Latest news with #LibraryofTrinityCollegeDublin
Time Out
2 days ago
- Time Out
This historic Melbourne library has just ranked among the ten most beautiful in the world
Melbourne is overflowing with cosy cafés and magical secret gardens where book lovers can bury their noses in a good read. But for true bookworms, nothing beats the hush of a library – where you have access to an unending supply of reading materials. These literary dens are more than just houses of books, though. Around the world, architects have designed libraries so incredible that they might just pull your eyes away from the page. And our city is turning both pages and heads, with one of the world's most beautiful (and distracting) libraries located right here. More than 200,000 votes were cast in the 1,000 Libraries Awards 2025, with the results tallied to crown the world's ten most beautiful bookish spaces. According to readers, State Library Victoria is the world's seventh-most beautiful for 2025. Melbourne's beloved house of books boasts the most popular front lawn in the whole city, and its magnificent, six-storey domed La Trobe Reading Room has wowed visitors since it opened way back in 1854. Now, the Neo-Classical building occupies an entire city block, with 23 interconnected buildings housing more than 2 million books. You could spend the rest of your life there and barely make a dent in your reading list. Notably, this isn't the first time that our state library has gained global acclaim – back in 2024, it ranked among the world's most popular libraries, and earlier this year, it ranked as the third best library in the world. Our city's reading palace wasn't the only Aussie library in the spotlight. While the Library of Trinity College Dublin took out the top spot, Australia's very own State Library of South Australia was voted as the second most beautiful library on Earth. It's no wonder that Adelaide's leading library is consistently ranked among the world's prettiest. The grand bibliotheca showcases yesteryear features, with the likes of a glass-domed lantern roof, wrought iron-balustraded balconies and a marvellous clock that ticks above the hall. Aside from the architecture, the State Library of South Australia itself holds more than 4 million items, including books, manuscripts, maps and special collections. There's even a lovely little café, so you can easily spend a whole day reading and roaming the aisles. If you're planning a visit, just a heads-up that the Mortlock Chamber is closed until September for carpet repairs. The ten most beautiful libraries in the world for 2025: The Library of Trinity College, Ireland State Library of South Australia, Australia Abbey Library of St. Gallen, Switzerland Duke Humfrey's Library (University of Oxford), UK Admont Abbey Library, Austria Cuypers Library, Netherlands State Library Victoria, Australia The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil Wiblingen Abbey Library, Germany Sainte-Geneviève Library, France
Time Out
4 days ago
- Time Out
Two of the world's ten most beautiful libraries are in Australia
Australia is full of cosy cafés, sun-drenched parks and beautiful beaches where book lovers can bury their noses in a good read. But for true bookworms, nothing beats the hush of a library – where you have access to an unending supply of reading materials. These literary dens are more than just houses of books, though. Around the world, architects have designed libraries so incredible that they might just pull your eyes away from the page. And Australia's turning both pages and heads, with two of the world's most beautiful (and distracting) libraries right here. More than 200,000 votes were cast in the 1,000 Libraries Awards 2025, with the results tallied to crown the world's ten most beautiful bookish spaces. While the Library of Trinity College Dublin took out the top spot, Australia's very own State Library of South Australia was voted as the second most beautiful library on Earth. It's no wonder that Adelaide's leading library is consistently ranked among the world's prettiest – it's a bygone dream, and you'd just about be mistaken for entering a restricted section of Hogwarts. The North Terrace Mortlock Chamber opened to the public in 1884 and remains a prime example of a late-Victorian library, looks-wise. The grand bibliotheca showcases yesteryear features, with the likes of a glass-domed lantern roof, wrought iron-balustraded balconies and a marvellous clock that ticks above the hall. Aside from the architecture, the State Library of South Australia itself holds more than 4 million items, including books, manuscripts, maps and special collections. There's even a lovely little café, so you can easily spend a whole day reading and roaming the aisles. If you're planning a visit, just a heads-up that the Mortlock Chamber is closed until September for carpet repairs. South Australia wasn't the only state in the spotlight, with the State Library Victoria voted as the world's seventh-most beautiful for 2025. Melbourne's beloved house of books boasts the most popular front lawn in the whole city, and its magnificent, six-storey domed La Trobe Reading Room has wowed visitors since it opened way back in 1854. Now, the Neo-Classical building occupies an entire city block, with 23 interconnected buildings housing more than 2 million books. You could spend the rest of your life there and barely make a dent in your reading list. The 10 most beautiful libraries in the world for 2025 The Library of Trinity College, Ireland State Library of South Australia, Australia Abbey Library of St. Gallen, Switzerland Duke Humfrey's Library (University of Oxford), UK Admont Abbey Library, Austria Cuypers Library, Netherlands State Library Victoria, Australia The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil Wiblingen Abbey Library, Germany Sainte-Geneviève Library, France 🖼️ 🧐
