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11 July, 2008

We ate a wonderful breakfast at Number 31.  With our stomachs full, we headed to Trinity College for the tour (€10/person), the grounds are open to the public and always free if you don’t want to pay for the tour.  Our tour guide was very funny and made the tour enjoyable.  The main reason to pay for the tour though, is you go to the front of the line to see The Book of Kells.

The courtyard at Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College

Trinity is the oldest and most prestigious university in Ireland.  Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde are all alumni amongst other famous and successful graduates.  The tour, of course ends with the Book of Kells.

One of the most beautifully decorated manuscripts in the world, The Book of Kells was found in nearby Kells, Co. Meath at Kells Monastery.  While only one of many such illuminated manuscripts created in Ireland during the Middle Ages, this is probably the best preserved and certainly something you don’t want to miss if you are visiting Dublin.

The books (there are other manuscripts included besides the Book of Kells) are beautiful and certainly impressive, but the huge crowds do take away some from the experience.  The library at Trinity (€8 if you aren’t on the tour) is magnificent and was nice to see, since I had never visited it previously.  It reminded me of the stacks from the Harry Potter books.

When we finished our tour, we met our friend Éamonn at the National Gallery (admission is free!) to see the Jack Yeats exhibit.  We took a break for lunch at the cafe in the Gallery.  Then we took in the exhibits.   Yeats’ work was wonderful, we also stopped in to see the “Taking of Christ” which is breathtaking.

We tried to go see Dublin Castle, but arrived at 4:45 (closing time), so we briefly popped into the Chester Beatty Library  (which also closes at 5 PM)  bought some refreshments at the café and headed to the Cobblestone Bar for a couple of pints.  What a great pub.  Since it’s famous for its trad sessions (traditional Irish music), it was nice that we were able to hear a couple of fiddles before leaving, our first of the trip (we are in bed before the music starts most nights).

We ended the evening with the Chinese Takeaway on Meath Street.

Day 13 Ireland Itinerary

Trinity College Tour
National Gallery

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