Business Trip to Dublin (Part 4) - The Book of Kells and the National Gallery
(Continued)
For the work wrap-up party, we had dinner with the local staff at "Peal Brasserie". It was a restaurant with a great atmosphere; the appetizer was crab and avocado mousse, and the main course was 'pigeon Rossini style.' 'Rossini style' usually implies foie gras. It is common to pair it with steak, but this was my first time having it with pigeon. Both were absolutely delicious. The next day, since my flight was in the afternoon, I decided to take the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of Dublin. The first place I headed to was the prestigious Trinity College. My goal was to see the "Book of Kells," said to be the "most beautiful book in the world," and to tour the Old Library.
"Book of Kells" The visit is organized as a tour called the
"Book of Kells Experience", and there are several types. It was quite pricey, but I chose the standard one for 26 euros. The "Book of Kells" is a manuscript of the Gospels created in the 8th century. The Latin text is written in beautiful Celtic script and adorned with exquisite decorations. The exhibition involves an audio guide (which you can listen to on an iPhone or similar device) that provides commentary related to the "Book of Kells," and after looking at the displays, you finally see the real thing. Of course, it is kept in a glass case, and you only see two open pages (the pages shown are changed periodically to minimize damage), which truly feels like paying respects to a national treasure. Next, I visited the Long Room of the Old Library. It is supposed to be lined with wooden bookshelves containing many precious old books, but currently, most of the books have been removed for restoration. Thanks to this, I was able to see the shelves themselves and watch videos showing the maintenance of the old books. You also shouldn't miss the "Brian Boru Harp," one of the oldest Irish harps, which is displayed in the room. This harp has also become the symbol of Guinness. Leaving the Trinity College campus, I headed to the National Gallery of Ireland
. One of my targets was Vermeer's
"A Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid"
. I felt a bit lucky to be reunited with this painting. Next to the Vermeer, two paintings by the contemporary Dutch artist Gabriel Metsu are on display. His "Man Writing a Letter" and "Woman Reading a Letter" were works I saw for the first time, and they really enliven the gallery room along with the Vermeer. Along with these various Western paintings, works by Irish artists are also on display, and the collection of works by Jack B. Yeats (1871–1957) was wonderful. His father was the portrait painter John Butler Yeats, and his brother was the Nobel Prize-winning poet W.B. Yeats. These kinds of new encounters are also a pleasure. Thus, I finished my quick sightseeing tour, and for the finale, I had an encore of Guinness.
