Chester Beatty Library

About this place

The Chester Beatty Library (Irish: Leabharlann Chester Beatty), now known as the Chester Beatty, is a museum and library in the grounds of Dublin Castle, Ireland. It was established in 1953 to house the collections of mining magnate Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. It won the European Museum of the Year award in 2002. The Chester Beatty is one of the premier sources for scholarship in both the Old and New Testaments and is home to one of the most significant collections of historical artefacts and manuscripts from all over the world. The museum also offers numerous temporary exhibitions, many of which include works of art on loan from foreign institutions and collections. The museum contains a number of priceless objects, including one of the surviving volumes of the first illustrated Life of the Prophet and the Gospel of Mani, one of the last surviving Manichaean scriptures. Many manuscripts from the Medinet Madi library are currently held at the Chester Beatty.

Visitor Information

Admission

Free

Opening hours

Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00

Accessibility

Accessible

Getting There & Parking

Chester Beatty Library is located in County Dublin, roughly 1 km (5 min drive) from Dublin. The nearest public car park is 73 m away. Nearby highlights within a short drive include Special Olympics Memorial (0.0 km away).