Chester Beatty

Chester Beatty Renowned museum of East Asian, Middle Eastern and European art, books and manuscripts located in Dublin. Closed to the public until 2027. Registered Charity No.
(375)

Explore digital galleries at chesterbeatty.ie! All collection images © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library With FREE admission and described by the Lonely Planet as 'not just the best museum in Dublin, but one of the best in Europe', the Chester Beatty is a must-see on any Dublin visitor's itinerary. As the only museum in Ireland to win 'European Museum of the Year' and rated consistently in th

e top 5 of TripAdvisor’s list of ‘Top things to do in Dublin', the museum's rich collections from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. CHY 5879

Exciting journeys ahead! 🌍✈️ We’re sending our warmest wishes to the inspiring young people from as they set off to Hel...
03/09/2026

Exciting journeys ahead! 🌍✈️ We’re sending our warmest wishes to the inspiring young people from as they set off to Helsinki for our very first youth exchange. In partnership with and Helsinki Youth Services, this unique experience brings together young minds from Ireland and Finland to connect, collaborate, and explore new perspectives.

Together, they’ll dive into the Sustainable Development Goals and discover how museums and cultural heritage can empower and inspire positive change. We can’t wait to see the friendships, ideas, and memories that will grow from this adventure!

Follow along as we bridge cultures and build a brighter future. 💫

Chester Beatty Léargas Erasmus+ Suomen Kulttuuriperintökasvatuksen seura

And our cover star is... from the early 17th century ✨This is the September image from 'Twelve Months of the Solar Yea...
01/09/2026

And our cover star is... from the early 17th century ✨

This is the September image from 'Twelve Months of the Solar Year', a series of prints depicting the labours associated the months of the year - in this case, wine-making. This busy scene shows people treading grapes, adding wine to casks, carrying, storing - all intensive physical work. The monumental figure on the left holds grapes and a pruning knife, while the scales of appear in the sky above.

Images: 23:f.10r from CBL Wep 4160, Twelve Months of the Solar Year (Me**es XII. Anni Solaris), engraved by Jan II Collaert after designs by Joos de Momper the Younger (1564–1635). Bound album with paper cover, dedicated to Phillippe Galle (1537–1612), printed and published by Ioannes Galle, Antwerp, Belgium, c. 1600-1610.

We’re halfway through our inspiring journey with community members, , and ! Together, we’re exploring built heritage, co...
01/09/2026

We’re halfway through our inspiring journey with community members, , and ! Together, we’re exploring built heritage, connecting with Chester Beatty collections through hands-on object handling, and discovering nature in .

This collaborative project, funded by , is all about celebrating diversity, fostering inclusion, and creating meaningful connections. Thank you to everyone who’s joined us so far—your enthusiasm is what makes this experience so special!

Stay tuned for more highlights as we continue to build bridges between cultures and communities.

31/08/2026

Behind the scenes (and in front of the scenes) at the Museum of Literature Ireland with Chester Beatty members ✨

With our building currently closed, we arranged for Friends to visit MoLI together last week. After gliding through modern galleries they stepped back in time - from a Georgian townhouse turned university lecture theatre, through a secret door into the archives, where a handling collection of rare books awaited 📔

Thank you to MoLI for facilitating this wonderful day out for members, and for teaching us so much about 85 and 86 St Stephen’s Green, James Joyce, and Ireland’s remarkable literary history. We can’t wait to see our Friends again soon ❤️

Want to learn more about traditional art and crafts?Our fantastic Curator of East Asian Collections, Dr Ai Fukunaga, wil...
31/08/2026

Want to learn more about traditional art and crafts?

Our fantastic Curator of East Asian Collections, Dr Ai Fukunaga, will speak at the workshop 'Women in Traditional Craft: Past, Present and Future Possibilities' at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures this Friday, 4 September. You can attend her presentation 'Visible Female Shokunin in Edo-Period Art and Crafts' from anywhere in the world on Zoom. Register here 👉 https://ow.ly/aNQP50ZFZPh

Image: Opening 2 (detail) from J 1654, Kyōka picture book, mirror of artisans (Kyōka ehon shokunin kagami). Artist: Hishikawa Sōri, with calligraphy by Kumagawa Kohama, published by Tsutaya Jūzaburō, Japan, 1803.

