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Old Reading Room
The Old Reading Room connects the two main galleries of the library, offering an intimate corner where visitors can sit at the original furniture. The books housed here once belonged to Elias Bouhéreau, the first librarian of Marsh's Library. This atmospheric space provides a glimpse into the scholarly traditions that have defined Dublin's literary heritage, allowing you to experience the room much as scholars would have done centuries ago.
Wire Cages (Niches)
The Wire Cages, or 'cages' as they're known, are three barred alcoves housed within Marsh's Library. Installed in the 1770s as a security measure against theft of the library's most valuable holdings, these enclosures locked readers inside whilst they consulted the books. It's a rather extraordinary testament to 18th-century archive protection. Visitors to Marsh's Library can still see these metal-barred structures, which offer a fascinating insight into how precious collections were once safeguarded. What to see includes not only the cages themselves but the wider collection of rare manuscripts and early printed works that warranted such vigilant measures.
- 1.Old Reading Room
- 2.Wire Cages (Niches)
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Kids version available with adapted and fun language for the little ones (5 min)
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