Burgh . It was built between 1712 and 1732)

Since then, the library has hosted important historical manuscripts from medieval to modern times.

In 1801 it acquired the right to claim a free copy any new book published in Ireland and the UK, making it quickly one of the largest collections of manuscripts and books in the country.

It currently houses 200,000 books making it the largest and oldest library in Ireland

The long room contains many treasures, including Ireland’s oldest harp and the proclamation of Irish independence , but it is probably best known because of the medieval manuscript  ‘the book of Kells’ .

The book of Kells, Trinity College Dublin

The book of Kells is a precious manuscript dating back, probably, to the 9th-century a.D.

Made of vellum (prepared calfskin) the book contains the Latin version of the 4 gospel prefaced by other texts, including “canon tables”, or concordances of Gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists; summaries of the gospel narratives ( Breves causae ); and prefaces characterizing the evangelists ( Argumenta ).

The book measures approximately  330 x 255 mm and is made of 340 folios: its most impressive feature, in term so of aesthetics, is the elaborate writing in which the gospels are committed to paper.

Each page of the book is lavishly decorated with abstract designs and images of plant, animal and human ornament, each image carefully selected for its symbolic value and its ability to glorifying Jesus’ life and message.

The book is in a protective case and photographs are not allowed, but postcards and posters with details of it are for sale.

The picture below is of one of these reproductions and gives a first idea of the level of mastery involved in such a beautiful writing.

Mystery surrounds the exact origin of the book of Kells but the book is surely monastic in origin.

Since the VII century Ireland has been the centre of a thriving monastic culture.

The monks lived in communities devoted to the study of the scriptures and to manual work and part of this manual work consisted in the writing and therefore conservation of the word of the gospel.

The main monastery at the time was located on the island of Iona, founded by St Colum Cille, and historians believe that the book of Kells was at least partially written in that location sometime.

In 806 a.D. Iona was attacked by the Vikings and the book sis said to have been brought to Kells, near Dublin, for protection.

It is only in 1661 that the book fund his home in Trinity College.

The book of Kells exhibition: practical info

The book of Kells and the long room are one of the most popular attractions in Dublin so prepare for long lines!

The tickets can be bought on location (the till is located in the souvenir shop, just beside the library entrance) or online and give access to both the book of Kells and the long room, located on the floor above.

Trinity College Library hours

• Mon – Sat (May – Sept)  08:30 – 17:00
• Sun (May – Sept)  09:30 – 17:00
• Mon – Sat (Oct – April)  09:30 – 17:00
• Sun (Oct – April)  12:00 – 16:30

Visiting Trinity College Old room with children

The book of Kells is difficult to appreciate for little children and despite our best efforts, we found ourselves being rushed in our visit by the presence of our two preschoolers, who only really got excited once we reached the impressive long room.

A more suitable company for this kind of exhibition is certainly children of school age: the exhibition caters well for them and teachers and parents can also download age specific worksheet to make the visit more interesting and interactive.

Trinity College Library location and how to get there

Trinity College is in the very centre of Dublin city, on College Green.

Entering from the college main gate, walk to the main college square and then turn right: the library building is on your right and is clearly marked by signs (and usually by a long queue outside!)

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Marta Correale

Marta Correale is the creator, writer and creative mind behind Learning Escapes. A travel loving mama of two from Italy, Marta currently lives in Ireland with her husband and two kids, they take frequent trips to European destination, the US and beyond. A professional travel blogger for over a decade, Marta is passionate about traveling with kids and helping others to travel more and better as a family.

23 thoughts on “ The Long Room and the Book of Kells, Dublin: guide for visitors ”

I can’t believe I’ve never visited here on my trips to Dublin (and it absolutely does look like the Jedi archives). Another good reason to go back #mondayescapes

It does, doesn’t it? I usually get discouraged by the long line outside, but one a quiet day it is really evocative. The kids loved it too, while the book of kells definitely left them unimpressed

What a beautiful library! I’d never heard of the book, actually, very cool history to it as well.

I went to Dublin in November but only for the marathon! Unfortunately the weather was awful and mighty cold so I didn’t see much of the city or Trinity College! Maybe next time!

It has got to be one of the grandest library I’ve seen. This is also the first time I’ve seen a blog feature a college and I realized, why not?! If a college is as beautiful as this, everyone should see it.

