Museum of Literature Ireland

Literary museum in Dublin, Ireland

Not to be confused with Dublin Writers Museum.

Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)

Músaem Litríochta na hÉireann

Newman House, home of the museum, and previously of UCD; attended by James Joyce

Location within Central Dublin

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Museum of Literature Ireland (Dublin)

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Established| September 2019
Location| 86 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland
Coordinates| 53°20′12″N 06°15′37″W﻿ / ﻿53.33667°N 6.26028°W﻿ / 53.33667; -6.26028
Type| Literary
Visitors| nearly 40,000 (first six months, 86,000 planned annually, pre-Covid)[1]
Director| Simon O'Connor
Public transit access|  Dublin Pearse
St Stephen's Green (Green Line)
Website| moli.ie

The Museum of Literature Ireland (Irish: Músaem Litríochta na hÉireann), branded MoLI in an homage to Molly Bloom,[2] is a literary museum in Dublin, Ireland. It opened in September 2019.[3] The museum is a partnership between the National Library of Ireland and University College Dublin (UCD). It is located in UCD's Newman House in St Stephen's Green.[4] It holds a permanent collection of James Joyce–related material, including his "Copy No. 1" of Ulysses,[5] and revolving exhibitions on other Irish literary figures. With a range of audio and immersive displays, it has been nominated for and won a number of awards for design and architecture.

## History[edit]

The idea of a literary centre at Newman House began with a discussion between Eamonn Ceannt, Bursar / Vice-President for Capital Development of University College Dublin, and a representative of the National Library of Ireland, at Bewley's Café. The library no longer had a major display of its James Joyce materials, and the museum was originally conceived as an exposition of the work of Joyce, to be called The Ulysses Centre. Joyce himself had studied at both Newman House and the National Library. The charitable foundation of Martin Naughton and his wife funded an initial study, and after discussion with Failte Ireland, which offered to provide funding to the tune of 2.5 million euro,[6] the concept was expanded to take in Irish literature in general.[5] The Naughtons added further significant funding, amounting to nearly half the total,[2] and UCD raised 2.5 million euro of additional funds.[6] In formulating a name for the expanded project, a Joycean link was deemed important, so a name was devised, the acronym of which would relate to his work – hence MoLI[5] (pronounced "Molly"[4]) in homage to Molly Bloom.[5]

The Project Team comprised Eamonn Ceannt, Katherine McSharry (NLI) with UCD's Professor of Anglo-Irish Literature, Margaret Kelleher as the academic lead.[7] Ruth Ferguson, Newman House Curator, also worked on the project. The museum architectural project began in 2012,[8] and design was worked on from 2014, based on a conversion of the Newman House complex, the original home of University College Dublin, on St Stephen's Green. The exhibition design was developed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, with the architectural design by Scott Tallon Walker. Emphasis was placed on auditory material and potential for visitor interaction.[9]

The construction project budget was just over 10 million euro, for a floor area of 3,600 m2 (39,000 sq ft), of which about 500 m2 (5,400 sq ft) was new building, including a mezzanine addition. A major part of the work was the development of a museum-grade central stairway, a lift and modern fire escape provisions.[8] The overall final project cost was 11 million euro.[5]

The museum's first director is Simon O'Connor, who previously worked as part of the founding team of The Little Museum of Dublin.[4][5]

Originally planned to open in the spring of 2019,[6] MoLI was launched with an evening opening on Culture Night, 20 September 2019, attended by the Director of the National Library, the Chief Executive of Failte Ireland and the President of UCD,[7][9] with general opening from the following day,[10] 10:30 am to 6 pm daily, with late opening on Thursdays.[11] Admission is paid.[10]

## Experience and holdings[edit]

Newman House is a complex of two Georgian houses and the original university Aula Maxima (Great Hall), and all of this space, with some new "insertions", is used for the museum.[8] MoLI is laid out over three floors, each with a theme. The ground floor is themed place and contains immersive displays, the first voice and the second inspiration, which includes an area for visitors to produce their own work.[5][7]

MoLI is able to draw on the collections of the National Library, and the Special Collections of UCD Library. Two central elements of the exhibitions are Joyce's "Copy No. 1" of Ulysses,[5] which he inscribed to a patron, Harriet Weaver, and which she donated to the National Library of Ireland in 1952,[12] and the Riverrun of Language, named from the first word of Joyce's Finnegans Wake, which responds to visitor movements with "showers of sound" from work in both English and Irish over more than a thousand years.[13] The earliest piece is by a female author of around 900 AD, the latest from the present day.[13] Other work on display includes Joyce manuscript pages, some annotated, a letter from Joyce to William Butler Yeats and samples of Joyce's notebooks in a second-floor display aimed at inspiring visitors to create their own work.[5][7]