🎶 Birds of a feather, we should stick together I know 🎶For this , enjoy some gorgeous from the Chester Beatty collect...
28/08/2026

🎶 Birds of a feather, we should stick together I know 🎶

For this , enjoy some gorgeous from the Chester Beatty collection.

These graceful, swooping fellows are all from volume 1 of 'Pictures of birds and flowers from nature' (Kachō shashin zue), an influential series of woodblock printed books first published in Japan in 1805. Artist Kitao Nagamasa captures them with beautiful realism. You almost expect to hear them call 🐦



Images: CBL J 1633.1 (details), colour woodblock print, Japan, 1805.

Today the Women's Irish Open kicks off in earnest in Kildare! From the Chester Beatty collections, here's a look at how ...
27/08/2026

Today the Women's Irish Open kicks off in earnest in Kildare!

From the Chester Beatty collections, here's a look at how a fashionable golfer might have dressed in 1912. Drawn mid-swing, she wears a a long, jacketed smock with a full skirt, which would have been made especially for the sport. The description makes sure to tell us her hat is made of felt, and that she's wearing spats (sometimes known as half-gaiters). These cover her shoes from the instep to above the ankle, and were particularly useful outdoors.



Image: CBL Wep 0807, Blouse à plis creux en toile Kaki guêtres hautes en drap beige Chapeau de feutre by Bernard Boutet de Monvel. Published in Journal des dames et des modes, 20 August 1912, Paris.

🌕 On 28 August, the Moon slips into Earth's shadow for a partial lunar eclipse — nearly 90% coverage and that unmistakab...
26/08/2026

🌕 On 28 August, the Moon slips into Earth's shadow for a partial lunar eclipse — nearly 90% coverage and that unmistakable reddish glow. The perfect excuse to fall for lunar folklore all over again.

Come moon-gaze through our shelves instead (much easier at 5am than craning your neck westward):
🌙 Beneath the Moon by Yoshi Yosh*tani — fairy tales and divine stories from around the world
☀️🌙 Sun and Moon: Folk Tales by Various Artists —myths of Sun and Moon across Indian cultures
🐦 Why the Moon Travels —a retelling of stories from the Traveller oral tradition
🌘 Moonology — for understanding the Moon’s magical eight phases

Available now in the Chester Beatty online shop https://ow.ly/KXH950ZBqoC.

Join Heidi Campbell and explore some of the Chester Beatty collections. This dementia-inclusive interactive discussion w...
25/08/2026

Join Heidi Campbell and explore some of the Chester Beatty collections. This dementia-inclusive interactive discussion will examine three exquisite pieces of art exploring music and dance through the Chester Beatty’s collection.

🎟️FREE, booking required here: https://chesterbeatty.ie/whats-on/live-online-conversations-on-art/

Did you know that the Chester Beatty has extensive online collections?Over 4,500 objects from the Chester Beatty have be...
24/08/2026

Did you know that the Chester Beatty has extensive online collections?

Over 4,500 objects from the Chester Beatty have been digitised, and can be viewed and studied across the world. You can search for artists, subjects, object types and more. You can filter by collection or sort from oldest to newest to discover the most ancient artefacts in our care. Each one is accompanied by information approved by curators to help you learn more - and new objects are being added all the time.

Our doors may be closed for the moment, but the collection is yours to explore. Visit the Chester Beatty website and select 'Collections' to get started. Who knows what you'll find? 👀📸

Address

Dublin Castle
Dublin
D02AD92

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:45am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:45am - 8pm
Thursday 9:45am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:45am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:45am - 5:30pm
Sunday 12pm - 5:30pm

Telephone

+35314070750

Website

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