Oh my gosh, I want to move into that room! Rooms filled to the ceiling with old books make me weak in the knees! The next time I’m in Dublin, I’m going there! Thanks for letting me know about it 🙂

Ever since seeing the movie The Book of Kells I have been intrigued!! Looks like a must-see for sure!!

I’m planning on visiting Dublin this October! Love the room with the books – reminds me of Beauty and the Beast! I can just see Belle swinging from shelf to shelf on the ladder!

Impressive place! Like entering an other world really. Would love to visit!

Marta, this was so interesting to read. I especially loved the book! It looks fabulous!

Thanks for sharing it!

What a beautiful old library!! The Book of Kells looks impressive, too. I am always amazed when I consider that those old books are completely written by hand, especially when looking at those beautiful colourful decorations. Maybe you can visit again when your children are a little bit older.

Rare to see this kind of library in my home country. Missing the days when doing research is done mostly in libraries not in front of the computer.

I know, I love internet but libraries are special places, I think. The library I used to go to the most wasn’t this one, but the Vatican (I studied in Rome). Inside is not as impressive as this but you have a view over St Peter… pretty spectacular. Where are you from?

We visited this earlier last year and thought it was really impressive, very exciting to see the book of kells

I absolutely love libraries and I love Ireland. What a combination! I’ve been to Trinity College many years ago and remember it being beautiful. Would love to go back one day.

I never knew this was here and I have been to Dublin 4 times! Next time I will have to check it out.

I hope you do! Ang give me a shout if you come over 🙂

Everything is “Starwarized” now 😀 I had forgotten how beautiful this library is. Thanks for sharing

hehe, true. I love libraries and even I thought of this one because of the movie, rather than for the books! Shame on me 🙂

I’ve never thought to visit here but I would find it quite interesting. Jedi links too! Someone obviously made it look similar in the film. Really beautiful place. Thanks for sharing, great photos

Thanks for commenting and I’m glad you liked the photos! The producers of the movie apparently denied any connection but it’s a bit striking to be casual, I believe 🙂

It really does look like the Jedi archives! I can’t believe I’ve never visitied The Long Room – having been to Dublin a few times! It looks like such a peaceful place. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes

haha, I know! I always dismissed it as a touristy, non-interesting place and then one day I went and absolutely loved it! Next time in Dublin maybe? 😉

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How to see Trinity College Dublin and the Book of Kells (and why you’ll love them)

All you need to know to plan a visit to Trinity Colleg Dublin and how to see the Book of Kells: tips for visitors. 

Trinity College and the Book of Kells are two of the most famous attractions in Dublin and among the most beautiful and fascinating spots in the city.

Located in Dublin city center, overlooking monumental College Green, Trinity College is a historic Dubin university dating from 1592.

Inside its imposing and stunning campus, you can admire its beautiful architecture, get a taste of college life but mostly admire the incredible Book of Kells, a medieval manuscript like no other. 

This is all you need to know to plan a visit.

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Trinity College Dublin location and access

Trinity Colleg Dublin is in Dubin City center, on the Southside of the river.

It develops over a large, walled campus and it is accessible via several entrance gates. The most impressive is the main gate on College Green, which I recommend you use to enter the campus for convenience and visual impact. 

Access to the college campus is free.

The Book of Kells is housed in the old library building on campus. Access to the Book of Kells is ticketed.

Due to high demand and current restrictions, the best way to get tickets is online. Click here to reserve your spot . 

Good to know : on the official Book of Kells Website you can access a free audio guide that will help you along your visit.

Book of Kells Exhibition Opening Hours:

The Book of Kells Exhibition is open 7 days a week.

May to September opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 – 17.00 and Sunday: 9:30 – 17:00

October to April opening hours Monday – Saturday: 9.30 – 17.00 and Sunday: 12:00 – 16:30

Please note : face coverings are currently mandatory for all visitors age 13 and up.

Why see Trinity Colleg Dublin and the Book of Kells

There are many reasons to visit this historic campus.

The Book of Kells is a unique medieval manuscript famous worldwide for its intricate and stunning decorations.

The Long Room, Trinity College Dublin’s old library, is one of the most beautiful in the country and holds one of the few remaining copies of the Irish Declaration of Independence.

