Located in the heart of Trinity College University in Dublin, Ireland, the Old Library is the city’s oldest library. Built in the 18th century, it houses thousands of books spread over 2 floors, in a warm décor of wood panelling and vaulted ceilings. A masterful library that will make you dream! We warn you: the place is grandiose, and looks like something out of Harry Potter!
Vaulted ceiling of the Long Room – Tony Webster – cc
Trinity College’s library protects a collection of over 200,000 particularly ancient books, some of which date back to the 5th century.
Among the most famous manuscripts is the famous Book of Kells, a medieval manuscript magnificently calligraphed and illuminated by the monks of the time. (The latter is on display in a room adjacent to the library: a must-see on any visit).
The Old Library has one main room, called “The Long Room”. The library owes its superb appearance to her! It’s an architectural gem! It is 65 meters long. It was built between 1712 and 1732. Originally with a flat ceiling, this was redesigned in 1860: the room was elevated and given a marvellous vaulted ceiling, entirely covered in warm, dark oak wood.
As for the books, they occupy the whole room, on 2 floors. Wood is also omnipresent: from the shelves to the railings, everything is wooded, from precious oak species. There are ladders all over the place to get to the books you want…
The place is imbued with an indescribable magic and atmosphere. Old leather bindings and the smell of paper are very present in the room. And each book seems to contain unsuspected treasures.
Dublin’s Old Library – © Sylvain TANGUY
The library houses thousands of works from all eras, bringing together a unique body of knowledge. The Long Room is therefore an incomparable concentration of history and culture, the envy of many countries.
Please note, however, that it is not possible to consult the books without obtaining official authorization from the university. That’s why you’ll have to be content with admiring the magnificent bookcases, several meters high, and home to ancient books in tired bindings.
However, you’ll be delighted by the sheer sight of it: it’s a magnificent place, and some of the old books are on public display in glass cases. You’ll even have the chance to admire King Brian Boru’s famous harp, on display in the library’s central aisle. It’s the same harp that symbolizes Ireland, and appears on Irish coins! It dates back to the 15th century and is made of oak and willow. With 29 brass strings, it’s a wonderful testimony to Ireland’s cultural and historical identity.
Marble busts line the entire Long Room. The collection began in 1743, when 14 busts were presented to the public.
were commissioned from sculptor Peter Scheemakers. Each sculpture represents a great man who has contributed to the history or thought of the Western world. A little later, the bust collection was extended, with other sculptors contributing to its growth.
That’s why today you’ll find representations of Jonathan Swift, Aristotle, Cicero, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, Francis Bacon… etc. Men from all eras and nationalities can be found here. Irish thinkers, philosophers, artists and revolutionaries.
The Book of Kells – Gerhard Huber – cc
Among the other treasures in the Long Room is a particularly rare and cherished copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Republic of Ireland, which was read outside on the steps of the General Post Office on April 24, 1916 by Patrick Pearse at the start of the Easter Rising.
To visit the Old Library and its Long Room, allow around 45 minutes. It’s worth noting that the room housing the “Book of Kells” is generally more crowded: visitors crowd around the pages of the calligraphic manuscript, making access to the display cases sometimes difficult. But don’t be discouraged: the medieval book is a historical marvel. A one-off, to be admired at least once in your life!
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