Chester Beatty Library

The diverse works displayed in the Chester Beatty Library once belonged to the private collection of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, a mining magnate and notable businessmen who is considered one of the most prominent collectors and philanthropists of the 20th century. Beatty was an American engineer born in New York, to a father whose family was Irish. Over the course of his life, Beatty relocated to London and, later, to Dublin, and amassed one of the most prolific collections of global paintings, manuscripts, prints, textiles, and sculptures in the world. Upon arriving in Dublin in 1953, Beatty established a library and gallery to display his collection for public access. Today, the Chester Beatty displays treasured works from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, derived from world religions including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, ancient Egyptian faiths, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. As Ireland's only national cultural institution with a focus on global artistic heritage, the Chester Beatty's exhibitions, educational programming, and community outreach hold a unique place in Ireland's artistic and cultural landscape.