Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Ireland Dublin Marsh's Library

Marsh's Library

The oldest public library in Ireland.

Dublin, Ireland

Added By
Annetta Black
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Madeleine O / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Founded in 1707, Marsh's Library holds some 25,000 books and 300 manuscripts, and is the oldest public library in Ireland.

Narcissus Marsh, Archbishop of Dublin, donated many of the books in the library from his personal collection, and is buried nearby on the Cathedral grounds.

The library has seen much of Dublin's history. In some of the bookcases, there are bullet holes from the Easter Rising, when the hotel next door was occupied. Bram Stoker is said to have visited while researching materials for his novel 'Dracula'.

A unique feature that still stands is the three wired alcoves, or "cages," which were created in the late 18th century in response to thefts at the library. Readers would have to be locked inside to peruse the rarest books.

Related Tags

Repositories Of Knowledge Libraries

Know Before You Go

Located on St Patrick’s Close, just behind St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin

Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

SEANETTA, DJ BAHLER, Madeleine O

  • SEANETTA
  • DJ BAHLER
  • Madeleine O

Published

January 2, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh%27s_Library
  • http://www.shaneycrawford.com/2003/07/chain-reaction-the-practice-of-chaining-books-in-european-libraries/
Marsh's Library
St Patrick’s Close
Dublin
Ireland
53.339193, -6.271465
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Relics of St. Valentine at Whitefriar Street Church

Dublin, Ireland

miles away

Aungier Street Lidl Archaeology

Dublin, Ireland

miles away

Oddities of Christ Church Cathedral

Dublin, Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dublin

Dublin

Ireland

Places 47
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Relics of St. Valentine at Whitefriar Street Church

Dublin, Ireland

miles away

Aungier Street Lidl Archaeology

Dublin, Ireland

miles away

Oddities of Christ Church Cathedral

Dublin, Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dublin

Dublin

Ireland

Places 47
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Leadhills Miners Library

    Leadhills, Scotland

    Leadhills Miners Library

    The oldest subscription library in Britain was started by lead miners in southwest Scotland.

  • Jane Austen’s name is emblazoned at the top of the telephone box.

    Steventon, England

    Jane Austen's Telephone Box

    The world's smallest Austen museum is inside an unassuming phone booth.

  • Herndon Fortnightly Club

    Herndon, Virginia

    Herndon Fortnightly Club

    In 1889, a small group of women began meeting to discuss literature, art, and other topics. Their every-other-week salon grew into a lending library that still exists today.

  • Waldseemüller’s 1507 World Map

    Washington, D.C.

    Waldseemüller’s 1507 World Map

    This groundbreaking 16th-century map is known as "America's birth certificate."

  • Suzzallo Library Reading Room

    Seattle, Washington

    Suzzallo Library Reading Room

    With its vaulted ceiling and gilded details, this University of Washington library would feel right at home inside an old palace.

  • Inside the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.

    Puebla, Mexico

    Biblioteca Palafoxiana

    The first public library in the Americas has more than 45,000 books dating back to the 15th century.

  • The photography library

    Yerevan, Armenia

    Mirzoyan Library

    One man’s collection of photography books has transformed into a charming exhibition space.

  • The Matenadaran and statue of Mesrop Mashtots.

    Yerevan, Armenia

    The Matenadaran

    This medieval manuscript collection has some of the most obscure and ancient texts in the world.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.