The Long Room houses one of the most ancient harps of Ireland, now the symbol of the country.

The campus as a whole is architecturally significant and enjoyable to visit for tourists thanks to its pleasant outdoor spaces.

A visit to Trinity College takes 1-2 hours. The Book of Kells Exhibition and the Long Room require about 45 minutes.

Please note that no photography is allowed inside the exhibition.

What is the Book of Kells

The Book of Kells is a Medieval manuscript and one of the treasures of Ireland.

The manuscript is in Latin and contains the four canonical gospels and it is based on their Vulgata text by St Jerome, dating from 384AD.

As well as the Gospel texts, the Book of Kells also has other pieces of writing including canon tables, Breves Causae (summaries of the gospel stories), and Argumenta (prefaces characterizing the evangelists.

The Book of Kells is written on calfskin (vellum), 340 folios and measures 330 x 255 mm.

The Book of Kells is written in elaborately decorated writing called Insular Majuscule, which is a formal type of script that originated in Ireland.

Historians cannot agree on the date of the Book of Kells. However, the dominant academic opinion currently attaches the book two the Monastery of Iona and that of Kells and believe the book dates from the IX century AD. 

The Book of Kells is stunning as well as significant. The writing is wonderfully elaborate, with letters and pages carefully decorated with a meticulous depiction of plants and religious symbols. 

Each page is a work of art: the book contains the portraits of some of the evangelists and drawings of elaborate narrative scenes, which are among the earliest medieval documents of the kind ever found. 

The Chi Rho page (folio 34r), introducing Matthew’s account of the nativity, is the single most famous page in medieval art. 

There is no agreement on the number of authors of the book, but academics believe there were three main hands at work for the decorated pages and four scribes. The book is visually stunning and uses several pigments, including red and yellow, for decorative purposes.

Despite the detailed look of the book, its writing is careless. Philologists have noticed how several pages repeat themselves and often, the scribe’s eye skipped letters of entire words. This led them to believe the book was probably for ceremonial use rather than daily reading. 

What else to see in Trinity College

Trinity College Campus has several buildings and area worth seeing. 

The Long Room

The Long Room is the old Library of Trinity College and one of the country’s most beautiful and significant libraries.

Located on the floor immediately above the Book of lels Exhibition, the Long Room has been in use since 1732 and hosts over 200 000 books: since 1801 the Library has the right to claim a free copy of every book published in Britain and Ireland.

The library is a sight to behold. The room is 65 meters long and has a vaulted ceiling From top to bottom, the walls are covered in dark wooden bookcases filled to the brim with leather-bound books. The long room has side chambers filled with light streaming in from large windows, giving the whole room a cathedral feel.

The room is dotted with 14 sculpted marble busts of philosophers, writers of the western world and men connected with Trinity College Dublin, including that of Jonathan Swift.

The library also houses one of the few remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic ead outside the General Post Office on 24 April 1916 by Patrick Pearse. The Long Room also has what is believed to be the oldest harps in Ireland, dating from the 15th century and a symbol of the country. 

Trinty College front square and campanile

The front square of Trinity College is where you find some of the most historical and significant buildings on campus including the Dining Hall, Examination Hall, Front Gate and Campanile.

Many of these are only accessible to visitors on special occasions.

As you walk inside the Trinity College Campus, you will notice the main Trinity Campanile, one of the most photographed spots in the city. 

The campanile dates from 1853 and is a bell tower: one of the college traditions says students who pass under it while the bell tolls fail their exams: many pass under it after graduations only, to mark the end of their college journey. 

Provost’s House

only open to the public on specific occasions, this building dates from 1759 and has one of the most elaborately decorated interiors of its time. 

Trinity sports fields

The Trinity sports fields do not hold any special interest in terms of sightseeing but they are a great place for a rest and tapping into college atmospheres in summer especially.

Located at the back of the campus, in summer it is where many students hang out also thanks to the presence of a small cafe. If you are looking for an outdoor break with college students and tourists this is a great place!  

Visiting Trinity College and the Book of Kells with kids

Trinity College Dublin is one of the easiest places to visit in Dublin with kids.

The campus is free to acces, car-free and perfect for small children to safely run around.

The Book of kells is unlikely to hold interest for small kids; however, I recommend you bring your school-age kids to see the Book of Kells and Trinity College library as they are impressive and there are educational materials for them to play and engage with it.

