Dublin 2
The  Trinity College is a well known university in the Irish Capital Dublin. It has been founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. for Protestant students. The buildings were previously used as a monastery for Austin Friars. One of the most famous students was Samuel Beckett, who studied there languages from 1923 on..

We feel really old in the midst of so many students – moan. Behind the door in front of the significant bell tower, loiter a few students offering campus tours. Because the fee of 10 EUR includes the fee for the Long Hall and the Book of Kells yet, we join in. Lets go and we learn something about the buildings and the foundation of the College. E.g. that in former days only Protestants were allowed to study here as attraction for the population to convert. Success? Even today 95 % of all Irish are catholic. Nice also the hint that the teachers are entitled to one free meal in the commons everyday (if it tastes?) Also about 800 senior students or students with special functions live directly on the campus. Interesting further that Arthur Calder offered to display a statue of him for free only, if she was set up far far away from the then new library, otherwise he would have demanded 3 mm pounds. If you look at the concrete hulk called library, it is clear that the man had taste..
Well after all of this has been clarified we move on to the Book of Kells which is located in the Long Room.

The Book of Kells is considered as the superior example for medieval book painting between the 7th and the 10th century in Ireland and Northern Great Britain.

Old library / Long Room
Main attraction is the 1732 erected old library wherein beside 200.000 old texts is further stored the famous Book of Kells, as well as Irelands oldest harp. Spectacular is the Long Room - a 64 m long room where the most valuable books are stored.
After moving through the crowded gift shop (is this always unavoidable?)way leads to the museum rooms. In the ante room there is information about the script and design of the famous books. The minuscule are hand painted and colored. Only very few books of this age exist and show exemplarily the art of bookmaking and writing of this age.

The origin of the book is disputed. Most probably it was crafted at the Iona monastery close to the Scottish west coast. But for security reasons due to the Viking raids it was brought to the Irish mainland. In the year 1006 it was probably stolen from the cloister of Kells in County Meath. At the closure of the monastery it was found on the grounds but without the legendary golden cover. After moving through certain private collections, it is since the 17. century in the possession of  Trinity College in Dublin, where some pages can be visited.
The book of Kells contains the four gospels together with whole page pictures of Jesus, Maria with the child and the evangelists. The characters is created elaborately and richly ornamented, particularly with very fine patterns in shining colors.

Beside all the books also an old harp is on display here. Indeed not Brian Boru´s but old is the thing anyway. Some postcards later we return to our Dublin walkabout. But we have gotten hungry. So we move into an internet cafe and go online with some coffee and muffins.

From there its only a few meters to the Leinster House, former seat of the Archduke and today Irelands parliament house.
Right around the corner is the National Museum. All treasures of the country are collected here. Our interest regards the Celtic part. E.g. the famous Brooch of tara can be found here.. Photographing is strictly forbidden, but “click” accidentally I have gotten at least one. Furthermore of interest is the gold from the stone age. Nice decadent even then. http://www.museum.ie