I laughed at the Lorax, "You poor stupid guy!
You never can tell what some people will buy."
--Dr. Seuss
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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