Before you go, I recommend you head to the education section of the Book of Kells Exhibition Website , where you can find children’s videos and downloadable materials to help them engage with the book and the library before and after the visit.

We also got hold of a coloring and sticker book from the souvenir shop.

This helped made the kids excited about the visit and helped us reinforce what they had learned once back home, when we all sat down to color (this is also a great rainy day activity if you need to pass a few hours in your hotel or anyway indoors waiting for the rain to pass!)

The Book of Kells Exhibition is stroller friendly.

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THE BOOK OF KELLS IN TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN: A VISIT TO ONE OF MANKIND'S GREATEST BOOK TREASURES

The Book of Kells is undoubtedly one of the greatest (book) treasures of mankind : written around the year 800 by Iro-Scottish monks, the manuscript, which was declared a UNESCO World Documentary Heritage in 2011, is probably the world's most well-known example of insular book illumination . This masterpiece attracts more than 2 million visitors to the Irish capital Dublin every year. A visit that is definitely worthwhile, as you can read here in our short travelogue.

Visiting Trinity College Dublin

The Book of Kells is kept in Trinity College in the heart of the city. We start our journey by following in the footsteps of famous alumni such as Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Samuel Beckett on a guided tour of the more than 400-year-old campus , as we pass iconic buildings such as the Campanile and the Old Library and hear all sorts of fascinating and anecdotal stories about student life and the history of the prestigious institution . The students, for example, scrupulously avoid walking under the large bell tower. Because legend has it, if the bell rings just when you are standing under it, you will never pass your exams. It is only on graduation day that all students gather at and under the Campanile to celebrate their degrees.

Trinity College was founded in 1592 under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth I and was initially called the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity . The campus was located outside the city walls , on the site of the former Priory of All Hallows , and was only open to Protestant students and teachers , as the college was primarily intended to consolidate Tudor rule in Ireland . These strict confessional restrictions were only relaxed after around 200 years. And it was not until 1904 that Trinity College officially opened its doors to women . Today, it is one of the world's most renowned universities and has almost 20,000 students from all over the globe.

The Old Library and the Book of Kells

The highlight of our visit is of course the Old Library , where not only the oldest harp in Ireland , Brian Boru's Harp , is kept, but above all the legendary Book of Kells . The historic building was opened in 1732 after 20 years of construction and has since housed around 200,000 of the oldest manuscripts, printed books and archival materials from the Trinity College Library . The main room of the building is the magnificent Long Room , a 65-metre high, two-storey hall with impressive wooden vaults and a beautiful historic interior . Today it is also adorned with a breathtaking art installation: "Gaia" . This artwork is a spherical sculpture hanging above the central aisle - an illuminated and detailed representation of the Earth created by renowned artist Luke Jerram .

Several rooms of the Old Library are dedicated to the Book of Kells . The manuscript itself is presented in its own "treasury" in dimmed light (photography is unfortunately not permitted). In order to preserve the valuable manuscript in the best possible way, there is always just one open double page in one of its four volumes on display . During our visit, we can marvel at two pages of St. Mark's Gospel that are adorned with stunning zoomorphic initials decorated in gold. It is these very initials that have established the reputation of the Book of Kells .

The early medieval masterpiece, which was probably created on the Scottish island of Iona in the 8th century , got its name from its long stay in the Irish abbey of Kells . It was there that the monks of Iona saved themselves and their book treasure from increasing Viking raids . Although its original splendid gold binding was stolen over the course of time, it is now considered to be the most significant work of early insular book art alongside the Book of Lindisfarne and was listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2011 for good reason. The Scottish (and Irish) monks used the most precious materials to create captivating miniatures, breathtaking interlace initials and elaborate calligraphy that is second to none.

The accompanying exhibition The Book of Kells 360 , which visualizes its fascinating illumination in threedimensional larger-than-life animations , is a particularly exciting way to experience this gem of early medieval book illumination .

Marvelous Book Art in the Chester Beatty Library

After visiting Trinity College , the tour continues to the nearby Chester Beatty Library . It was originally founded as the private library of the American entrepreneur Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875–1968) and has been housed in the so-called Clock Tower Building from 1820 , which is part of the Dublin Castle complex , since 1995. The library, which is actually a museum , hosts some of the most important collections of ancient, Persian, Islamic, East and Southeast Asian as well as Western European manuscripts and early prints . Particularly famous pieces include the Beatty Rosarium , the Quran of Ibn al-Bawwab and the ancient papyrus fragments with biblical texts P45 and P46.

