Page 61 - WDT MAGAZINE IRELAND ISSUE WINTER 2018

The rain was falling as we walked through the im-
pressive entrance to Trinity’s 47-acre campus. The old
college, founded in 1592, is considered Ireland’s pre-
mier university and one of the world’s leading research
universities. We made our way across campus passing
its remarkable mix of ancient, old and contemporary
architecture. The place reeked of gravitas and intel-
lectual greatness, yet there was an almost Disneyland
feeling as thousands of tourists mingled, with hardly a
student or professor to be seen.
Fortunately for us, the rain likely deterred fair weath-
er visitors. We waited less than a half hour to get our
tickets and another 15 minutes to get in the door and
now familiar security check. The staff monitors and
limits the number of people in the exhibit, but it’s still
pretty crowded especially when you get to the room
with the actual Book of Kells pages.
The exhibit is slick and professional, laying out
the history, techniques, and significance of the Il-
luminated manuscript that dates back to the church
at Kells in 1006. Following the rebellion of 1641, the
book was sent to Dublin for safekeeping. It has been
on display in the Old Library at Trinity College since

Even the rain can’t keep the tourist from
visiting Trinity College and the famous old
library featuring the Book of Kells.

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