Visitor numbers to the book of kells exhibition in trinity have increased by almost eight per cent since last year, with the site climbing one place in the list of irelands top 10 tourist attractions. The rise in visitor numbers across most sites last year reflects a very strong year of growth in 2015. Overall increase of 50pc in visitor numbers over last four years. The book of kells and old library exhibition on the grounds of the college in the centre of dublin, with an increase of 15. Recordbreaking book of kells receives millionth visitor of 2018.
The book of kells at trinity college in dublin will be removed from public display from november. While the book of kells would be justly famous for its age alone, its renowned for its spectacular artwork. Irelands top 20 tourist attractions visitor numbers. Situated just off grafton street in the heart of dublin, trinity is perfectly located to explore the city. The library building itself was built between 1710 and 1732 so its almost a toddler in comparison. The old library and book of kells is one of irelands major tourist venues and attracts over 520,000 visitors each year to see the exhibition on the. Figures released by the national tourism development authority today underline another bumper year for irish tourism in 2017. Book of kells, trinity college dublin, college green, dublin 2, ireland. Pride of place is given to the book of kells, an illuminated gospel manuscript dating from the 9th century. As i understand it, the beatty library also has a number of ancient sacred texts, although perhaps not in as. The book of kells is a stunningly beautiful manuscript containing the four gospels.
Apr 20, 2018 the book of kells and old library exhibition in trinity are the colleges most famous attractions and total visitor numbers are up 15. The book of kells exhibition, which is housed in trinity college, has revealed that rain was the. The long room and the exhibition remain open for visitors. Ticket prices are reduced by 15% during this period.
This decision has been made to protect the health and safety of our visitors and the university community. Book of kells has attracted ten million visitors to trinity college. The book of kells, dating from about 800 ce, is a beautifully decorated manuscript of the four gospels. Over a million people visited trinitys book of kells exhibition in 2018, according to figures released by failte ireland. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript in latin of the four gospels of the new testament together with some extra texts and tables it was created by celtic monks about 800 ad or slightly earlier. Visitor numbers for the book of kells exhibition, located on the iconic trinity college dublin campus are increasing, and are expected to reach and exceed a million this year. Book of kells vs chester beatty library rick steves travel. The book of kells less widely known as the book of columba is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by celtic monks around ad 800. Trinity colleges book of kells and old library exhibition has surpassed one million visitors for the first time in a single year. Millionth visitor cassie clemans travelled with her husband andy from bend, oregon, to celebrate their 20 th wedding anniversary in ireland. One of irelands major cultural and artistic treasures, the book of kells and the old library exhibition counts among the oldest texts in the world, dated to the 9th century. It is irelands most precious medieval artifact and is generally considered the finest surviving illuminated manuscript to have been produced in medieval europe.
Housed in the old library on the trinity college campus, the book of kells has been on display since the mid19th century. The abbey of kells mainistir cheanannais in irish is a former monastery in kells, county meath, ireland, 40 miles 64 km north of dublin. Michael oleary hailed by trinity for boosting book of. Given the crowds and the short time allowed for viewing the book of kells would a visitor be able to get more fromvalue from a visit to the chester beatty library than the book of kells. The top 50 visitor attractions in the country saw visitor number growth of almost 12% on 2016. Figures for this year have increased by 10% over the previous twelve months. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. Tcd could lose at least 3 million after decision to close book of. Seeing the book of kells in dublin changes in longitude. The book of kells is located at the trinity college in dublin and it is open for public visits, most times the book of kells contains the four gospels of the christian scriptures written in black, red, purple, and yellow ink in an insular majuscule script, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and concordances of gospel passages. The number of visitors to the old library has increased from 220,000 in 1992.
The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin, ireland. Just outside the top five was tayto park, meath, which saw 762,000 enter its gates. Irelands top visitor attractions revealed and the numbers. The town lies off the m3 motorway, 16 km 10 mi from navan and 65 km 40 mi from dublin. Book of kells rain is biggest factor in visitor numbers to one of irelands most famous attractions there was rain on most of the attractions busiest days.