Currently on display in two extensive exhibitions alongside various writing tools and illumination materials were numerous beautiful book treasures – including an impressive Italian gradual , a colorful Armenian gospel book , a magnificently illuminated Uzbek codex with the story of the prophet Yusuf and a fabulous anthology of Persian poetry . As in all Irish public museums, admission is free.

Dublin – Always Worth a Visit!

Even though the books were of course the main focus for us, Dublin would always be worth a visit even without them. The National Museum of Ireland , for example, is home to magnificent art treasures from early history and the Viking Age, while the Natural History Museum is not only fascinating for its exhibits, but also for its impressive architecture. You can stroll through the city and its legendary pubs , visit the Guinness brewery and numerous whisky distilleries , enjoy the breathtaking nature south of the city and the sea is less than an hour away, with great hiking opportunities along the cliffs. And last but not least, the people there are among the most hospitable we have met on our many travels.

Monastery of Iona (United Kingdom) — Ca. 800

Lindisfarne Abbey, Holy Island (United Kingdom) — Ca. 700

Flanders — Ca. 1530

Baghdad (Iraq) — Hegira 391 / AD 1000–01

Egypt — 2nd – 4th century

On our audience with Pope Francis and personal delivery of the first numbered copy of the Gero Codex ...

We were invited to the Centre for Medieval Studies at Utrecht University to give a lecture on the subject...

How is it that some of the finest illuminated manuscripts originated from the so-called “Dark Ages”? Come...

From subtle sentence initials to the merging of letter and image - an insight into the limitless variety...

WHERE? In our store in Regensburg's Old Town.

We have been running a specialist store for facsimiles  for over 10 years in Regensburg's Old Town , just opposite the "Schottenportal" of the Romanesque Scots Monastery of St. Jacob at Jakobstraße 6.

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First Look: Inside the new Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College Dublin

More than a million people travel from around the world to see the medieval manuscript each year. the university hopes its new exhibition will spark fresh curiosity at home too.

Trinity College Dublin: part of the new Book of Kells Experience. Photograph: Zoe Ardiff

Each year more than a million people travel from around the world to see the Book of Kells, but what do most of us in Ireland know about it? I have a vague memory of being brought to see it as a child, of two pages in a glass case, indecipherable reds and yellows, a crush of people. On my way to visit it this week, I realised I knew little other than its cultural significance as an object. I could have given a tourist directions to find it, but I’d have struggled to explain its history. According to Dearbhla Mac Fadden of Trinity College Dublin, I’m not alone.

“What we find with our domestic audiences – or our non-audience, I should say! – is that they’ve been as children, or on a school tour with a teacher, and they haven’t considered ever coming back since.” She and her colleagues are hoping that the new Book of Kells Experience, which opens this week, will not just showcase this treasure to international visitors but also spark a fresh curiosity in both younger and Irish audiences.

The Book of Kells is currently housed in Trinity’s 18th-century Old Library. The pages on display are changed regularly, though the schedule is kept secret for security reasons. Visitor tickets are for the book and for the beautiful Long Room library. Centuries of pollution and dust accumulation have exerted a heavy toll on the building, and an urgent need to improve fire protection and environmental controls meant that an Old Library conservation and renovation project was announced in 2020. Each book is being taken down, cleaned and electronically tagged before being relocated to a climate-controlled storage facility. Two hundred thousand volumes have been decanted in a year and a half, an average of about a bay a week. The upshot is that the Book of Kells will also need to move.

Trinity College Dublin: the Old Library. Photograph: Antti Viitala

Trinity College Dublin: 200,000 volumes have been cleaned and tagged over the past 18 months. Photograph: Barry McCall

The Old Library was originally due to shut to the public this autumn, but its closure has been postponed until 2025. When this happens, the Book of Kells will move to the nearby Printing House, which is itself about to be adapted to house its precious guest. Until then, visitors will enter the Old Library through an orientation area (formerly the gift shop), and see the Book of Kells in its current home, before going back outside to a new building that houses the Book of Kells Experience.

