MoLI

MoLI, the Museum of Literature Ireland, tells the story of Irish literature across two connected Georgian townhouses on St Stephen's Green. Its centrepiece is "Copy No. 1" of James Joyce's Ulysses, the very first printed copy of the novel. Backed by University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland, the museum, which opened in 2019, pairs rare originals with award-winning, interactive exhibition design. By Dublin standards it's a mid-sized specialist museum, not an unmissable stop like the Book of Kells, but a strong destination for anyone interested in Joyce and Irish writers.

The historic Newman House

The museum occupies townhouses No. 85 and No. 86 on the south side of St Stephen's Green. No. 85 was built in 1738 by Richard Cassels, the architect behind Powerscourt House. Its baroque stucco ceilings are the work of the Italian Lafranchini brothers, while the adjoining No. 86, from 1765, has rococo plasterwork by the Dublin School of Plaster Workers.

In 1854, Cardinal John Henry Newman founded the Catholic University of Ireland here, which later became University College Dublin (UCD). Its list of graduates reads like a who's who of Irish literature: James Joyce graduated here in 1902, and Flann O'Brien, Kate O'Brien and Maeve Binchy all studied within these walls. The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins taught here from 1884 until his death in 1889 and lived on site.

The collection

The showpiece is "Copy No. 1" of Ulysses, the first printed copy, which Joyce dedicated to his patron Harriet Shaw Weaver and which entered the National Library of Ireland's collection in 1952. Alongside it are Joyce's handwritten notebooks from the writing of the novel.

Since 2020, MoLI has also housed the collection of the now-closed Dublin Writers Museum, including Brendan Behan's typewriter, Samuel Beckett's telephone from his Paris flat, Frank O'Connor's glasses and Oliver St John Gogarty's flying goggles.

The exhibition spans three floors, each with its own focus:

• Ground floor, "Place": immersive displays on Ireland's literary landscape.
• First floor, "Voice": the installation "Riverrun of Language" responds to movement with spoken literature and folklore; its name comes from the opening word of Finnegans Wake.
• Second floor, "Inspiration": a space for visitors' own creative work.

Temporary exhibitions run alongside the permanent collection, in 2026, "Happy Ever After", on Irish romance fiction, and HOLY SHOW; exact dates vary, so it's worth checking moli.ie before you go.

Garden, café and shop

Behind the museum lies the Readers Garden, home to two protected trees, including the ash tree Joyce stood in front of for his 1902 graduation photograph. The garden connects the museum to the quiet Iveagh Gardens, Dublin's "secret garden". The terrace of The Commons café opens onto the garden and serves Irish food made with seasonal ingredients, in what was once the students' dining hall where Joyce himself ate. Both the café and the MoLI shop are open without a museum ticket.

Tours and events

Alongside the self-guided visit, guided tours cost €18 each: the MoLI Guided Tour through the exhibitions, and the Historic House Tour through the Georgian rooms, with stories about the adventurer Buck Whaley. The exclusive White Glove Tour, offering a look at objects not otherwise on display, runs by request.

• First Fridays: the first Friday of every month, 18:00-21:00, free admission, with readings and live music.
• Bloomsday, 16 June: the year's highlight, with the Dedalus Lecture and a party in the gardens.
• "The Dead": the immersive theatre production based on Joyce's short story (directed by Louise Lowe, with ANU and Landmark) returns in 2026 for a third year, running 20 November 2026 to 31 January 2027 at 85 St Stephen's Green, roughly 75 minutes per show, with 75 seats each time.
• RadioMoLI: the museum's own digital radio station with interviews and readings, free to stream at moli.ie.

Visiting and practical information

Since 2025/26, MoLI has been open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:00; the former Monday closure no longer applies. It's quietest in the morning shortly after opening, and busier at weekends and on reading-event days. A visit takes 1 to 2 hours, longer if you add the café and garden. Long queues aren't typical, so a skip-the-line ticket isn't needed, but booking online at moli.ie secures your slot at busy times and around Bloomsday.

The museum sits on the south side of St Stephen's Green, about a three-minute walk from Grafton Street. It combines well with St Stephen's Green next door, the Little Museum of Dublin, and the National Gallery of Ireland. For an overview of other venues, see Museums in Dublin, and for help planning your day, the Attractions guide.