New Book of Kells Experience coming to Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College Dublin has announced The Book of Kells Experience, a new immersive exhibition that will digitally transport visitors into the illuminated pages of the 9th-century manuscript and the collections of the Old Library. 

The new Book of Kells Experience will be set within a specially constructed pavilion in the historic grounds of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s oldest university, marking the first opening of its kind for the city.

Visitors will first view the Book of Kells in the Old Library, before taking in the Long Room, considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful libraries.

They will then embark on a 360° immersive journey in the pavilion; filled with stories, sights, and sounds inspired by the ancient manuscript and the Old Library’s precious collections, including a spectacularly innovative digital reconstruction of the Long Room.

The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, with locals and tourists alike awed by the intricate and elaborate artistry and vibrant pigments that detail the medieval manuscript.

Now, visitors to the Experience will be able to follow the Book on its extraordinary journey from Iona in Scotland in 800AD, over the Irish Sea to Kells, and onwards to contemporary Dublin in present day, as 1,200 years of history and stories unfold.

The Book of Kells Experience will also explore and showcase several of the books and manuscripts from the Old Library’s historically significant collections. Visitors will travel to 1916 to hear the Proclamation of the Irish Republic; interact with spirited sculptures including Ada Lovelace, Jonathan Swift, Rosalind Franklin, and William Shakespeare; and witness the architectural evolution of the Long Room reimagined from 1732 to modern-day.

Trinity says the Book of Kells Experience is a key enabling project as part of the conservation works for the Old Library Redevelopment Project. The OLRP will safeguard the 18th-century building and conserve its precious collections for future generations. Proceeds generated by ticket sales are reinvested back into Trinity College Dublin to support the academic mission of the university and fund development projects and conservation programmes.

The Book of Kells Experience will be coming soon to Trinity College Dublin. You can follow updates here.