Chester Beatty Library
Set in the courtyard of Dublin Castle is the Chester Beatty Library. Described by The Lonely Planet as 'not just the best museum in Dublin, but one of the best in Europe', the library is one of Dublin's top cultural attractions and a must-see for any visitor to the city. If you loved seeing the Book of Kells and are planning to stop by Dublin Castle, a visit to the Chester Beatty Library will be the perfect addition to your itinerary. Head to our Special Offers page to see our full range of packages for staying at the Morgan Hotel.
Alfred Chester Beatty grew up in New York and went to school at Columbia University. Since his childhood, he was a collector of minerals, Chinese snuff bottles and stamps. As an adult, Beatty began to collect more widely, buying European and Persian manuscripts. His interests continued to expand when he took a trip to Egypt in 1914 and bought some decorated copies of the Qur'an in the bazaars. Beatty eventually moved to Ireland in 1950 and built a library for his art collection on Shrewsbury Road which opened in 1954. In 1957, Chester Beatty became Ireland's first honorary citizen.
The collections are displayed in two categories: "Sacred Traditions" and "Artistic Traditions". Manuscripts, paintings, books and artefacts from all over the world make up the permanent collection. The diversity of the collection at the library captures the richness of human creative expression from about 2700 BC to the present day. Each year there are guest exhibitions on topics ranging from fashion to warfare. Info about the exhibitions and events at the library is available here.
Originally housed on Shrewsbury Road, the library was built to hold the vast collections of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The library has since moved to the grounds of Dublin Castle in 2000 and now attracts over 300,000 visitors a year. Admission is free all year round. As the library is only a 10-minute walk from The Morgan, you won't want to miss this chance to visit one of Ireland's most favoured National Cultural Institutions.
Please refer to The Chester Beatty Library website for the most up to date information on pricing and opening hours.
