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‘We Entered History & Ignorance’: Derry in the 1940s

Date
-
Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66
Category Event
Price Free
Date
-
Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66
Category Event
Price Free
A black and white image of Margaret Heaney and her children, including Seamus
In Person

This Dublin Festival of History, travel back to 1940s Derry at Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again.

The County Derry that Seamus Heaney grew up in had door-to-door grocery vans, ration books, water pumps, and the radio as the gateway to the world. It was a time of childhood innocence in the midst of significant social change with American troops stationed in the local Toome Aerodrome in preparation for the Normandy landings and the enactment of the Education Act in 1947, changes that had a direct impact on Heaney’s life. Through memories shared in interviews, letters and within his poetry, join us at Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again on Saturday 26th September to discover life in the Derry of his childhood, a time which would forever inspire him. 

 

 

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    Dublin By Dusk | Live Aid Exhibition

    Date 28 May 2026 – 25 March 2027
    Location National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Dublin, D02 WF85
    Category Event
    Price Free. No Booking Required.
    Date 28 May 2026 – 25 March 2027
    Location National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Dublin, D02 WF85
    Category Event
    Price Free. No Booking Required.
    People dancing
    In Person

    Dublin by Dusk is a new city wide initiative that invites you to experience Dublin city as it stays open late on the last Thursday of every month

    Enjoy a visit to the Live Aid Exhibition at the NPA, open from 5:00pm to 8:30pm (last admission at 8:15pm). Located in Temple Bar, the exhibition will feature iconic 80s music from the Live Aid concerts in Wembley and Philadelphia, creating a truly immersive listening experience.

    The exhibition will remain open until 8.30pm on the last Thursday of each month.

    Dates below:
    28 May 2026
    25 June 2026
    30 July 2026
    27 August 2026
    24 September 2026
    29 October 2026
    26 November 2026
    28 January 2027
    25 February 2027
    25 March 2027

    As part of the programme the Reading Room and the Yeats Exhibition at the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street will also stay open late. See more details here.

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      Dublin By Dusk | Kildare Street After-hours

      Visit the Reading Room and enjoy talks, tours and more at the NLI
      Recurring the last Thursday of every month.
      Date
      -
      Location National Library of Ireland, 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin, D02 P638
      Category Event
      Price Free. No Booking Required.
      Date
      -
      Location National Library of Ireland, 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin, D02 P638
      Category Event
      Price Free. No Booking Required.
      image of reading room at night time
      In Person

      Dublin by Dusk is a new city wide initiative that invites you to experience Dublin city as it stays open late on the last Thursday of every month

      Reading Room:

      The Reading Room will remain open until 8:30pm on the last Thursday of each month.

      Explore one of Ireland’s great literary spaces, usually reserved for researchers with an NLI Reader’s Ticket. 

      Visit the iconic Reading Room at the National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street, open from 5:00pm to 8:30pm (last admission at 8:15pm), and experience the historic building after hours. All are welcome, no booking required.

      Dates below:
      28 May 2026
      25 June 2026
      30 July 2026 
      27 August 2026
      24 September 2026 - Twilight Talks
      29 October 2026
      26 November 2026
      28 January 2027
      25 February 2027
      25 March 2027
       

      Exhibition:

      For the full NLI programme of events, including live performances, talks and tours, please see here.

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        The Day The World Rocked | Live Aid

        A Guided Tour of the latest National Photographic Archive Exhibition
        Date 2pm | Friday & 11am | Saturday
        Location National Photographic Archive , Meeting House Square, Dublin
        Category Tour
        Price Free. No Booking Required.
        Date 2pm | Friday & 11am | Saturday
        Location National Photographic Archive , Meeting House Square, Dublin
        Category Tour
        Price Free. No Booking Required.
        A female tour guide smiles and gestures while speaking to a small group of visitors in front of a large exhibition wall featuring iconic concert photographs. A prominent image of Freddie Mercury, shirtless and performing with a microphone dominates the display, with additional photos of other musicians arranged around it. The visitors are seen from behind, focused on the guide during the tour.
        In Person

        "For a brief, brief moment everything seemed possible."

        Join us at the National Photographic Archive located in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar every Friday at 2pm and Saturday at 11am, for a free guided tour, to step back in time to one extraordinary day in 1985 - when music, media and humanity collided on a global scale, described by Bob Geldof, as making him feel that  "For a brief, brief moment everything seemed possible."

        Discover images and stories from Live Aid part of the Band Aid Trust Archive, donated  by Bob Geldof to the National Library of Ireland, capturing this extraordinary experience - two concerts simultaneously taking place in London and Philadelphia, with many of the greatest Pop and Rock performers of the time, with the ambition to feed the world.

