08 - The Last Library

If you've kept up with us thus far, you'll remember that:

1) Mom is a Librarian at heart if no longer by profession.

2) Mom likes old books. So does Dad. So do I. 

3) Plans can change.

But today, despite B. not joining us, we chose to "Just Stick To The Fucking Plan!"

And that plan was to see the Old (18th century) Library of Trinity College Dublin and its related features including the even-older Trinity College campus and the even-older-than-that Book of Kells.

First, let's talk about Trinity College. 

As no one in our family ever got through college on their first try - Dad took six-ish years, Mom took sixteen years, and the clock is still ticking for me only 40-ish years after starting - we can certainly appreciate the campus and its ancient history while cringing at the site of the classrooms. 

However, as we walked by the *back* of the Museum Building, we noticed some other touristy-looking people coming out of an otherwise-unmarked, tall, wooden door, so we took the liberty of ducking in.  Suddenly, we were in a small museum area.

Above: Megaloceros giganteus, one male, one female.

They were giant deer that roamed Ireland until 11,000 years ago.

The skeletons are commonly found under peat bogs.

Above: Chirotherium footprints, Triassic period

Above: Titanites giganteus, an extinct mollusk

Beyond the museum room was a great hall.

Above: Panoramic image of the entire hall

Above/Below-L: Each column is a different type of stone

Above-R: Could you imagine building this today???

Above: Domed skylights over the hall.

Above: Even the corner halls are pretty.

After leaving the Museum Building, it was back out onto the autumn lawn and its sculptures.

Above: Hi, Dad!

Above: Hi, Mom!

We briefly dipped (back) into the Douglas Hyde Contemporary Art Gallery where they were soon repeating an exhibit (which we actually saw the previous weekend) of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" as interpreted by the deaf.  (We didn't stay this time, but below is a video from last week.)

After that, we went for our scheduled timeslot to see the Book of Kells and the Old Library.

As none of us are especially religious, the Book of Kells was interesting from a art and/or historical viewpoint but, as it's kept in a dark room where no pictures are allowed, encased in glass, and open to display only two pages, (which visitors don't get to choose,) most of the interesting stuff about the Book can be seen in the lobby before entering the display.  If you don't care about this part of the blog, then just move along a bit.

Also. you are not allowed to take pictures in the room with the Book of Kells!  Do not ever take a picture in that room!

I had hoped that those reading this could grab the Trinity College app via a QR code I snapped a picture of and then go on the audio tour, but even when entering my ticket number from that day, they lock it only to *valid* tickets at the time.  Fortunately, there's this thing called The Internet.

I know what you're thinking!  "If you're not religious, why would you spend a fuckton of euros on going to see a religious book???"  The answer is that one must follow the path past the Book of Kells to see the real treasure for an old librarian, the Old Library!

 

 

Having seen the glory of the Old Library, it was, after that, only a few more stops around the city of Dublin for my parents before they flew away back to the whiteness of their Vermont...

Above: Grafton Street