### Exhibitions[edit]

The first of MoLI's revolving exhibitions, in place for the opening, was on Kate O'Brien, and this was followed by one on Nuala O'Faolain. Also in place for the launch was a section on Young Adult Fiction, including general fiction, science fiction and fantasy.[14]

In March 2023, for the 100th anniversary of Brendan Behan´s birth, MoLi, in collaboration with novelist Patrick McCabe, opened The Holy Hour,[15] an audiovisual installation reframing Behan´s life and work.[16]

## Education[edit]

The museum planned from before opening for both a specialist research library and outreach programmes for adults and school children.[17]

## Garden and ancillary facilities[edit]

Ancillary public facilities are on the lower ground floor, while offices are on a closed third floor.[8] The museum's Readers Garden, which is also accessible from the Iveagh Gardens public park, contains a courtyard aspect of the café, places to read,[8] and a sculpture of a reading Jesuit.[7] Operation of the museum café, The Commons, on the lower ground floor, and planned to have direct access from the street and Iveagh Gardens,[8] is contracted to Peaches and Domini Kemp.[5] The museum shop is in the interior of the lower floor.[8]

## Governance and operations[edit]

The museum premises are owned by UCD, and it is a collaboration between the university and the National Library of Ireland.[4] It is operated by a UCD company, Newman House Literary Centre, CLG, which has a board of up to seven members, all unpaid: up to four delegates of UCD, two of the National Library, and an independent chair (appointed by UCD).[18]

The museum is headed by a director, supported by a Head of Operations, a Head of Learning and Culture, and a Digital Curator. Other staff include leads for visitor experience, retail, events and facilities.[19]

## Recognition[edit]

The design received an Honourable Mention from Creative Review magazine.[9] The museum won an Industrial Designers Society of America Gold Award in the Environments category in 2020.[20] It also won a MUSE Design Award for Interior Design in 2020,[13] and a Good Design (Environments) Award from The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.[21] The adaptation work on the building was a shortlisted nominee for the Public Choice Award of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland 2020.[22]

## Media[edit]

The design, building and launch of the museum were presented in a documentary, Making a Museum: The Story of MoLI, by Luke McManus, broadcast on RTÉ Television on Bloomsday 2020.[23]

The museum has had a digital radio station, RadioMoLI, from before its opening,[24] and a dedicated broadcasting room was planned.[17] For its reopening after COVID-19 pandemic closure, it produced a short film, primarily of its garden, based around a reading of a short piece from Time and the Gods by the Anglo-Irish writer Lord Dunsany.[25]

