Marsh's Library

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  • Address
    St Patrick's Close
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    454 3511
  • Transport
    bus: 50, 50a, 56a, 54, 54a
  • Mon, Wed-Fri 10:00 - 12:45 , 14:00 - 17:00 , Sat 10:30 - 12:45

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Lonely Planet review

Marsh's Library is the oldest public library in Ireland, opening in 1707 - it has changed little since then. Its collection numbers over 25,000 books, as well as maps, Latin manuscripts and incunabula (books printed before 1501).

Apart from theological books and Bibles in dozens of languages there are tomes on medicine, law, travel, literature, science, navigation, music and mathematics. The most important of the four main collections is the 10,000-strong library of Edward Stillingfleet, bishop of Worcester, although the single most beautiful, and oldest, book in the library is Cicero's Letters to his Friends , printed in Milan in 1472.

If time permits it's also worth checking out the manuscripts of the master satirist Jonathan Swift, including his copy of the History of the Great Rebellion . His margin notes include a number of disparaging comments about Scots, of whom he seemed to have a low opinion.