Going to the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin

I know what you are thinking.  You are in Ireland.  Why are you spending your time in a "library" and encouraging me to do the same?

Well, firstly the Chester Beatty Library is really more of a museum.  Secondly, it is a great and award winning museum filled with extremely interesting manuscripts from numerous religions and amazing Oriental art.  Interestingly enough, when I was in Budapest, I talked to a couple from Dublin who had actually not been to the museum themselves.  I told them they really needed to go visit the library/museum sometime!  

Chester Beatty, the namesake of the library/museum, was a mining magnate born in the United States in 1875.  He was nicknamed the “King of Copper” and made a fortune mining copper in Colorado.  As a hobby, he enjoyed collecting art and books.  He had a particular interest in art and books from Oriental cultures.  He eventually immigrated to Ireland and was made an honorary citizen of Ireland in the 1950's.  In Ireland he built a library, originally at a different location, for his collections.  He made the collections public on his death which occurred in 1968. 

Have you read the Da Vinci Code?  One of the most interesting parts of the collection is the Gospel of Mani, a Gnostic text.  The Gnostic's are the branch of Christians talked about in the Da Vinci Code.

What else did I find exciting in the museum?  Well lots of things.  But here are a few more.  The grain of rice inscribed with words.  The Albrect Durer sketches.  The old Torah scroll.

Here are a few other great things about the museum.  It is technically free, but it would be expected to generally give a 5 euro donation: still making it quite inexpensive.  It is also centrally located on the grounds of Dublin Castle.