President Mesic started the second day of his visit to Ireland by visiting Trinity College, where he was welcomed by Provost John Hegarty and chief librarian Robin Adams, who acquainted him with the university's history and the Book of Kells, the most valuable exhibit in its library, the so-called Long Room.
The Book of Kells, one of the most famous books in the world history, was written in 800. The 680-page manuscript written on cow skin contains transcripts of four gospels in Latin, richly illustrated and embellished. The manuscript was written by Irish monks from the monastery in Kells, at a time when Christianity on the Continent was in crisis and the clergy from Ireland travelled to Europe to preserve the faith.
The Trinity College library, which contains more than two million books, in November 2000 hosted for three months an exhibition of the Glagolitic script, the first such exhibition to be held outside Croatia.
At the end of his visit President Mesic presented Provost Hegarty with a copy of the Evangeliarum Spalatense, the oldest manuscript in Croatia dating back to the 7th century.
President Mesic also visited the Guinness brewery, established in 1759. He was acquainted with the brewery's history by Guinness CEO Paul Carty.
President Mesic tasted the beer and took a hand at pouring draught beer, which earned him compliments for a perfect pint of Guinness.
Later in the day, President Mesic is scheduled to hold talks with Irish PM Bertie Ahern.