Rain is biggest factor in visitor numbers to one of. Revenue by attraction, which would really tell a tale, is not shared for commercial reasons. It is the oldest university in ireland, founded in 1592 by queen elizabeth i, and is famous for its graduates such as swift, goldsmith, wilde and beckett. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds. Are there likely to be long queues to see the book of kells, and if so is there any way to avoid them. As part of ongoing conservation plans for the old library, the book of kells has been removed from public display until march 2020. Book of kells art competition max size of email files is 5mb school entries must include the following in block capitals within the body of the email. Like other irish attractions, visitor numbers and revenue would have likely been down in the coming months at the book of kells as foreign tourists decide to stay at home and avoid travel due to. In total, 454,000 visitors visited the exhibition, one of dublins most popular tourist attractions, during this calendar year up to end of june. Book of kells and most beautiful room in ireland beat one. The book of kells exhibition has seen a major growth in visitor numbers in the first half of 2017, with an increase of 10. Please note there are certain times of the year when a visit to leinster house may not be possible due to peak visitor numbers. Dublin zoo was up 3% to 1,143,908, while the national aquatic centre got 1,037,992, up 4. Today it houses one of irelands most illustrious books, the.
The book of kells was regularly removed from its case to allow artists to copy from its pages, or to permit visitors, on request, to examine it at closer quarters. It was created in a columban monastery in either britain or ireland and may have had. Vip class trip to trinity includes a guided tour of the book of kells and lunch on campus adult winners who are part of a club or society will also be invited to trinity. Book of kells news, views, gossip, pictures, video irish. The 10 millionth visitor to the old library, trinity college dublin, since the creation of its visitor centre in 1992 was welcomed yesterday by the librarian, robin adams. Overall, visitor numbers are up 50pc in the last four years, trinity college said, with us tourists its single most popular grouping at 36pc. This record number of visitors cements the book of kells as one of irelands top visitor attractions. It is one of the more lavishly illuminated manuscripts to survive from the middle ages and has been described as. In recent years the numbers visiting the city centre campus to see the book of kells has increased from 662,679 people in 2014 to more than one million last year, with more than a third coming. The number of visitors to the book of kells has increased by 50 per cent. By travel extra on november 7, 2018 ireland inbound. Last year more than one million people visited the book of kells. Thanks to the efforts of the commercial revenue team, the book of kells exhibition has seen a continuous growth in figures over the last few years, with total visitor numbers increasing annually.
Powerscourt estate in county wicklow witnessed a 14 per cent increase in visitor numbers in 2016 compared to the. Over 10% increase in book of kells visitor numbers in 2017. More americans than ever visiting trinitys book of kells. Nov 22, 2019 the book of kells was probably produced in a monastery on the isle of iona, scotland, to honor saint columba in the early 8th century.
The book of kells contact us by email, phone or fax. It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. The book of kells and old library exhibition for 2018 have broken the 1m visitor barrier for the first time ever. The guinness storehouse tops its list of paid attractions, with 1,711,281 visitors, while the national gallery. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Book of kells and most beautiful room in ireland beat one million. This illuminated manuscript contains the four gospels of the bibles new testament and other sacred texts, written in latin. Like other irish attractions, visitor numbers and revenue would have likely been down in the coming months at the book of kells as foreign. This is a precautionary measure to minimise the spread of covid19. Jun 08, 2018 irelands top five visitor attractions are now drawing in excess of one million visitors each per year, according to failte ireland. Rain is biggest factor in visitor numbers to one of irelands. The book was created sometime around the year 800 but scholars have been unable to determine where. Commercial announce one millionth book of kells visitor. Nov 05, 2015 the book is believed to have been brought to kells following a viking raid on the monastery on the island of iona, scotland, in 806.
The debate centers on whether the book was begun on iona and finished at. Aug 15, 2019 in addition to the book of kells, there are always a few temporary exhibits. Trinity college bosses have hailed michael oleary for saving the book of kells by boosting visitor numbers. It is one of the more lavishly illuminated manuscripts to survive from the middle ages and has been described as one of the greatest examples of western calligraphy and. Powerscourt estate visitor numbers up 14% the irish times. Irelands top visitor attractions revealed and the numbers are booming. The book of kells, less widely known as the book of columba, is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by celtic monks around ad 800 in the style known as insular art. Book of kells and most beautiful room in ireland beat. Book of kells vs chester beatty library rick steves. The book of kells, one of irelands great treasures is also a european cultural icon, and is among our top ten tourist attractions. Rain is the biggest factor in visitor numbers to one of irelands top tourist attractions. Book of kells removed from public display through march. Trinity college dublin, the university of dublin college green.
