The Book of Kells
The book is a medieval manuscript made in 800 AD. It’s about the four Gospels of the new Testament. It was made by monks in the 9th century and was once lost, buried, and recovered. It’s known for the intricate, colorful artwork.
The building that the Book of Kells is located in is called The Old Library. You can find it on the campus of Trinity College. Tip: Order tickets in advance because it can get sold out. Also, try to go early, there will be less of a line. It took us an hour, but you could spend more or less time depending on how long you want to stay.
When you get there, you will enter a building of information. Then you will go back outside and enter the courtyard of the campus. Follow the sidewalk around the yard and it will bring you right to The Old Library. Staff will be waiting to check your tickets and let you in.
Before entering the library, you will go in a room with information in it. Then you will go into the library where you will find a long walkway. That can get crowded! It has book shelves on both sides of it and a beautiful vaulted ceiling to view. All of the book shelves aren’t completely full with books and you might need allergy medication if you are allergic to dust. Really it wasn’t too bad though.
There are three things to look for in the library… the oldest Celtic harp, the proclamation of 1916, and a Giant Earth on the ceiling.
Note: You can take pictures of the library, but you can’t take pictures of the Book of Kells.
Once you get to the end of the library, you will go down the stairs. You will end up in a room with a video explaining the history of the Book of Kells. Then you will enter into a dark room where the book is kept. It’s in a glass case and can be viewed in all directions. The best direction to view it in would be directly in front of you. Note: The beautifully designed, detailed artwork that is made with natural pigments.
When you exit the Book of Kells room, you will find a gift shop on the way out. We found some cute clover earrings and really warm scarves. This experience is definitely worth it! A must see! It was one of my favorite things to see in Ireland.