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Soak up the historic atmosphere of an eighteenth-century library with a hidden garden. Explore our exhibition of the earliest printed books in the world. Admission Charge: €7 for adults. €4 for students & senior citizens. Free entry for under 18s and social welfare recipients.
- Tickets
You can click on the calendar below to book entry to the...
- Plan Your Visit
Marsh’s Library has remained unchanged for over three...
- Catalogue
The 2,114 books in the 2 nd gallery of the library which...
- Donate
Marsh’s Library is a registered charity and is grateful for...
- Tickets
Dec 27, 2023 · Marsh's Library is the oldest library in Ireland and was founded in 1701. Dublin is a city with a rich literary history, and the hometown of some of the world’s greatest writers. It is home to some of the rarest and most valuable books in the world, most of them housed in one library.
Nov 16, 2017 · Sitting on their original dark Irish oak bookshelves, 25,000 rare books from the 16th to the 18th century have been kept in the same position for the last three centuries. Shaped as an “L”, the old library is made of two galleries. The First Gallery housed 10,000 books bought by Archbishop Marsh.
- What Is Marsh’s Library?
- What Is The History of Marsh’s Library?
- What Is The Marsh’s Library Bram Stoker Connection?
- Where Is Marsh’s Library in Dublin?
- How to Visit Marsh’s Library
- Things to See in Marsh’s Library
- The First Gallery
- The Old Reading Room
- The Second Gallery
- Reading Cages
Marsh’s Library is one of the prettiest libraries in Dublin but also the oldest public library in Ireland! It opened to the public in 1707 and has been welcoming readers of every background to make use of its archives ever since. It now has over 25,000 rare texts and 300 manuscripts in its collection. Nearly all of these can be accessed online. Man...
Marsh’s Library was founded by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh in the 18th century. He was born in Wiltshire, England, and educated in Oxford. He then became a Provost at Trinity College Dublin. The books for study at the college were a mess and hard to find with a lack of a catalogue system. Reading materials were also strictly for students and friends...
Did you know that Bram Stoker visited Marsh’s Library for research before he wrote his classic novel Dracula in 1897? His signature can be found in one of the visitor books and the texts he requested, such as Atlas Geographus, are recorded in the reading registers. You can find the exact pages in their ‘Bram Stoker and the Haunting of Marsh’s Libra...
Marsh’s Library can be found on St Patrick’s Close which is right next door to St Patrick’s Cathedral. Although it’s just a stone’s throw away from one of the busiest attractions in Dublin, this book trove is a hidden gem that sees far fewer visitors. It’s easy to walk to Marsh’s Library in the city but you can also take a bus or tram. There is a s...
Marsh’s Library is open to the public and you can pay to take a self-guided tour through their historic galleries and reading rooms. Tickets only cost 5 euros for an adult and 3 euros for students/concessions. A bargain! I would recommend purchasing tickets online to guarantee entry, especially in the summer season. But, you can also purchase ticke...
As you make your way up to the first floor, you’ll be greeted by the team and given a leaflet with lots of information about the library. Then, you can take a self-guided tour through the towers of tomes. Here’s what you can expect to see on your visit;
The First Gallery is the initial room you’ll step into but it was also the first room built for the public library by Narcissus Marsh. The oak bookshelves here are originals and almost all of the texts in this room were from Stillingfleet’s collection. They have not moved for the last 300 years. It was completed in 1705 before the act of Irish parl...
The historic reading room can be found in the middle of the two galleries and was built at the same time as The First Gallery. It’s funny to think that famous literary figures like Bram Stoker sat at this very table to read books. These reading rooms are open to all and you’ll find busts of famous figures, more artifacts, antique maps, and portrait...
The Second Gallery was added sometime around 1708 to 1709 when the library needed to expand. This gallery is a lot longer but also much darker. Many say it feels a lot colder in this room too. Marsh’s Library is supposedly haunted and many people have caught sight of Narcissus Marsh’s ghost in this room. As you turn a corner, you’ll find even more ...
Theft was a huge issue for the library with many precious and rare texts being taken from the archives. More than 1000 books were stolen in its first decade of operation. Whereas most libraries would chain books to shelves to stop stealing, Marsh’s Library had a different way of doing things. They installed three reading cages at the back of the li...
Aug 12, 2024 · You’ll discover the ancient Marsh’s Library next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, where it has been since 1707. Cages, bullet holes and ancient books are just part of the story of the wonderful Marsh’s Library in Dublin!
Jul 23, 2018 · Marsh’s Library – The Oldest Public Library in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin, Ireland is of course known for many things, including but not limited to, Guinness beer, Trinity College, the Dublin Castle and the raucous and touristy Temple Bar area.
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Jun 26, 2024 · Rolling ladders, original carvings, and vintage seating: once inside Marsh’s Library, there are two long galleries filled with bookshelves, as well as a small reading room in the heart of it all. The library is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
