Chester Beatty
Museum in the grounds of Dublin Castle with manuscripts, prints and art from Asia, the Middle East and Europe; free entry, closed until January 2027.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is built around the collection of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875–1968), an American-born mining engineer who became one of the great collectors of the twentieth century. He began collecting European and Persian manuscripts, Chinese snuff bottles and Japanese netsuke in New York, and after moving to London in 1913 he built up most of the collection. A trip to Egypt in 1914 awoke his interest in Islamic manuscripts, a journey to Asia in 1917 added Japanese and Chinese painting, and in the 1920s he acquired his outstanding biblical papyri in Egypt. He looked for objects of great rarity and quality, such as richly illustrated books, fine bindings and calligraphy. He bequeathed the collection to the Irish nation.
Today it is housed in the grounds of Dublin Castle, in the eighteenth-century Clock Tower Building, which was restored in the 1990s and linked to a new exhibition extension by a glazed concourse. The complex contains three exhibition galleries, a roof garden designed as a calm contemporary Irish garden, a reading room, a conservation laboratory and a lecture theatre.
The permanent galleries show the collection in two themes. Sacred Traditions presents sacred texts of many religions, including biblical papyri, illuminated Qur’an manuscripts and Buddhist scrolls. Arts of the Book follows the history of book making across the world with illuminated manuscripts, bindings, prints, Chinese jade books and Japanese picture scrolls and woodblock prints. Light-sensitive objects are changed at least every two years. The museum is free to enter, and the Dublin Castle campus is closed to the public until the end of 2026.
Highlights
- Sacred Traditions gallery with biblical papyri, Qur’ans and Buddhist scrolls
- Arts of the Book gallery with illuminated manuscripts, jade books and Japanese prints
- Free admission, with free drop-in public tours
- Roof garden above Dublin Castle
- Located in the historic Clock Tower Building in Dublin Castle
Permanent exhibitions
- Sacred Traditions – Second-floor gallery with sacred texts of the world’s great religions, including biblical papyri, illuminated Qur’an manuscripts and Buddhist scrolls, changed every two years at most for conservation reasons.
- Arts of the Book – First-floor gallery on the history of book making across the world, with almost 500 objects such as illuminated manuscripts, bindings, prints, Chinese jade books and Japanese picture scrolls and woodblock prints.
- Founded
- 1950
- Operated by
- Chester Beatty (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free; a donation of €10 is suggested. Free drop-in public tours need no booking.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description
The building is friendly to wheelchairs and buggies, and wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge. An accessible toilet is on the ground floor and many exhibits are displayed at a low height. Visitors with reduced mobility are advised to use the Ship Street Gate of Dublin Castle, and holders of a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit may drive into the castle grounds through that gate. The lecture theatre has a loop system, dementia-friendly and audio-descriptive tours are offered, and guide and service dogs are welcome. The access officer can be reached by email at Access@cbl.ie.
Kids & families
- Stroller-friendly
The building is suitable for buggies. A Treasure Explorers programme is offered for primary schools.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Jervis (Luas Red Line)
Luas Red Line to Jervis, or Green Line to Trinity or St Stephen’s Green; DART to Tara Street; Dublin Bus routes 27, 49, 54a, 56a, 77a, 123, 150 and 151.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no parking on site except for holders of a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit or Card; the nearest public car park is Christchurch Car Park.
- Accessible parking
The museum lies within the grounds of Dublin Castle, a two-minute walk from Dame Street through the Palace Street Gate and close to Christ Church Cathedral (Ship Street Gate). There are bike stands outside the entrance and a Dublinbikes station outside City Hall.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Silk Road Café and a gift shop are inside the museum. There are no eating spaces for school lunches.
Events & venue rental
The museum is closed until the end of December 2026. Opening times for 2027 are not yet published.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A free Digital Guide app gives information, captions and audio transcripts in a choice of languages. Free drop-in public tours of about 60 minutes (up to 15 people, meeting in the atrium) are normally held on Wednesdays at 17:30, Saturdays at 14:00 and Sundays at 15:00. Highlights tours, Irish-language tours, tours for people living with dementia, audio-descriptive tours and In Focus tours are also offered. Groups of seven to fifteen people must book a time slot at least a week ahead. |
