Photos: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 William Murphy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo credits
Photos: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 William Murphy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Marsh's Library and the chained books
Your local guide
Aoibhinn Dunne
View profile
Highlights
- Ireland's oldest public library, 1707
- A collection almost entirely intact
- Reading cages built to prevent theft
- A plain front hiding rare history
- An unusual corner of old Dublin
About this tour
This session looks at Ireland's oldest public library from the outside, a building whose plain brick front hides one of the country's most intact historic collections. You see the building itself and, through a ground-floor window, the reading cages once used to secure rare books with readers locked inside them. It stays outdoors, working from what is visible from the street and courtyard.
After a short sound check outside, I explain the library's history before moving to the window to show the reading cages up close. I take questions live as they come and send a short note afterwards on visiting the collection inside for anyone who wants to go further.
It suits anyone interested in books and libraries, and anyone who enjoys an unusual, lesser known corner of the old city.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Dublin before heading out.
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Marsh's Library exterior 15 min
The camera takes in the plain brick front of Ireland's oldest public library, opened in 1707, and I explain how its collection has stayed almost entirely intact since then.
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The library's cage alcoves 15 min
You see the building's distinctive reading cages through a ground-floor window, and I explain how readers were once locked in with rare books to prevent theft.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about Dublin: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Soda bread and The Liberties, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Dublin time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Dublin, showing you Marsh's Library exterior and The library's cage alcoves live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need any background in art?
No. The guide explains what matters as you go, whatever you already know or do not.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Dublin live with my phone.
Times shown in Dublin time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Wed 11 Nov · 8 seats left From 20,00 €
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