No trip to Dublin is complete without a visit to the Old Library of Trinity College to admire the Book of Kells. Dating back to the ninth century, this book is one of the finest illuminated manuscripts in the world and a key artifact of medieval history. In this historian-led Book of Kells Tour with skip-the-line tickets, we will visit the book, explore Trinity College's famed Old Library, and examine Celtic artifacts at the National Museum of Ireland, revealing how the light of learning shined brightly in Ireland during the Dark Ages.

Our walk will start at Trinity College, a beacon of culture and learning in Dublin and Europe. Here, we'll discuss the history of the University and the Old Library, looking at how the Book of Kells arrived. Once inside, we'll see the Book of Mulling and the Book of Dimma—both 8th century pocket Gospels. Our guide will delve into the types of quills and pigments used, introducing artistic styles and techniques of binding before seeing the Book of Kells, the highlight of the exhibition.

Our visit will continue with the famous Long Library and its barrel vaulted ceiling. This stunning interior inspired the Jedi Archives in Star Wars, Part II: Attack of the Clones. We will have a little time to view the books and documents on display here, but before leaving the library we'll stop at the Brian Boru Harp—potentially the oldest harp in the world, and an instrument with a mysterious past. This will introduce a discussion on bardic culture and the continuation of the literary and poetic tradition down through the centuries.

Interested in Irish literature? We suggest our Dublin Literary Tour.

Leaving Trinity College, we'll head to the National Museum of Ireland. Here, we'll delve into Celtic culture and mythology, starting with a discussion about the Tuatha dé Dannan, a mythical race of people from early Irish literature that brought four magical items to Ireland from cities—since disappeared—in the Northern Ocean.

We'll look at the origins of this strong mythology, traditionally located on the Hill of Tara, in the Boyne area. The discussion will cover the rich material outcomes of that culture like chalices, crosiers, brooches, and other objects d’art that will help us understand the sophistication of Irish culture at the time. Finally, we'll see how objects like the beautiful Ardagah Chalice connect the mythological culture back to the early-Christian monks. We'll also link them to the Arthurian legend and its resonance as a modern day Holy Grail, with a replica of the chalice serving as the much-coveted trophy for Gaelic football sports. The walk will conclude with a viewing of other objects from the early-Christian period including the Tara Brooch and the Clonmacnoise Crozier. 

Over the course of this walk we will discover why during the Dark Ages, Ireland came to be known as the Island of Saints and Scholars. They will come to understand how the Christian message inspired Irish monks to copy the gospels and richly decorate manuscripts and objects in a style known as Insular Art, reaching its pinnacle of expression in the Book of Kells and the Ardagh Chalice. Further knowledge of the period will be gleaned from monks' secular writings in the native Irish language inspired by the gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines of Irish myth.

Looking to dig deeper into Irish history? Try our Easter Rising Tour.

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits in your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

Our small group tours cover many of the same itineraries as our private tours, but they place you with other travelers in groups of 6 or less. They operate on a pre-scheduled calendar, and are designed to provide an opportunity to engage with and learn from other travelers. Most of our small group tours require at least three (3) participants to run, although there is some variation from walk to walk. However, there is some variation from walk to walk. As you sign up for a tentative walk we display the minimum number required in order to confirm.