Ireland's first public library, opened in 1707 beside St Patrick's Cathedral and barely changed since: dark-oak bookcases with 25,000 books and 300 manuscripts, and the wire cages readers were locked into with rare books. Swift, Bram Stoker and Joyce read here.
- Address
- St Patrick's Close, Dublin 8, D08 FK79
- Hours
- Tue-Fri 09:30-17:00; Sat 10:00-17:00; closed Sun, Mon and bank holidays (marshlibrary.ie, 2026)
- Best time to go
- Morning, Afternoon · About 45 min
- Price
- Adult EUR 8, senior/student EUR 6 (marshlibrary.ie, 2026)
- Price level
- €€
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Talk to the librarians: they will show you books with bullet holes from the 1916 Rising (Lonely Planet).
- Joint ticket with St Patrick's Cathedral EUR 17.
- Closed Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays.