Thai Princess Visits the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

On Sunday 7 September 2014, the Chester Beatty Library, an ASEMUS member, welcomed HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.  This is the first time that the Library has received a visit from the Royal Thai Family and it was marked with an extensive tour of the collections including Thai manuscripts, 'Chester Beatty’s A-Z' exhibition, the Sacred Traditions and Arts of the Book galleries. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was given a private viewing of a number of 18-19^th century Thai manuscripts by both the Director Fionnuala Croke and Researcher of East Asian Art Laura Muldowney.  She also met key staff, Jessica Baldwin, Head of Conservation and Collections and Jenny Siung, Head of Education. The Library has fostered relations with the local Thai-Irish community for many years and celebrates Thai culture each June.  Over 300 members of the Thai-Irish community greeted  HRH Sirindhorn outside the Library. A video depicting the visit was featured on Thai public broadcaster MCOT's news journal (minutes 00:37-03:00). Image: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn with Laura Muldowney, Researcher of the East Asian Collections, Chester Beatty Library