## See also[edit]

* James Joyce Centre
* James Joyce Tower and Museum

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Literature ventures making their presence felt beyond words". The Irish Times (sponsored feature, not editorial). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
2. ^ a b Hartnett, Rob. "MoLI makes weekend radio debut". Entertainment for Business. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
3. ^ "Hello MOLI - inside the new Museum Of Irish Literature". RTÉ News. 3 October 2019.
4. ^ a b c d "First look inside the new Museum of Literature Ireland". The Irish Times. 14 September 2019. "Exploring MoLI (say it out loud, and think of Molly Bloom is the idea)"
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Museum of Literature Ireland Director Simon O'Connor talks to us ahead of the opening of MoLI on Culture Night 2019". Totally Dublin. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2021. "...important that the project had a name that accurately described the activity ... that would communicate a strong brand ... gravitas ... openness ... and playfulness ... Joyce is at the core ... had to make a reference to Joyce in some way. ... But I think we hit the target with 'MoLI'. ... delighted that the museum was named for Joyce's heroine. The reaction to the name has been so overwhelmingly positive..."
6. ^ a b c "Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) to open Spring 2019". University College Dublin. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
7. ^ a b c d e Dinarque, Anais (13 April 2020). "Irish Literature: A New Immersive Museum in Dublin". Le Journal International. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
8. ^ a b c d e f g Scott Tallon Walker Architects; McCullough (FRIAI, reviewer), Niall (1 May 2020). "Museum of Literature Ireland". Architecture Ireland (311): 56–64.
9. ^ a b c "Ralph Appelbaum Associates: Museum of Literature Ireland". Creative Review. London, UK. 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
10. ^ a b Buder, Sarah (20 September 2019). "A James Joyce–Inspired Literary Museum Just Opened in Dublin". Afar Magazine. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
11. ^ "Where's MoLI (Opening times)". Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
12. ^ "James Joyce and Ulysses at the National Library of Ireland". National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
13. ^ a b c "Winner: Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)". MUSE Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
14. ^ Phillips, Libby (16 October 2019). "Museum of Literature Ireland: The past, present, and future of Irish writing". Trinity News. Dublin, Ireland.
15. ^ "The Holy Hour: A Requiem for Brendan Behan – MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland". moli.ie. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
16. ^ Melissa Carton, ed. (10 February 2023). "MoLI Celebrates Brendan Behan's Centenary with New Exhibition". OnlyMassive.ie. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
17. ^ a b Reynolds, Heather (22 April 2019). "Museum of Literature Ireland: A 21st century museum for 21st century Ireland". University Observer. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
18. ^ "Governance and Accountability". Museum of Literature Ireland. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
19. ^ "Our Team". Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
20. ^ "MoLi wins gold IDSA 2020 award". Coda to Coda. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
21. ^ "Good Design Awards - Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI)". The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
22. ^ "RIAI Awards 2020 Shortlisted Projects". The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
23. ^ "Making A Museum: The Story of MoLI". RTE. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
24. ^ Eithne, Shortall (3 February 2019). "MoLI set to bloom as Dublin literary museum's radio station goes live". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
25. ^ "In a Garden Meet Again". YouTube. Museum of Literature Ireland. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Newman House, Dublin.

* Official website
* Time-lapse video of the construction of the museum
* The museum's YouTube channel, with Videos about bursaries and awards

* v
* t
* e

Museums and galleries in the Republic of Ireland by province

Connacht|

* 126 Artist-run Gallery
* Arigna Mining Experience
* Battle of Aughrim Visitor Centre
* Castlerea Railway Museum
* Cavan and Leitrim Railway
* Connemara Heritage and History Centre
* Custom House Studios and Gallery
* Clew Bay Heritage Centre
* Galway City Museum
* Glengowla Mines
* Hamilton Gallery
* James Mitchell Geology Museum
* The Model, Sligo
* National Famine Museum & Strokestown Park
* National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
* Roscommon County Museum
* Sligo County Museum

Munster|

* Allihies Copper Mine Museum
* Clare Museum
* Cobh Heritage Centre
* Cobh Museum
* Cork Butter Museum
* Cork Public Museum
* Craggaunowen
* Crawford Art Gallery
* Garda College Museum and Visitor Centre
* Hunt Museum
* Jameson Experience, Midleton
* Kerry County Museum
* Lewis Glucksman Gallery
* Limerick City Museum
* Ormston House
* The People's Museum of Limerick
* Tipperary Museum of Hidden History
* Waterford County Museum
* Waterford Museum of Treasures

Leinster|

| Dublin|

* 14 Henrietta Street
* An Post Museum
* Casino Model Railway Museum
* Chester Beatty Library
* Commissioners of Irish Lights Museum (Baily Lighthouse)
* The Custom House
* Douglas Hyde Gallery
* Dublin Castle
* Dublinia
* Dublin Writers Museum
* EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
* Garda Museum
* Glasnevin Cemetery
* Guinness Storehouse
* Hugh Lane Gallery
* Irish Jewish Museum
* Irish Museum of Modern Art
* The Museum Flat (Iveagh Trust)
* James Joyce Centre
* James Joyce Tower and Museum
* Jameson Distillery Bow St.
* Kerlin Gallery
* Kilmainham Gaol
* Little Museum of Dublin
* Marsh's Library
* Museum of Literature Ireland
* National Gallery of Ireland
* National Leprechaun Museum
* National Library of Ireland
* National Maritime Museum of Ireland
* National Museum of Ireland (Archaeology · Decorative Arts and History · Natural History)
* National Photographic Archive
* National Print Museum
* National Transport Museum of Ireland
* National Wax Museum Plus
* Number Twenty Nine: Georgian House Museum
* Olivier Cornet Gallery
* Oriel Gallery
* Pallas Projects/Studios
* Pearse Museum
* PhotoIreland
* Project Arts Centre
* Revenue Museum (Dublin Castle)
* Richmond Barracks
* Royal Hibernian Academy
* Science Gallery
* Taylor Galleries
* Temple Bar Gallery and Studios
* Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio

