Wed Sept 16 Dublin, Ireland

We started our day with a visit to Trinity College which houses the Book of Kells.  The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript of the 4 Gospels written in Latin.

We toured the campus with a 4th year student.  It was great fun to see all the students in their 1st week of school.  The clubs were setting up in Front Square (what i would call the quad) to enlist new members.  I love college campuses.  The buildings on either side of the Square are called Heaven (the chapel) and Hell (exam hall).

One of the standout buildings on campus is the Museum Building.  Most notable is all the different stones used in it's construction; some form of stone from all quarries of Ireland during the time of its construction.  Also the outside (granite) band is 654 unique plants & flowers. There's a sad history to this building in that it was undertaken during the potato famine.  Why was such a building being build at a time when such a social crisis  was happening.  A million people starved to death with another million to a million and a half who emigrated. 

We visited the Old Library and the Long Room which usually contains 200,000 books.  It is being renovated, so some of the books are in storage.  It's an amazing place.  Read more about on the Trinity College website (tcd.ie).  Then it's on to the Book of Kells.  

What's so special about the Book of Kells  (taken from Trinity College website)

The Book of Kells is over 1,200 years old and the colours still shine vibrantly on the page.

The pigments in the Book of Kells were made from natural minerals, which were harvested          locally by monks.

Some of the detail in the Book of Kells is so intricate that it is almost invisible to the naked           eye.

The illustrations throughout the manuscript are filled with layers of of symbolism.

The beauty of the lettering, portraits and Celtic knot motifs in the Book of Kells have inspired       people for centuries.

The Book of Kells survived a brutal Viking raid, where 68 monks were slaughtered.

Every medieval monastery held manuscript copies of sacred texts, but the Book of Kells is           one of only a tiny fraction that have survived.

You are able to view the Book via the Trinity College website, if you're interested.

Next we crossed the River Liffey to the GPO (General Post Office).  Very important spot in Ireland's Independence.  It was the sight of a failed rebellion but later sparked the country to come together.  It was and still is a post office, so I was able to buy stamps.  Hold on to your hat... E$3.95 a stamp!  That's over $5 to send a postcard 😮  There's also an exhibit on the rebellion in the basement,

We were going to fit in one more visit before dinner but Dublin Castle and Chester Beatty Library were both closed due to the EU Council meeting.  Time to get back to join our tour.

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