The Chester Beatty

The Storehouse experience was a bit outside of the city center, and when we walked back we passed this beautiful cathedral. Not really in the mood for visiting, we were happy to snap some photos of its exterior at least, as it had a Scandinavian connection.
This cathedral, called the Christ Church Cathedral, was founded in the early 11th century, under the Viking king Sigtrygg Silkeskägg.

We also walked past the Dublin Castle. It was first founded as a defensive work of typical Norman design largely complete in 1230. It served as the seat of the British rule in Ireland for centuries, and is now a major government site. 

The Dublin Gardens, completed in 1680, adjacent to the castle.

We were aiming for the Chester Beatty museum, a place that Ciara had recommended.

This was founded by the mining magnate and collector Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968). Beatty, born in America, spent his life collecting rare books, manuscripts, prints and artworks. He eventually formed one of the world's greatest private collections.

He moved to Ireland for a quieter life in 1950, and donated his vast collection to the Irish people in 1953. In gratitude, Ireland granted him honorary citizenship. He was the first person to ever receive that honour.

This museum now tells a global story of religions, art and cross-cultural exchange and continues to be celebrated as one of the top museums in Europe.

And - another place completely free to visit!

On display were delicate Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese jade books, shimmering Qurans written in gold and some of the earliest surviving Christian papyrus texts.

A global collection gathered by one single man, a man with an insatiable curiousity. This collection remains one of Ireland's most remarkable cultural gifts.

Come the late afternoon, it was time for us to say goodbye to Dublin and head to the airport to return to Abu Dhabi. Another week full of adventures and new memories in the books!