Dublin Sights

Old Library

#3 of 629 things to do in Dublin

#84 of 49020 things to do in Europe

3 reviews | Write a review

Good for: Families, tourists

  • Address
    • East Pavilion Library Colonnades
  • Phone
    • 896 2320
  • Price
    • adult/student/child €9/8/free
  • Hours
    • 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat year-round, noon-4.30pm Sun Oct-Apr, 9.30am-4.30pm Sun May-Sep

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Lonely Planet review for Old Library

To the south of the square is the Old Library, built in a rather severe style by Thomas Burgh between 1712 and 1732. Despite Ireland’s independence, the Library Act of 1801 still entitles Trinity College Library, along with four libraries in Britain, to a free copy of every book published in the UK. Housing this bounty requires nearly another 1km of shelving every year and the collection amounts to around 4.5 million books. Of course, these cannot all be kept at the college library, so there are now additional library storage facilities dotted around Dublin.

 

Traveller reviews for Old Library (3)

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    lovely

    bandblair recommends this,

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    The book of Kells is really beautiful

    mesinha recommends this,

    I paid the fee to see the book and enter the library, it wasn't really much. And we got a free postcard :D hehe.
    The library is really beautiful and the book is awesome, but it doesn't take much time to see it.

    Good for: Families, tourists

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    Only go if it's free...

    eyeseverchanging recommends this,

    We went on St Patrick's Day, when the viewing was free. That being said, we may not have given the book its due. Though, I am still unconvinced that paying the fee to enter would be worthwhile, unless you happen to be a Celtic art scholar of some sort.
    The library is breathtaking, and it's fun to point out the busts of philosophers with whom you may be familiar.
    The Book of the Kells makes one wonder just how much free time and patience the writers/artists had. Beautiful and detailed, you will want to read the explanations of the drawings/designs/symbols to appreciate much of it.

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