The National Library of Ireland is on Kildare Street.
Set up in 1877 with a mission to collect, protect and
share material that comprises Ireland’s literary and documentary heritage; it
houses over 10 million items: books, papers, photographs, maps, music, digital
media…
It is a non-lending library but access is free and
includes some exhibitions and a genealogy section.
^ This stained glass window features the portraits of Leonardo
da Vinci and Michelangelo.
I wanted to have a quick look at the main Reading Room,
after seeing it on television. It has a beautiful domed ceiling in a D-shaped
room (1890) with a plaster frieze all around the room, featuring angels and
garlands.
But I was abruptly interrupted by staff because we are
not allowed to take photos in the Reading Room. Shame.
Nice oak screen and doorways as well.
The main entrance to Leinster House (the Irish
Parliament: the Dáil and the Seanad) is in-between the National Library and its duplicate building across the car park: the National Museum of Ireland.
That’s because the two domes were extensions to the Dukes of Leinster’s palace.
The National Museum of Ireland is now in split in 3
sections across Dublin: this is the Archaeology Section, which is really good (Celtic
gold jewellery, bog bodies, etc.) and free admission.
A few other buildings on Kildare Street…
^ L’Alliance Française à Dublin, a cultural centre and registered
charity located in this listed building ˅