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On the Trinity campus, the word “building” might suggest classical porticos and ornate pillars with hand-carved motifs. Turning the corner, what greets me is a vast red metal box, its facade emblazoned with a bold, book-like K. Picture a shipping container on steroids. This new pavilion is such an unexpected sight among the university’s historic buildings, yet it is oddly appealing, like coming across a tree crammed full of holly berries on a dull winter’s day.

Trinity College Dublin: the Book of Kells Experience pavilion. Photograph: Eva Power

Designed by Event (which also created Epic , the Irish emigration museum, in Dublin’s docklands) in collaboration with Trinity, the pavilion’s interior is divided into three zones. The first showcases dozens of treasures from the Old Library. A stack of 26 boxes run the length of a large wall, which is itself a screen. Each box has a QR code linking to Trinity Virtual Library . “Our collections are now boxed up, they’re all being conserved and preserved, but here we are allowing them to open,” Mac Fadden explains as animated contents from the boxes spring to life and fly across the screen, pages soaring like birds’ wings.

Trinity College Dublin: the first section of the new Book of Kells Experience showcases treasures from the Old Library. Photograph: Ste Murray

Vibrant landscapes and folk scenes from Lily and Elizabeth Yeats ’s amazing Cuala Press publications shimmy alongside illustrations from early medieval manuscripts. Caricatures drawn by Oscar Wilde flit from one wall to the other, while a vampire appears from inside the distinctive yellow-and-red cover of the first edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula . The display is both whimsical and practical, for the boxes are a tacit acknowledgment that collecting by its nature means that beautiful objects remain hidden.

Next up is a bank of shelves displaying interactive versions of Old Library treasures, including the medieval Brian Boru harp. On this version of the harp, the well-known historical harpist Siobhán Armstrong is playing an 18th-century lamentation. Also in this bay, eight famous figures from the collection of busts in the Old Library have been animated. Arranged in two rows of four, Ada Lovelace, Isaac Newton, Jonathan Swift, Rosalind Franklin, Augusta Gregory, Socrates, Shakespeare and Mary Wollstonecraft converse and share their stories.

The second zone is that of the Book of Kells itself. A transitory space includes an interactive version of the book. “You can touch this, look at it and get into detail. We’ve 10 of the folios here as well, some of the most celebrated pages,” Mac Fadden says. On the display, animated pages lift and turn, sending bright dots of colour, elaborate spirals and religious icons tumbling on to the floor. Illustrations of imagined creatures and familiar animals and motifs bound across the walls until the pages are blank, returned to their original chalky vellum grey.

The Book of Kells Experience. Photograph: Barry McCall

The Book of Kells Experience. Photograph: Ste Murray

This entryway leads to the area where an eight-minute looped animation tells the story of the Book of Kells manuscript, which features the four gospels from the Christian New Testament in Latin. Scholars believe the book dates to around the year 800 and was the work of a handful of monks on Iona, in the Scottish Hebridean islands, where St Columba had founded a monastery. To avoid Viking raids, it was taken across the sea to Ireland, about 120km to the south. Two centuries later it was stolen from its home in Meath. When the book was recovered, its casing, believed to have been decorated with gold and jewels, had disappeared. (Illustrations in the book of an ornamental red case are believed to represent this long-lost gem.)

In 1661 the bishop of Meath gifted the book to Trinity. The animation is gorgeous, I say to Mac Fadden’s colleague Darajane O’Sullivan. “This is my fourth time seeing it today,” she says cheerfully. Did it feel strange, I ask, to deconstruct the Book of Kells to this extent; to take apart something we are used to experiencing as a single, perfect object? “I think it was more exciting to open up the collections,” she replies.

The Book of Kells Experience: the final section of the exhibition features a virtual version of the Long Room. Photograph: Zoe Ardiff

The final section of the exhibition is given over to a virtual version of the Long Room itself. Featuring students from Trinity’s drama course in costume, this sequence tells the story of the Long Room from inception to contemporary times in such a way as to make it feel as if the vaulted space is being constructed around you. “I think students will love it,” Mac Fadden says. “All our students get in for free and can bring two guests.” She believes the new pavilion will make the Book of Kells more accessible to more people. “We have the physical Old Library, which our visitors love. They’re coming for the Book of Kells, for the Long Room; they absolutely adore that. And then we also have this new digital experience. Hand in hand, they’re really going to complement each other. So it is contemporary but also historic. It’s not one outweighing the other.”

