Chester Beatty Library

Chester Beatty Library is an art museum in Dublin Castle housing manuscripts, prints and rare books displayed across two main galleries. The collection holds items from Asia, the Middle East and Europe arranged in thematic rooms according to religious and artistic themes.

Alfred Chester Beatty, a mining entrepreneur born in the United States, founded this institution in Dublin in 1950. His collection had previously been kept in London and later became part of the Irish cultural landscape.

The building bears the name of an American collector and now presents artworks from Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian traditions. Visitors can trace how different faiths expressed themselves through writing and visual art.

The museum sits near Dublin Castle and opens on weekdays from 10 to 17, on Saturdays from 11 to 17, and on Sundays from 13 to 17. Admission is free, and the rooms are accessible via elevators and ramps.

The collection preserves a rare copy of the first illustrated biography of the Prophet Muhammad and an ancient manuscript of the Gospel of Mani from the third century. Both pieces are among the few surviving examples of their kind worldwide.

Location: Dublin

Inception: 1950

Founders: Alfred Chester Beatty

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Operator: Office of Public Works

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00; Saturday 11:00-17:00; Sunday 13:00-17:00

Website: https://chesterbeatty.ie

GPS coordinates: 53.34215,-6.26743

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29