What makes Marsh's Library special compared to other Irish libraries?

Marsh's Library is Ireland's first public library and one of the very few 18th century buildings in Dublin still used for its original purpose. It houses collections arranged on the same shelves where they were placed over 300 years ago by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh and the first librarian, Elias Bouhéreau, making it a living time capsule of Renaissance and Enlightenment scholarship.

Where exactly is Marsh's Library located and how do I get there?

Marsh's Library is situated in St. Patrick's Close, directly adjacent to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. Its central Dublin location makes it easily accessible by public transport, and it's positioned right next to one of Dublin's most famous landmarks, so you can combine visits to both sites.

What are the most interesting features to see inside Marsh's Library?

The library features magnificent dark oak bookcases with carved and lettered gables topped by mitres, and three elegant wired alcoves or 'cages' where readers were historically locked in while consulting rare books. The interior remains virtually unchanged since the 17th century, offering an authentic glimpse into a scholar's library from that era.

Can I actually handle the rare books or see the original collections at Marsh's Library?

Yes, many of the original collections remain on the shelves exactly as they were organized when the library opened, and visitors can experience these in the library's authentic setting. The famous 'cages' or wired alcoves where readers were once locked in with rare books are still visible and represent a unique preservation method from the Renaissance period.

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Marsh's Library

Name: Marsh's Library
Rating: 4.1

St Patrick's Close, Dublin 8, D08 FK79, Ireland• ★★★★☆• 218 views

Corinne Geanty

Dublin 8

About Marsh's Library

Marsh's Library, situated in St. Patrick's Close, adjacent to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland is a well-preserved library of the late Renaissance and early Enlightenment. Marsh’s Library, built by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh (1638-1713), was the first public library in Ireland. It was designed by Sir William Robinson (d.1712) the Surveyor General of Ireland, and is one of the very few 18th century buildings left in Dublin that is still being used for its original purpose. Many of the collections in the Library are still kept on the shelves allocated to them by Marsh and by Elias Bouhéreau, the first librarian, when the Library was opened.

The Library was formally incorporated in 1707 by an Act of Parliament called An Act for settling and preserving a public library for ever. The Act vested the house and books in a number of religious and state dignitaries and officials and their successors as Governors and Guardians of the Library.

The interior of the library, with its beautiful dark oak bookcases each with carved and lettered gables, topped by a mitre, and the three elegant wired alcoves or ‘cages’ where the readers were locked in with rare books, remains unchanged since it was built over three hundred years ago. It is a magnificent example of a 17th century scholars’ library.