The Book of Kells, the physical book, is an awe-inspiring act of faith. This new exhibition doesn’t detract from that. Watching its fantastical creatures and intricate shapes come to life on the walls around me suggests the monks who made it had another secret to share: an act of faith is also an act of the imagination.

The Book of Kells Experience opens on Wednesday, January 3rd. You can buy tickets at visittrinity.ie

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Cultural and Literary Ireland

On this page, an educational journey, about this trip, your experience, day-by-day, travel with ivy league faculty, registration opens soon, june 5 – 17, 2025.

with Kate McCullough , Associate Professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and English

Join Professor McCullough on a learning journey across Ireland, the land of such literary greats as W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney, and others.

On this immersive 13-day tour, travel the paths of Ireland's cultural and literary giants. You'll visit not only the places where Irish novelists, playwrights, and poets lived and worked, but also the landscapes that inspired their masterpieces.

From the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim to the Aran Islands, where, on Inis Oirr, you'll learn about the histories and traditions of women islanders, this tour offers authentic views of the Irish countryside.

A hands-on baking demonstration in a family home in County Down. Enriching lectures on location from Professor Kate McCullough. There's no end to the things you'll learn on location during this CAU Study Tour!

CAU Study Tours offer small-group opportunities to learn on location with Ivy League faculty. This extraordinarily enchanting tour is open to Cornell alumni, family, and friends!

Our trip to Ireland features an itinerary that blends local stories and renowned sights. Tour past Oscar Wilde's house in Dublin, encounter the statues at C.S. Lewis Square in Belfast, and attend a specially curated book-club-style experience with a current Irish author.

Experience the leisure of a small group tour experience in this country well-known for its rich cultural heritage, lush landscapes, and storied past.

Pack your bags and depart for an overnight flight to Dublin.

Meet your driver and guide in the arrivals hall at the Dublin Airport before setting off on a short panoramic tour of Dublin City on the north and south sides of the River Liffey. In the afternoon, visit St. Patrick's Cathedral & Marsh's Library, before checking into your hotel and enjoying a welcome drink and dinner.

(Meals included: dinner)

This morning, visit the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) to see the very first copy of James Joyce's  Ulysses, along with his handwritten notebooks. After lunch, take a private tour of the Edwardian mansion once home to the Guinness family, exploring their extensive library of rare books, manuscripts, and fine bindings. In the evening, dinner is on your own in the city.

(Meals included: breakfast, lunch)

This morning, enjoy a private pre-opening tour of Trinity College and The Book of Kells, and a lecture from Professor Kate McCullough. Trinity had many famous students, including Jonathan Swift and Samuel Beckett. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Dublin, and in the evening, enjoy dinner and traditional Irish music entertainment in a local pub.

(Meals included: breakfast, dinner)

En route to Belfast, experience a hands-on baking demonstration at a family home in County Down, followed by a sampling of traditional Irish foods at a farmhouse lunch. After arriving in Belfast, enjoy a comprehensive tour of the city, including C.S. Lewis Square, which features seven bronze sculptures from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

This morning, visit the Seamus Heaney HomePlace for an inspiring journey through the life and work of one of Ireland’s greatest writers. Enjoy a lecture by Professor McCullough before setting out to Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site that consists of 40,000 basalt polygonal columns formed 60 million years ago after a volcanic eruption—and which Irish tales say are the stepping stones for local giant Finn McCool.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Derry City, the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland. These famous walls date back to the early 17th century, and walking atop them offers fine views of the historic city. The walking tour is followed by a visit to the Museum of Free Derry. After lunch, continue to Sligo.

County Sligo's beautiful scenery was an inspiration for William Butler Yeats. The spectacular lakes of Sligo, with their still waters and wooded islands, form a striking contrast to the county's rugged uplands. Stop briefly at Glencar Waterfall, made famous by Yeats in his poem, "The Stolen Child," before visiting his final resting place at Drumcliffe.

Before leaving Sligo, visit Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, with over 60 stone circles and passage tombs between 5,500 and 6,500 years old. En route to Galway, stop at the National Museum of Country Life in Castlebar, County Mayo. In the evening, rest and recharge at your hotel in Galway.