|

* Arklow Maritime Museum
* Avondale House
* Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
* Brú na Bóinne
* Carlow County Museum
* County Carlow Military Museum
* County Museum Dundalk
* Dunamaise Arts Centre
* Dwyer–McAllister Cottage
* Enniscorthy Castle
* Highlanes Gallery
* Horse Museum (Irish National Stud)
* Irish Agricultural Museum
* Irish National Heritage Park
* Luan Gallery
* Museum of Style Icons
* National 1798 Rebellion Centre
* National Science Museum at Maynooth
* Russborough House
* The Steam Museum
* Wicklow Gaol

Ulster|

* Cavan County Museum
* Donegal County Museum
* Donegal Railway Heritage Centre
* Monaghan County Museum

* v
* t
* e

James Joyce

Works|

| Novels|

* A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)
* Ulysses (1922)
* Finnegans Wake (1939)

|

Short stories|

* Dubliners (1914, written 1904–07)
* "The Sisters"
* "Eveline"
* "After the Race"
* "An Encounter"
* "Araby"
* "The Boarding House"
* "Counterparts"
* "Clay"
* "A Painful Case"
* "Ivy Day in the Committee Room"
* "A Mother"
* "Two Gallants"
* "A Little Cloud"
* "Grace"
* "The Dead"

Play|

* Exiles (1918)

Poetry|

* Chamber Music (1907)
* Pomes Penyeach (1927)

Posthumous
publications|

* Stephen Hero (1944)
* Giacomo Joyce (1968)
* The Cats of Copenhagen (2012)
* Finn's Hotel (2013)

Adaptations|

* Ulysses in Nighttown (1958 play)
* Ulysses (1967 film)
* A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1977 film)
* Ulysses (1982 broadcast)
* The Dead (1987 film)
* James Joyce's The Dead (1999 musical)
* Bloom (2003 film)
* Waywords and Meansigns (2015–2017 audio)

Related|

* Harriet Shaw Weaver
* Obscenity trial of Ulysses in The Little Review
* United States v. One Book Called Ulysses
* Bellsybabble
* Bloomsday
* James Joyce Award
* James Joyce Centre
* James Joyce Tower and Museum
* Museum of Literature Ireland
* Quark
* Volta Cinematograph
* Zürich James Joyce Foundation

Scholars of|

* Anthony Burgess
* Frank Delaney
* Richard Ellmann
* Alan Warren Friedman
* Francisco García Tortosa
* Stuart Gilbert
* Adaline Glasheen
* Michael Groden
* Hugh Kenner
* Ira Nadel
* David Norris
* William H. Quillian
* C. George Sandulescu
* Fritz Senn
* John Simpson
* Ronald Symond
* William York Tindall
* José María Valverde
* Ernst von Glasersfeld

Academic
works about|

* Hamlet and the New Poetic: James Joyce and T. S. Eliot
* James Joyce (biography)
* James Joyce Quarterly
* Joysprick
* Our Exagmination Round His Factification for Incamination of Work in Progress
* A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake

Family|

* Nora Barnacle (wife)
* Lucia Joyce (daughter)
* John Stanislaus Joyce (father)
* Stanislaus Joyce (brother)
* Stephen James Joyce (grandson)
* Mary Gertrude Joyce (sister)

* v
* t
* e

Ulysses by James Joyce

Characters|

* Leopold Bloom
* Molly Bloom
* Stephen Dedalus
* Buck Mulligan
* The Citizen

Locations|

* Davy Byrne's pub
* Glasnevin Cemetery
* Howth Castle and Environs
* Sandycove Martello Tower
* Monto
* Sandymount Strand
* Sweny's Pharmacy
* National Library of Ireland
* Museum of Literature Ireland

Analysis|

* Gilbert schema
* Linati schema

Adaptations|

* Ulysses in Nighttown (1958 play)
* Ulysses (1967 film)
* Ulysses (1982 broadcast)
* Blooms of Dublin (1982 operetta)
* "The Sensual World" (1989 song)
* Bloom (2003 film)
* "Air War" (2007 song)
* Ulysses "Seen" (2012 graphic novel)

Other|

* Bloomsday
* Lilac Bloomsday Run
* Obscenity trial of Ulysses in The Little Review
* United States v. One Book Called Ulysses

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