CNBC
31-07-2025
- CNBC
The 10 most beautiful libraries in the world
Some libraries aren't just places to borrow books — they're destinations with deep history and architecture that tell stories beyond the pages. The 1000 Libraries Awards 2025 highlights some of the most beautiful libraries and bookstores globally, according to 200,000 online voters. The organization, 1000 Libraries, began as a blog and has since grown into a global community of book lovers who share travel tips and destination guides, said founder Vincent Phan. "Our purpose is essentially to promote libraries and bookstores from all around the world and make sure that they are still relevant in our age of internet and digital technology," Phan told CNBC Travel. Here is the top 10 list of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Name: Library of Trinity College Dublin The Library of Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's largest library, housing thousands of rare manuscripts including the 9th-century Book of Kells, a lavishly-decorated, symbol-laden manuscript of four Gospels from the Bible's New Testament. The library is renowned for its Long Room, a 65-meter hallway lined with 200,000 marble busts of literary figures, and charges entrance fees starting from 19 euros ($22). Name: State Library of South Australia The State Library of South Australia offers more than just books — it features a collection of historical board games and is well-known for the Victorian-designed Mortlock Chamber, which dates to 1866. The basement — once a workplace for skilled taxidermists — is a treasure trove too, housing more than 40,000 books. Name: St. Gallen Abbey Library The St. Gallen Abbey Library is one of the oldest libraries in the world and possesses a vast collection of medieval manuscripts. Located in northeastern Switzerland, the St. Gallen Abbey was once a large monastery. "Since the 8th century until its secularisation in 1805, [it was] one of the most important cultural centres in Europe," according to UNESCO's website. The site was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Name: Duke Humfrey's Library Duke Humfrey's Library is a library within a library. It's the oldest reading room in the larger Bodleian Library, the main research library at the University of Oxford. Books in Humfrey's library were once chained to the bookshelves, and today can only be read in Bodleian Library's reading rooms, according to its website. Duke Humfrey, the youngest son of King Henry IV, donated his collection of 281 manuscripts to the library upon his death in 1447. All but three were later removed and destroyed during the Protestant Reformation. Name: The library at Admont Monastery The Admont Abbey Library is the world's largest monastery library with a 70 meter long hallway, displaying more than 60,000 books. A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, the library features seven ceiling frescoes by the Austrian painter Bartolomeo Altomonte. Fun fact: The Benedictine monastery is still active today, with monks living on-site. Name: Cuypers Library The Cuypers Library is located inside Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to many of the most famous paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and other Dutch masters. The library is the largest and oldest art historical library in the Netherlands, according to the Rijksmuseum's website. Visitors can explore its books and neo-Gothic architecture, or use available iPads to delve deeper into the museum's collection. Name: State Library Victoria The State Library Victoria is Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free public libraries in the world, according to its website. Its La Trobe reading room is a six-story high octagonal reading room that has seating for 320 readers and shelves for 32,000 books. "It feels like walking into a cathedral… a place where knowledge is sacred… and stories are worshipped," said Phan, who recalled his day of studying there as a student. Name: Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading Inspired by Portugal's 16th-century Jerónimos Monastery, the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading holds rare first editions and the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal. Beyond books, it is also a Portuguese cultural hub, hosting events and activities. Name: Wiblingen Monastery Library Often considered a hidden gem for its lack of crowds, the library sits in the north wing of the larger Wiblingen Monastery, a former Benedictine monastery founded in 1093. Renowned for its ornate Rococo interior, the library's colorful gallery is marked with statues and artworks of mythological and biblical figures. Name: Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève The 6th century Sainte-Geneviève Library is located in Paris' bustling Latin Quarter. The library was designed with a double-barreled roof that is supported by a row of thin iron columns, with lattice metalwork framing the ceiling. "That strikes me whenever I walk into it, those arches are immense. They go all the way to the sky," said 1000 Libraries' Phan. The Parisian city guide Sortir à Paris described it as "one library in Paris that you absolutely must visit."
