A DAY AT MOLI – MUSEUM OF LITERATURE IRELAND

MoLI is located in the heart of Dublin City, more precisely at 85-86 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. It opened its doors to the public on 21 September 2019 and since then MoLI has been hosting a programme of events across the museum that includes performances, readings, talks and workshops.

On entering the museum, one is welcomed by friendly staff and the tour begins with an introduction of the UCD Newman House. It is the historic home of the Catholic University of Ireland, the precursor to University College Dublin. The museum consists of two luxurious Georgian townhouses including a Victorian assembly hall known as The Aula Maxima.

The tour continues with an animated and sharply focused multimedia exhibition that tells the story of Ireland’s literary heritage from its storytelling traditions to the well known modern-day writers. Certainly a virtual feast for the eyes and ears.

Further on, there are literary treasures from the National Library collections which include Irish writers who were once educated onsite. These include Flann O’Brien, Maeve Binchy , Mary Lavin and of course James Joyce. There’s a special room dedicated to the latter’s handwritten notebooks and captivating letters, including one penned to WB Yeats. It also includes his masterpiece, the very first copy of Ulysses, published in its entirety in 1922.

On finishing the tour there is a stunning courtyard cafe beside a serene hidden garden with an amazing strawberry tree and two other protected trees, one of which is the Ash tree where James Joyce had his photograph taken beneath on his graduation day.

All in all a day well spent -Joe Govin, Vintage Tea Trips