National Library of Ireland
About
The National Library of Ireland (NLI) sits in Dublin’s historic Kildare Street and serves as the country’s premier research library and archive. With a mission to collect, preserve and make accessible every facet of Irish culture, the NLI houses over 12 million objects including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and periodicals. All collections are available to the public free of charge, and visitors can consult material without loan. The library’s life‑changing holdings feature the National Photographic Archive, a world‑class collection of Irish photography, as well as the extensive Irish manuscript archive containing works by Yeats, Joyce, and countless other writers. Regular exhibitions—such as the Yeats exhibition on the Kildare Street building—highlight Ireland’s literary and artistic legacy, while dedicated genealogy services provide tools and staff assistance for family‑history research. A true cultural repository, the NLI offers a welcoming environment for scholars, students and casual visitors alike. With quiet reading rooms, a digital library and an expertly curated exhibition hall, the National Library of Ireland invites everyone to explore Ireland’s rich past without any entry fee.
Highlights
- Free Access to Extensive Collections
- National Photographic Archive
- Large Irish Manuscript Archive
- Genealogy Research Facilities
- Rotating Exhibitions on Irish Literature