Book of Kells & Trinity College

Located right in the heart of Dublin—in the prestigious Trinity College Library (in Irish: Leabharlann Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath)—is the Book of Kells, a jewel of Ireland's cultural heritage. It is one of the most famous manuscripts in history, a UNESCO Memory of the World Item , and described in 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 800 AD. Almost every one of these 680 pages features elaborate images of mythical creatures, wild and domestic animals, Christian iconography, and Celtic symbols.

A turbulent history

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

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

The story of the book is told in the fascinating Book of Kells Experience where you can examine the precious manuscript before entering the digital world where its striking pages come to life. Until you arrive to see the book for yourself, however, you can view high-resolution images of every single page in the library's digital collection .

Every book lover's dream

A manuscript as impressive as the Book of Kells needs a library that does justice to its majesty – and the Old Library of Trinity College is the perfect setting.

The magnificent building was built in the 18th century and houses an extensive collection ranging from illuminated medieval manuscripts and early printed books to the correspondence of the playwright and Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett and works of art history.

The main chamber of the old library is the magnificent Long Room. This impressive 65-meter-high hall, with its beautiful wooden vaulted ceiling, dark oak beams, and marble busts, is a sight that will long remain in the memory.

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Source: www.ireland.com