Dublin Writers Museum facts for kids
| Músaem na Scríbhneoirí, Baile Átha Cliath | |
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| Established | November 1991 |
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| Location | 18 Parnell Square, Dublin |
| Public transit access | Dublin Bus route 46E |
The Dublin Writers Museum was a special place in Dublin, Ireland. It celebrated the amazing stories and lives of Irish writers. The museum first opened its doors in November 1991. Many people thought it was a very important and "iconic" museum in the city. Sadly, it closed in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It never reopened after that time, and its operations officially ended in 2022.
Contents
About the Museum's History
The idea for a museum about Irish writers started in the 1970s. A journalist and author named Maurice Gorham first suggested it. The museum officially opened on November 18, 1991. It was managed by a group called Dublin Tourism. Its main goal was to help people learn more about Irish literature. It also wanted to highlight the lives and works of individual Irish writers.
The Museum's Home
The museum was located at 18 Parnell Square in Dublin. It was made up of two beautiful buildings from the 1700s. The main building was a red-brick house built in the Georgian style. This house was once used by George Jameson. His family was famous for owning Jameson Irish Whiskey. A talented artist named Michael Stapleton decorated parts of this main building.
On an upper floor, there was a library named the Gorham Library. This library honored Maurice Gorham, who first thought of the museum. The second building next door had a coffee shop, a bookshop, and a room for lectures.
Important Events and Changes
In 2011, a politician named David Norris started his campaign for president at the Dublin Writers Museum. This was before the 2011 Irish presidential election.
In 2012, the group Dublin Tourism joined with another organization called Fáilte Ireland. After this, Fáilte Ireland took over running the museum.
The museum closed its doors in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 lockdown. It did not open again after that. In 2020, Fáilte Ireland looked into the museum's future. They found that the museum felt a bit old-fashioned compared to what people expect from museums today. Because of this, they decided in 2022 to close it for good. The items from the museum are now looked after by Fáilte Ireland.
There is a plan for the building at 18 Parnell Square to become a new museum. This new museum would celebrate Harry Clarke. He was a famous stained glass artist from Dublin.
What the Museum Showcased
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The Dublin Writers Museum collected and displayed many interesting items. These items were all connected to famous Irish writers. The museum owned old handwritten papers, first editions of books, portraits, and personal items.
Famous Writers and Their Belongings
Many important writers were featured in the museum. These included Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Patrick Kavanagh, William Butler Yeats, Brendan Behan, Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel, Edna O'Brien, Roddy Doyle, Martin McDonagh, and Colm Tóibín.
Some of the cool things on display were:
- Jonathan Swift's coffee pot
- The very first copy of Bram Stoker's famous book Dracula
- Samuel Beckett's telephone
- James Joyce's typewriter
- Brendan Behan's union cards and a letter he wrote
The museum also had a copy of the Book of Kells. This is a very old and beautiful book. People said the museum was full of items from the "giants of Irish literature."