The text of the gospels is mostly taken from the vulgate bible, and it has several passages from earlier versions of the bible, such as the vetus latina. The book of kells exhibition has seen a continuous growth in figures with total visitor numbers increasing annually. Housed in the beautifully restored courthouse are a multimedia exhibition, a gift shop and tourist information centre. The cliffs of moher and book of kells exhibited in trinity college, dublin also posted a huge increase on 2014, with visitor numbers up 16pc and 18pc respectively. Confusion over trinity collegebook of kells tours dublin.
I am thrilled to be the one millionth visitor today to the book of kells exhibition. Tcd welcomes 10 millionth visitor to book of kells ittn. We would expect to see similar rises across many attractions this year also as we enjoy another. This was only finally prohibited from 1906, due to concerns about the security and preservation of the manuscript. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. As well as welcoming its millionth visitor this year, the exhibition also saw an overall 9% rise in numbers compared to last year. Tcd could lose at least 3 million after decision to close. Its a beautifully illuminated version of the four gospels. The book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing four gospels of new testament matthew, mark, luke and john together with various prefatory texts and tables.
In recent years the numbers visiting the city centre campus to see the book of kells has increased from 662,679 people in 2014 to more than one. The book of kells is a medieval manuscript created by monks in the ninth century. Us woman is millionth person to visit book of kells in a record year for admissions 0. Trinity to shelve book of kells for four months the irish times. As i understand it, the beatty library also has a number of ancient sacred texts, although perhaps not in as good a condition.
Michael oleary hailed by trinity for boosting book of kells. Oct 25, 2018 the book of kells is the fifth most visited paid attraction in ireland and that due to ever increasing numbers, this year the exhibition will be announcing the one millionth visitor of 2018. Aug 09, 2012 the 10 millionth visitor to the old library, trinity college dublin, since the creation of its visitor centre in 1992 was welcomed yesterday by the librarian, robin adams. Much of the book of kells may have been created there, but historians cannot be.
Trinity collge dublin has today announced that the book of kells and old library exhibition has seen a growth in visitor numbers this year, with over 454,000 visitors in the first half of 2017, an increase of 10. Mar 06, 2008 the book of kells, less widely known as the book of columba, is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by celtic monks around ad 800 in the style known as insular art. The book of kells is being removed to accommodate for conservation works at the dublin institution. Book of kells news, views, gossip, pictures, video. Brian boru and the battle of clontarf 1014 relates the tale of the first king who ruled over the entire island of ireland and the battle of clontarf in which he vanquished viking invaders.
It is best known as the site of kells abbey, from which the book of kells takes its name. Is there a quieter time of day to vist, and would prebooking tickets help. Also performing well were the national botanic gardens, national museum of ireland archaeology on kildare street and doneraile wildlife park, cork, all making the top five. Trinity offers iconic meeting and event space, stylish dining and over 600 bedrooms on its historical campus. There has been an overall increase of 50 per cent in visitor numbers. Top visitor attractions in 2015 revealed failte ireland. The news makes the book of kells the sixth attraction in ireland to draw more than a million visitors a year, according to 2017 figures from failte. The book of kells will be removed from public display until march to accommodate for conservation works at trinity colleges old library in dublin. Thomas burgh built the old library building in the 18th century. It was founded in the early 9th century, and the book of kells was kept there during the later medieval and early modern periods before finally leaving the abbey in the 1650s. Visit the book of kells and the old library exhibition on. Today it houses one of irelands most illustrious books, the 9th century book of kells. The book of kells celebrates its one millionth visitor for 2018.
Headline visitor attractions entice record numbers. I am doing some research into ticket options for trinity collegebook of kells on their website. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Irelands top 20 tourist attractions visitor numbers revealed. This official guide by the former keeper of manuscripts at the library of trinity college, dublin, where the book of kells is on permanent display, provides fascinating insights into one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval art.