Long Room Library

Trinity College, Dublin 2, Dublin
Phone: +353 (0)1 8961661

The Long Room in Trinity College is the main chamber of the Old Library. Its name is self-evident as it is 65 metres long and it is home to about 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. In 1860 the architects Deane and Woodward raised the roof to allow for the construction of the present barrel-vaulted ceiling and gallery bookcases.
All down the length of the room you will find marble busts on each side of the room. This collection started in 1743 and has grown since, included in the collection is the bust of Jonathon Swift as made by the sculptor Louis Francois Roubiliac.
Also in the Long Room you will find a Harp, it is the oldest surviving Irish harp in existence and it is made from oak and willow with brass strings. The harp is sometimes called the Brian Boru Harp, though the Irish high king died some 4 centuries before the harp was made. It is this harp that is used on all Irish denominations of Irish euro coins.
Also displayed in the Long Room is one of the few remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

Description

This proclamation, read aloud in front of the GPO by Pádraig Pearse, signalled the start of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Perhaps the most famous of the attractions is the Book of Kells which is an 9th century manuscript of the four gospels.
The Old Library is open 7 days a week. Admission on Monday to Saturday is at 9.30am to 5pm. On Sundays the hours are 9.30 to 4.30 from June-September and 12.30 to 4.30 from October-May.

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