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Minister Madigan launches the 2018 commemorative programme at the Chester Beatty Library and unveiling four commemorative stamps by An Post

Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has today (Friday) launched the 2018 commemorative programme at the Chester Beatty Library and unveiled four commemorative stamps by An Post celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the bequeathing of the Chester Beatty collection to the nation.

Thousands of rare printed books, illuminated manuscripts, paintings and decorative arts, considered to be the greatest gift ever given to the nation, are held in the library that bears his name in Dublin Castle, Chester Beatty, Ireland’s first honorary citizen.

Minister Madigan, speaking at the event today said

“The Chester Beatty Library promotes the appreciation and understanding of world cultures, and engagement with the peoples whose cultures are represented in the Collections. The Library contains some of the finest treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world and is significant on the international stage. It is fitting, therefore, that this milestone of the significant gift to the nation is marked by a number of beautifully designed commemorative stamps. This is so fitting given that Chester Beatty’s passion for collection began with postage stamps.”

The Chester Beatty Library is a National Cultural Institution under the ages of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.