Trinity College and the Book of Kells

Jolly students and priceless books

Talk of the town: Until the 1970s, Catholics were banned from attending the Protestant-run Trinity.
Word to the wise: Although overshadowed by the Book of Kells, don't miss another rare exhibit in the Old Library: an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

A place at Dublin's university is highly sought-after, and it's not hard to see why. A lovely campus with an illustrious history - founded by Elizabeth I in 1592, with previous alumni including Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and Bram Stoker - it's also slap bang in the centre of one of Europe's liveliest cities. You can't say that about Oxford or Cambridge.
Non-students will have to be satisfied with wandering through the grounds and visiting the jewel in the college's crown - the 18th century Old Library, whose stunning Long Room houses 200,000 rare books including the Book of Kells. One of oldest and most ornate illuminated manuscripts in the world, the book was written around the year 800AD by Irish monks and contains the Latin text of the four gospels.

Between May and September, you can join student-guided tours of the campus, which include entry to the library and Book of Kells exhibition.