Chester Beatty Library

Overview

The Chester Beatty Library is one of Dublin's hidden treasures — a world-class museum of manuscripts, rare books, and decorative arts from Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. It was named European Museum of the Year in 2002.

Highlights

• Sacred Traditions Gallery: Illuminated Qur'ans, Ethiopian Bibles, and early Buddhist texts displayed side by side.
• East Asian Collection: Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese jade snuff bottles, and Mughal miniature paintings.
• Early Biblical Papyri: Some of the oldest known fragments of the New Testament and Old Testament.

History

The collection was amassed by the Irish-American mining magnate Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875–1968), who moved to Dublin in 1950 and bequeathed his collection to the Irish state. The museum moved to Dublin Castle in 2000.

Visitor Tips

• Free admission. Located in the clock tower of Dublin Castle grounds.
• The Silk Road Café downstairs serves excellent Middle Eastern food.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.