Precious Qur'ans
Ibn al-Bawwab's hand.
Charles Curling (CharlieCLC) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Harold Strong — CC BY-SA 2.0 · William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · J.-H. Janßen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jean Housen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jean Housen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Charles Curling (CharlieCLC) — CC BY-SA 3.0
A museum and library in the grounds of Dublin Castle holding the collections that the businessman Sir Alfred Chester Beatty gathered from around the world. It opened on its present site on 7 February 2000, was named European Museum of the Year in 2002, and holds one of the world's most precious collections of manuscripts. For Arab visitors the highlight is the Islamic section, with Arabic, Persian and Turkish manuscripts on religion, history, law, medicine, astronomy and mathematics, and a superb collection of Qur'ans, including the only surviving Qur'an in the hand of the celebrated calligrapher Ibn al-Bawwab, one of the earliest Qur'ans written on paper. The displays fill two galleries, «Sacred Traditions» and «Arts of the Book», which also cover manuscripts and rare books from East Asia and Europe and ancient papyri, and there is a quiet roof garden at the top of the building. Entry is normally free, but the museum is closed to the public from 15 June to the end of December 2026 for Ireland's EU Council presidency, per Visit Dublin, so check before you go. Allow at least two hours.
Ibn al-Bawwab's hand.
Science and history.
At the top.
Dublin Castle grounds, central Dublin
Dublin CastleA historic complex in the heart of Dublin, built on the site of a Norman castle 1 minute walk4.2
Christ Church CathedralThe older of Dublin's two medieval cathedrals, founded in the early eleventh cen4 minutes walk4.6
DubliniaA living history museum of Viking and medieval Dublin in the historic Synod Hall4 minutes walk4.6
St Patrick's CathedralThe largest church in Ireland, founded in 1191 near a well linked to Saint Patri5 minutes walk4.4
Ha'penny BridgeAn elegant cast-iron footbridge over the River Liffey, built in May 1816 with it7 minutes walk4.6Yes. It holds one of the finest Islamic collections outside the Muslim world, with Arabic, Persian and Turkish manuscripts and precious Qur'ans, including one by Ibn al-Bawwab, but it is closed until the end of December 2026.