Daily Record
26-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Guinness drinkers floored after discovering true meaning of brand's logo
Each year, approximately 1.8 billion pints of Guinness are consumed globally. To give you an idea, stout enthusiasts are downing over 10 million glasses of the black brew daily. Despite many of us savouring the flavour of the dark elixir – made up of four primary ingredients - water, barley, hops and yeast – there's still intriguing trivia about the company that people are discovering. This includes facts about the iconic harp logo recognised in nations across the globe. So, did you know this entertaining piece of alcohol trivia? It's a fun fact to ponder on your next pub visit with friends. So here's all you need to know about the Guinness logo that's been around for 163 years and counting. The history behind it extends far beyond just being part of the beverage's emblem. The logo is inspired by a renowned Irish harp from the 14th century known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp. This can now be viewed at the Library of Trinity College Dublin – attracting hundreds of visitors each day. This is because the ancient artefact is one of the oldest surviving Gaelic harps worldwide. However, there's a significant difference between the harps seen in the library and on Guinness products. They are mirror images facing opposite directions. This is due to the Irish government adopting the harp as its official emblem in 1922, leading Guinness to modify its own design to prevent confusion. It has been reimagined several times – the current incarnation features "sharper, more detailed features". Mark Sandys, Diageo Global Head of Beer and Baileys, commented: "The Guinness harp was originally based on the legendary 'Brian Boru harp', a powerful symbol of Ireland's national identity and heritage. "In keeping with the Guinness 'Made of More' ethos, we have reintroduced a special handmade quality to the harp to reflect the experience, craftsmanship and passion that we put into brewing our Guinness beers." For those who've never paid much attention, they may have only just found out an interesting tidbit about the Guinness logo. On social media platform X, one user posted: "How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Another pondered: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold." The piece of booze knowledge has left people floored. You really do learn something new every day!
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Guinness drinkers finally realise meaning behind famous logo after 163 years
The Guinness logo is recognisable to more than 150 countries in the world – but have you ever stopped to think about the famous emblem's history and true meaning? Guinness is one of the most iconic beer brands in the world. It is a dry stout that originated in Dublin, Ireland, and is known for its deep, dark colour and creamy white head. It's been around since 1759 and is loved for its distinctive roasted malt flavour, which people say reminds them of coffee and dark chocolate. The Irish stout is sold in more than 150 countries – and people knock back more than 10 million pints of the black nectar per day. But next time you get a round in, take some time to think about the history of the iconic brand. Even though many of us are familiar with the Guinness logo, which has been around for 163 years, plenty are completely clueless about what the harp was inspired by. So here's some fun trivia to test your friends on next time you're at the pub... Why does Guinness use a harp as a logo? The emblem is based on a famous Irish harp from the 14th century, which is known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp. You can see this ancient instrument at the Library of Trinity College Dublin, where plenty of tourists flock to as it is one of the oldest surviving Gaelic harps in the world. There is a difference in the two designs, though. The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted that the symbols are mirror images of one another. They point in different ways, which helps people to tell them apart. The Irish government adopted the harp as its official symbol in 1922, prompting Guinness to change its version to avoid clashing. It's undergone numerous redesigns over the years – with its current form including "sharper, more detailed features". Mark Sandys, Diageo Global Head of Beer and Baileys said: "The Guinness harp was originally based on the legendary 'Brian Boru harp', a powerful symbol of Ireland's national identity and heritage. In keeping with the Guinness 'Made of More' ethos, we have reintroduced a special handmade quality to the harp to reflect the experience, craftsmanship and passion that we put into brewing our Guinness beers." You learn something new every day, which is evident given that Guinness drinkers have taken to social media to share their surprise. One commenter wrote: How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Meanwhile, another said: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp?? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold." What is Guinness made from? 1. Barley (Malted and Roasted): Barley is the primary grain used in Guinness. Some of it is malted (soaked and dried to encourage germination), and a portion is roasted to give Guinness its characteristic dark color and rich, roasted flavors. 2. Hops: Hops are flowers that act as a natural preservative and add bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. They contribute to the beer's distinctive flavor and aroma. 3. Water: Pure water is a key ingredient. Guinness is famously brewed using water from the Wicklow Mountains near Dublin, Ireland. 4. Yeast: Guinness uses a proprietary strain of yeast, which ferments the sugars in the malted barley to produce alcohol. This yeast has been preserved and reused in the brewing process for many years.
