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Chester Beatty, Dublin

4.7

#8 of 357 in Museums in Ireland

Art Museum · Hidden Gem · Museum

Chester Beatty houses a large collection of Islamic and Far Eastern artifacts, including manuscripts, prints, paintings, rare books, and decorative arts. Established in 1950 to store the vast collections of Alfred Chester Beatty, a well-known mining mogul, the library now attracts both serious scholars and amateur art lovers. The standout among the library's collection of over 20,000 objects is the "Gospel of Mani," the last remaining artifact of Manichaeism, an ancient belief system that originated in Persia. Start your self-guided tour by exploring the first-floor gallery about Beatty's life and career, and end your visit at the rooftop Japanese garden, which offers unrestricted views of the city's emblematic castle. Put Chester Beatty on your schedule, and learn what else deserves a visit by using our Dublin trip planner.

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Chester Beatty reviews

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4,024 reviews

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4.7

By DaveKav99

We stumbled upon this museum when we went to see the Dublin Castle and were so impressed! What a fantastic collection of ancient literature! Quite frankly, it was so much more impressive than the... more »
By JacobWardamse

An exceptional collection of Middle and Far East objects of religious art that we haven’t seen in any other museum in Europe, finely put together with an eloquent and highly interesting accompanying..... more »
By deirdrephelan

An interesting place to visit, fantastic location and everything is beautifully presented. The situation of the exhibition is fantastic, Dublin Castle if a brilliant place to house this collection... more »

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By Joe Loffing

Truly a hidden gem. Unexpectedly fabulous collection of Asian and Middle Eastern works. Absolutely worth stopping by if you're visiting Dublin Castle. Extra shout-out to the exceptionally friendly (and hilarious) desk staff.

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By Ruairi O Dulaing

A truly wonderful place well worth a visit. Take your time here and enjoy a fitting tribute to a visionary genius. Also a great coffee shop and books.

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By narae kim

I enjoyed spending time at Chester Beatty and would visit again. Both permanent and special exhibitions were informative and interesting. Intricate patterns on Quran leather covers were super impressive.

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By greta tamosiunaite

When visiting the Dublin castle we decided to go and take a look at the Chester Beatty collection. I didn't know anything about it and I had no expectations whatsoever. Actually it was one of the most interesting things I saw in Dublin. It doesn't have much to do with Ireland or Dublin per se, but if you like art and culture this place will blow you away!

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By Loretta .

Lovely exhibits! Has plenty of books and pieces that make a well rounded spot to visit on a rainy day. You for sure need to go upstairs to the garden to and take a look at the gardens of Dublin Castle. It is free to go in to the exhibits and you can take as long as you'd like to read through all the different materials.

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