Thursday 21 October 2010

Of Dublin, Chanel, and the Book of Kells





Dublin is the most amazing city; filled with ideas and conversation and books, as always. Have been talking about Chanel here (there, and everywhere), and meeting lots of readers, book-sellers, broadcasters, journalists, fashion enthusiasts -- the people that make Dublin such a vibrant place. I was charmed by Pat Kenny yesterday -- (be still my beating heart...), and Tom McGurk today, and everyone who came to Dubray books in Grafton Street.
Am burbling, after a couple of stiff drinks with a friend, but just wanted to say that I visited the Old Library at Trinity College this afternoon, and became absorbed by the Book of Kells, the Book of Armagh, and the Book of Durrow. The Old Library is more magical than pictures can ever convey, but have posted a couple (above), to give you a taste for more...
My head is now overflowing with Celtic knots and interlocked double CCs. Suddenly, the mysterious stained glass window that illuminates the 12th century Abbey of Aubazine, where Chanel was brought up by the nuns, seems to be reflected in the ancient monastic manuscripts of Ireland...

9 comments:

Vinnie Favale said...

Hi Justine. Is there an email I can reach you at? vinnie favale

kairu said...

That looks the perfect library, my dream of what a library should be...hope to visit some day.

Lilacs said...

What lovely atmospheric photos, I can almost smell the wood, the leather bindings and the old book pages.

lornaB said...

Justine.....I am the girl in the Chanel stripes from Dubray Books.....totally engrossed in the book already....the descriptions of Coco's apartment have transported me there and wish I could stay there forever! So chuffed you noticed the touches of Chanel in my outfit....even down to the nail polish....you made my day...thanks justine! xxx

Anonymous said...

one of my favourite places- haven't been in an age, but lovely to go back if just for a moment through your post

Justine Picardie said...

Lorna -- it was great to meet you in Dublin, in your Chanel stripes. What a memorable evening that was at Dubray -- the perfect end to my stay in Dublin, which always seems to me to be a city of book-lovers.
I, too, hope to return to its perfect library at Trinity...

jennieric said...

Hi Justine, it was surreal seeing you at the book signing. I moved to Co. Wicklow a few years ago and for a moment I felt my past was catching up with me.
But I'm glad I did since I am enjoying your book so much I have just tweeted it for you at: http://twitter.com/jennieric.
Also can't tell you how sorry I was to read about the miserable time you had last year. Hope you are more settled by now.
Jennie Ricketts.

Rose said...

I am half Irish by blood and a quarter by adoption (it's complicated...) but I couldn't look more Irish. I feel very British but anything Irish feels like home to me- inexplicably really because I am not Irish really. I've never been because I think I am expecting to love it so much I might never come back. I do long to go though- and see the book of Kells and everything- i feel I should go before I'm thirty- which is next year.

Anonymous said...

Making me homesick for the chat and craic.