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Home Museum Of Literature Ireland

Museum of Literature Ireland – MoLI, Dublin: Tickets and Info

This website offers official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

Museum of Literature Ireland

Highlights

Uncover tales from Ireland’s most renowned authors across different eras.

Explore special exhibits including works linked to James Joyce and a unique copy of Ulysses.

Enjoy changing exhibitions featuring contemporary art and interactive experiences.

Benefit from included guided tours during selected months.

Relax afterward at the museum’s café showcasing Irish culinary delights and local wines.

MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland: Guided Tour

Highlights

Experience an engaging live-guided tour in English.

Explore Ireland’s rich literary heritage through well-curated exhibits.

Join small groups with a maximum of 20 visitors for a personalized experience.

Tour duration is approximately one hour for an immersive visit.

Conveniently located in Dublin with regular opening hours.

Good to Know Before Visiting MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland

Booking your entry ticket online in advance secures your preferred entry time slot and minimizes waiting during busy hours.
Final admission to the museum galleries is strictly permitted 60 minutes before the 18:00 daily closing time.
Large backpacks, luggage, and umbrella items must be deposited in the complimentary cloakroom lockers before entering the exhibit spaces.
Photography for personal, non-commercial use is allowed throughout the museum, provided you turn off flash equipment.
Free Wi-Fi and digital multimedia content are accessible directly through your mobile device, so bringing personal headphones is recommended.
The museum utilizes rich audio features across its exhibits, making handheld audio devices or quiet gallery listening an essential part of the experience.
The secluded Reader’s Gardens are open to all museum guests and connect directly into Dublin’s historic Iveagh Gardens.
You do not need to purchase a ticket if you only plan to visit The Commons Café or browse the museum gift shop.

Essential Visitor Info

The museum is open daily from 10:30 to 18:00, with final entry permitted at 17:00.

Opening hours can vary slightly on bank holidays, so checking the schedule ahead of your trip ensures a smooth visit.

Most visitors spend between 60 to 90 minutes exploring the exhibition spaces, historic rooms, and garden. If you plan to stop by the Commons Café or linger over the audio archives, allocate up to two hours.

Arriving shortly after opening at 10:30 or visiting during the late afternoon offers the quietest experience. Morning visits give you undisturbed access to high-profile exhibits like Copy No. 1 of Ulysses.

About MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland

Located in the heart of Dublin on St Stephen's Green, the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is a partnership between University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland. Housed within a pair of restored 18th-century Georgian townhouses known as Newman House, the museum marks the location where the Catholic University of Ireland was founded in 1854. This historic site carries deep literary roots, having served as the place where poet Gerard Manley Hopkins taught and where James Joyce studied as a university student.

The museum brings Irish storytelling to life through dynamic multimedia exhibitions, rare archival holdings, and continuous audio programming. Among its primary collection highlights is Copy No. 1 of James Joyce’s Ulysses, alongside rotating displays dedicated to modern poets, contemporary novelists, and children's literature. Beyond the indoor gallery spaces, visitors can explore the peaceful Reader’s Gardens, which feature historic mature trees and direct access into Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens, offering a reflective space to connect with the city's living culture.

Exhibition Space Area: 10,000 square feet (approx. 930 square meters)
Total Site Floor Area: 3,600 square meters (approx. 38,750 square feet)
Year Built: 1738 (No. 85) and c. 1765 (No. 86)
Museum Opening Year: 2019

Why Visit MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland?

See Copy No. 1 of James Joyce’s Ulysses

MoLI holds the very first printed copy of Ulysses, inscribed by James Joyce to his patron Harriet Shaw Weaver. Displayed in a dedicated climate-controlled vault, this historic object offers fans of modern literature a direct connection to one of the 20th century's defining novels.

Explore Historic Newman House

The museum occupies Newman House on St Stephen's Green, a pair of restored 18th-century Georgian townhouses rich in literary heritage. Visitors can walk the halls where poet Gerard Manley Hopkins lived and taught, and where James Joyce attended university as a student.

Experience Immersive Sound and Audio Exhibits

Rather than relying solely on traditional text panels, MoLI uses rich audio installations to bring Irish storytelling to life. Visitors can listen to historical recordings, literary broadcasts, and continuous readings of classic works as they move through the galleries.

Relax in the Quiet Reader’s Gardens

At the rear of the museum lie two secluded courtyard gardens connected to the historic Iveagh Gardens. These peaceful outdoor spaces feature mature trees—including the famous copper beech Joyce wrote under—making them an ideal spot to read or rest away from city traffic.

