Chester Beatty Library

The Chester Beatty Library is in the grounds of Dublin Castle. It has collections from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. It is definitely worth a visit - and it is free admission.

You can just go along and explore the exhibitions in the library or get your hands on the specially designed family friendly activities for under 3's, 5+ and 8+. These include, puzzles, crosswords and a colouring book. Drawing Packs for Adults and Teens are also available for adults and teens with a number of simple exercises ranging from the use of line, colour, decoration, perspective and shading. Packs are available the first weekend of each month on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm and are free of charge unless stated otherwise. 

Just outside the library is the Dubhlinn Gardens which kids will love to run around, play hide and seek in and follow the shapes of the snakes in the grass - I think they are snakes!!

The library also runs great free events for kids and teenagers through its Creative Lab for Teens aged 12-17 and its Silk Worm Club Events for Children for kids aged 6-11. They are really popular and book up very quickly. There are limited places available for the Chester Beatty's Creative Lab for Teens 2014 on Saturday 25th January from 2-5pm. The workshop is called Funky Stitching: Glitch n'Stitch your own design inspired by Costumes Parisiens with Andrew Healy. There are also limited places available for the Creative Lab for Teens on Saturday 15 February 2-5pm on Chinese Painting - join Dutch-Chinese artist Hoi-Shan Mak and create your own painting. The Creative Labs for Teens in March and April are booked out already.  The Silk Worm Club Events for Children are all booked out.

If you all this art exhausts you and you are in need of a snack, the on site Silk Road Cafe is a lovely pit stop.