Trinity College, Dublin

The Hyde Gallery is free of charge to view. It is not large or extensive by any stretch of the imagination, but it does have some interesting exhibitions. If you're going to be Trinity College anyway, you may as well check this out too.

One of the major attractions of Dublin is the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from 800 AD. It is located in Trinity College. To see it follow the signs on campus to the Book of Kells (you won't miss it because there will be a lot of tourists waiting in line in front of the building that houses it). Admission is 8 euro (7, if you have a student ID). The tour starts with a lot of setup talking about the book and the process of making illuminated manuscripts. Really, I think that they just want to make it look like you're getting your 8 euro worth. After this, you will enter a room with the Book of Kells (along with a couple of other illuminated manuscripts) on a glass covered table with a bunch of people crowded around it. You'll almost have to fight your way to get a good view of it.

Overall, I think that the tour is pretty much a tourist trap. Yes it's an unmatched piece of history that has been amazingly preserved, but unless you're into illuminated manuscripts, I don't really see what there is to gain from seeing a page of it through a glass. I think a lot of people see it because their guide-books mark it as one of the most important things to see in Dublin. I think that a better alternative would be the Chester Beatty library. It also has old books, but instead of only a couple, it has hundreds from civilizations from accross the world (and it's free).

The tour ends at the "Long Room." An impressive library in a (very) elongated room. In it (at least when I visited it) were displays about Samuel Becket.

A must see when your in Dublin. Trinity College is in the middle of the centre. It occupies 40 acres of the city centre. Traditionally the University (which was founded by Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1592) was a Protestand University. Up until as late s the 1960's Catholics were forbitten to attend the college without a special dispensation. The Long Hall which is one of the oldest libraries in Ireland and houses the famous Book of Kells and illuminated copy of the Gospels written by monks around 800ad which makes it one of the oldest books in the world. (If you don't want to spend the money on the book of kells around €7.50 go back out the main entrance head up towards Dame Street and look for a bank that has been turned into a pub, called Bankers. It has a copy of the book of kells and you don't have to pay to see it.) The Library holds 3 million books and is around 209ft long. It was designed in the 18th century. It holds hundreds of ancient books and manuscripts. The students libraries which has three holds an extensive collections of books that trinity as a library is entitled to a free copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland. You will also find Brian Boru's harp in the long room.Brian was the high king of Ireland in the 11th century. You can stroll around the grounds for free. In 1734 , students of Trinity did not like the Junior Dean his name was Edward Ford, so they murdered him. Famous people who have studied in Trinity include Bram Stoker author of Dracula, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde and finally Samual Beckett.

The campus frequented by famous Dubliners ... an interesting collection of 18 and 19th century buildings. Most prominent feature though is this bell tower, which is the first thing you see as you enter the gate.

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Visit the old liberary ' The Long Room' with more than 20.000 old books in leather and oak bookcases.
Visit the exhibition on the Book of Kells, a lavishly decorated copy in Latin of the four gospels.
Se also the Book of Durrow , the Book of Mulling and the Book of Dimma

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The main reason to go to Trinity College it to look at the archutecture. The buidings are beautiful.

Interesting story: one of the statues is of a chap called Salmon (see other picture), he declared 'over my dead body' when asked if females should be allowed to attend the college. He kept his word because the year women were admitted he died.

Could have once ended up working here. . .Two minds about the Arts Building: probably looks better from the outside than the dingy interior. Hordes of southern Europeans teenagers trapsing through.
Second visit, liked the place more. Sunday morning peacfulness. Liked the open spaces, the old trees. And great location. Irish Oxbridge?

Trinity college is right in the heart of Dublin city centre. It is the oldest University in Ireland and most people pay it a visit because it is home to the book of kells a manuscript written by monks. There are also many other interesting things to see and the building itself is beautiful. A visist to Trinity is a must if your interest in history.