Discover Contemporary Irish Writing

Beyond its focus on Ireland's literary giants, the museum actively highlights living writers through rotating temporary exhibitions. Visitors gain insight into modern poetry, contemporary fiction, and the evolving landscape of Irish storytelling today.

MoLI - Museum of Literature Ireland - Additional Info

The Commons Café is situated in the original student dining hall on the garden level of Newman House.

Operated with a focus on fresh, seasonal Irish produce, the café serves breakfast, lunch, and light refreshments, including fresh pastries, artisan sandwiches, daily soups, and specialty coffee.

During pleasant weather, visitors can dine outdoors in the courtyard adjoining the Reader's Gardens.

The café can be accessed independently of museum entry, making it a popular spot for lunch or tea in central Dublin.

Interesting Facts about MoLI - Museum of Literature Ireland

James Joyce took his final university examinations inside Newman House, the historic building that now houses the museum.
The museum’s name, MoLI, is a direct literary reference to Molly Bloom, the prominent character in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.
MoLI displays Copy No. 1 of Ulysses, which Joyce personally inscribed and presented to his dedicated patron Harriet Shaw Weaver in 1922.
The historic copper beech tree in the museum’s garden is the exact tree James Joyce posed beside for his university graduation photograph.
Victorian poet Gerard Manley Hopkins spent the final five years of his life living and teaching on site as a professor of Greek.
The museum houses Radio MoLI, a dedicated online radio station that broadcasts continuous Irish literary programming, poetry, and interviews.
The twin Georgian townhouses that make up Newman House feature some of the finest surviving 18th-century plasterwork ceilings in Ireland.
Before becoming a literary museum, the site served as the founding home of Catholic University of Ireland, established by John Henry Newman in 1854.
The museum's Reader’s Gardens contain a private, rear pedestrian gate that leads directly into Dublin's historic Iveagh Gardens.
Award-winning Irish novelist Kate O'Brien once lived on the top floor of the building while studying at University College Dublin.
The museum features a dynamic digital installation called the State of the Nation, which displays a real-time stream of contemporary Irish writing.
The Commons Café sits inside the original 19th-century student dining hall where thousands of Irish scholars ate their daily meals.
MoLI is a collaborative partnership between University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland to celebrate the nation’s literary culture.
The museum commissioned a custom typographic font inspired by original 18th-century Irish printmaking for its identity and displays.

MoLI - Highlights in Pictures

FAQs about MoLI - Museum of Literature Ireland

What is MoLI?

The Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is a literary museum created through a partnership between University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland.

What does the name MoLI stand for?

The name is a direct literary reference to Molly Bloom, a prominent character from James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

What is the literary significance of Newman House?

The historic site served as the founding home of the Catholic University of Ireland, where poet Gerard Manley Hopkins taught and James Joyce studied as an undergraduate.

What is the most famous artifact on display at MoLI?

The museum displays Copy No. 1 of James Joyce’s Ulysses, which Joyce personally inscribed and presented to his patron Harriet Shaw Weaver in 1922.

What is notable about the copper beech tree in the Reader’s Gardens?

It is the historic tree that James Joyce posed beside for his university graduation photograph.

What is Radio MoLI?

Radio MoLI is the museum's dedicated online radio station that broadcasts continuous Irish literary programming, poetry, and interviews.

What architectural features are preserved inside Newman House?

Newman House consists of 18th-century Georgian townhouses featuring some of the finest surviving Baroque and Rococo plasterwork ceilings in Ireland.

What are the standard opening hours for MoLI?

The museum is open daily from 10:30 to 18:00, with final gallery entry permitted at 17:00.

How much time should I allocate for a visit?

Most visitors spend between 60 to 90 minutes exploring the exhibition galleries, historic rooms, and gardens.

How do I reach MoLI via public transport?

You can take the Luas Green Line directly to the St. Stephen’s Green stop or use several Dublin Bus routes servicing St Stephen’s Green and Earlsfort Terrace.

Is MoLI accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, a dedicated ramped entrance is located at the rear of the building, and elevators provide access to all public galleries, restrooms, and dining areas.

Can I visit the café or shop without buying an entry ticket?

Yes, both The Commons Café and the MoLI Shop are open to the general public and can be accessed independently without a museum admission ticket.

Are storage lockers available for large bags and umbrellas?

Yes, large backpacks, luggage, and umbrellas must be deposited in the museum's complimentary cloakroom lockers before entering the exhibit spaces.

This website sells official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.

The images and videos on this website may contain visual elements that have been created or enhanced using AI technology. They are provided for illustrative purposes only.