This morning, en route to the Burren & Cliffs of Moher, visit Coole Park, a complex and rare wetland system with underground rivers that also served as the heart of the Irish Literary Revival in the early 20th century. Continue to the Cliffs of Moher, on Ireland's west coast, standing 230 meters above the ocean at their highest point.

This morning, depart by ferry for the smallest of the three Aran Islands, Inis Oirr. Participate in an Aran Island Stitch or St Bridgit’s Cross Workshop while a local tells you about her life on Inish Oirr and the history & traditions of women of the island. After the workshop, enjoy some time at leisure on the island to discover this unique place.

This morning, depart for Dublin. On the way, stop at Ahascragh Distillery, Ireland's first zero energy emissions distillery, to explore whiskey and gin production from grain to glass. After the tour, enjoy lunch and a meeting with the distillery's founders. Enjoy a farewell dinner in Dublin City Centre.

(Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

This morning, transfer to Dublin Airport for your return flight home to the U.S.

Kate McCullough is an associate professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and English at Cornell University.

CAU is your first choice for in-depth, lifelong learning with Cornell faculty in the classroom and around the globe.

In Ireland, you'll visit the nation's first zero energy emissions distillery.

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Dublin to Galway: 7 places to visit in Ireland

Dublin to Galway, Ireland's charm unfolds. Explore Trinity College and Temple Bar in Dublin, drive the scenic Ring of Kerry, marvel at the Cliffs of Moher, savor the artsy vibe of Galway, witness the geological wonder of Giant's Causeway, kiss the Blarney Stone in Cork, and embrace the stunning Dingle Peninsula. Each destination reveals Ireland's rich history, natural beauty, and lively culture

Dublin to Galway, discover Ireland's allure with Trinity College, Temple Bar, Cliffs of Moher, Galway's charm etc. Rich history, natural wonders, and vibrant culture await

Dublin, is a vibrant and lively city with a mix of historical and modern attractions. Visit Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, explore Dublin Castle

The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive that takes you through some of Ireland's most breathtaking landscapes. Along the way, you'll encounter picturesque villages, lakes, mountains

One of Ireland's most iconic natural landmarks, the Cliffs of Moher, offer dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs rise to heights of over 700 feet

Known for its colorful streets, lively atmosphere, and artistic community, Galway is a charming city on the west coast of Ireland

Giant's Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its unique hexagonal basalt columns formed by volcanic activity. It's a fascinating and otherworldly natural wonder

Blarney Castle in County Cork is a must-visit for those seeking a bit of Irish folklore. Legend has it that kissing the Blarney Stone grants the gift of eloquence

The Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry offers breathtaking coastal scenery, charming villages, and a rich cultural heritage

The Old Library Virtual Private Tour Project

Anne-Marie Diffley, who has managed the Book of Kells Visitor Experience for over 20 years is your host for this virtual private tour.

Join Anne-Marie on a journey through the intricate artistry of the Book of Kells and learn fascinating insights on how it was made. Next, explore the breath-taking Long Room, one of the world’s most beautiful libraries and home to 250,000 of Trinity’s most ancient books.

Enquiring minds can then have their burning questions answered via a live Q&A session, an exclusive addition which can be tailored to your group’s requirements.

Video Gallery

Visit the Book of Kells and the Long Room

Top 10 most asked questions about the Book of Kells & Old Library

Symbolism in the Book of Kells

“Our Members loved the Behind The Scenes Tour of the Library in the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin, and hearing the amazing history behind the Book of Kells. The video was beautifully personalized and of a professional quality .We truly appreciate all you did in managing the production, this remarkable tour did IWF Ireland and Trinity College proud.”

Paul Jonhson

2021 International Women’s Forum

“Thank you once again for the organization of the virtual tour! It was made in a very professional way and the quality was extremely high. We liked a lot that you referred to the scope of our conference and addressed the role of science in maintaining the library.”

Justyna Sliwa

2020 Nano Scientific Forum

The Book of Kells

• Book of Kells Experience
• Trinity Trails

• Best Price Guarantee You won't find a better deal anywhere else!
• No Booking Fee Book Now - Pay Later!
• Free Cancellation Up to 72 hours before arrival
• City-Centre Location Located in the heart of Dublin City