Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Trinity College, Dublin and the Book of Kells

On my two previous visits to Ireland, I was delighted to visit the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin. But when I stopped in on Sunday July 10, I found an improbably long queue of visitors waiting to see the most famous illuminated manuscript ever rescued from a bog. A student explained helpfully that it was cruise ship day! Clearly, this was not the day for a return visit to the Book of Kells.


Back in Dublin after a few days of travel in the countryside, I returned to Trinity College for another try. All the cruise ships were happily back at sea. The line was far more reasonable now and I got to see the stunning Book of Kells again.
The Old Library
The Long Room

Homer
Spiral staircase
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates

Sorry, but there are some things I just can't resist:
"The Princess Bride"

The Long Room's 200,000 books
Cicero, the great orator
John Locke
Boyle




Brian Boru Harp
As one proceeds down the hall, the busts of prominent men become more more obscure.






1937 Reading Room

Book of Kells official merchandise van



Campanile


Lecky




Campanile










Note:  To anyone lucky enough to be in Dublin when it isn't cruise ship day I strongly recommend paying a visit to the Old Library of Trinity College and seeing the Book of Kells. Note that there are only four pages on display at any given time and a crowded room is hardly the ideal personal viewing space. Fortunately, the museum experience can be supplemented with an excellent digitalized edition here.


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