        From Status Quo to Joan Baez, Queen to Phil Collins and U2 to Madonna, get ready to rock on a tour where we will relive a day where music really did change the world. 

        • The Live Aid exhibition is open to the public daily (10:00am – 4:00pm) in Temple Bar. Free entry, no booking required.
        • Read more about the 'Dublin by Dusk' late opening here (monthly from 28 May 2026).

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          Live Aid Exhibition | Programme of Events

          November and December events
          Location Various Locations: National Library 7-8 Kildare St.; National Photographic Archive Temple Bar
          Category Event Exhibition
          Price Free
          Location Various Locations: National Library 7-8 Kildare St.; National Photographic Archive Temple Bar
          Category Event Exhibition
          Price Free
          80s style image of title
          In Person

          This winter, the National Library of Ireland marks the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, the global concerts that united 1.6 billion viewers in July 1985.

          Our new exhibition at the National Photographic Archive, Temple Bar, showcases striking photographs from the Band Aid Trust Archive. It offers a rare chance to revisit the atmosphere, scale and impact of this extraordinary cultural moment.

          It is a chance to see the photographic record of the artists who took part in the ‘Global Jukebox’ and view a specially commissioned short film using more of the NLI stills to capture the incredible experience shared on one day by 1.6 billion people viewing it across the world. Four decades on from the legendary 1985 concerts in London and Philadelphia to the smaller ones in Australia, Japan and the Netherlands, recapture the creativity, community and spirit of the original concerts.

          Events

          ► Ethiopian Coffee + DJ

          Saturday 15 November, 2-4 p.m. | National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar

          Free. Drop-in (arrive early if you want to be guaranteed a coffee).

           

          ► Ethiopia Partnership Day

          Saturday, 22 November, 1.30–4.00 p.m. | National Library of Ireland Main Building, Kildare Street

          Free. Booking essential. 

           

          ► 80s Silent Disco

          Thursday, 27 November, 6.30–8.30 p.m.  | National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar

          Free. Registration essential. 

           

          ► Seanchoíche: Storytelling Night

          Thursday, 4 December, 6.30–10.00 p.m. | National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar 

          Tickets for this event have booked out - wait list only 

           

          ► Lunchtime Curator’s Tours | Live Aid Exhibition 

          1-2p.m., Tues. 25 Nov., Tues. 2 Dec., and Tues. 9 Dec. | National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar

          Free. Booking essential. 

            If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us at learning@nli.ie.

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            Live Aid Exhibition

            Date Running until 2027 | 10am–4pm Monday to Sunday, last admission 3.30pm
            Location National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Dublin, D02 WF85
            Category Exhibition
            Price Free
            Date Running until 2027 | 10am–4pm Monday to Sunday, last admission 3.30pm
            Location National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Dublin, D02 WF85
            Category Exhibition
            Price Free
            live aid logo
            In Person

            In this exhibition, more than seventy photographs and images have been carefully curated from the Band Aid Trust Archive, generously donated to the National Library of Ireland (NLI) in 2017.

            Through a series of striking displays, the exhibition brings audiences on a visual journey of the Live Aid concerts, capturing the behind-the-scenes preparations, atmosphere and iconic performances by bands and artists on both sides of the Atlantic as the day unfolded.

            From Status Quo, U2 and David Bowie in London, to Black Sabbath and Run DMC in Philadelphia Live Aid at the National Library of Ireland immerses visitors in the scale and spirit of this iconic event from the intimacy of the National Photographic Archive.

            • This free exhibition opens to the public daily (10:00am – 4:00pm)
            • Free guided tours every Friday 2pm and Saturday 11am. 
            • Read more about the 'Dublin by Dusk' late opening here (monthly from 28 May 2026).

            New exhibition location now open in Killarney, located in the Government Offices. Open to the public Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm.

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              Daily Tours | Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again

              Date Monday to Saturday | 11:30am and 2pm
              Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66
              Category Event Tour
              Price Free, booking NOT required
              Date Monday to Saturday | 11:30am and 2pm
              Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, D02 VR66
              Category Event Tour
              Price Free, booking NOT required
              Visitor walking through the exhibition
              In Person

              Join our informative exhibition guides for our daily tours of 'Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again' at 11:30am and 2pm from Monday to Saturday.

              Happening every day from Monday to Saturday at 11:30am and 2pm,  enjoy a fascinating journey exploring the highlights of Heaney's archive of the National Library of Ireland, from his rural origins through to his remarkable career as a poet.

              During the Easter school holidays, we will also be highlighting our exhibition booklets for families—designed to help younger visitors explore the exhibition in a fun, interactive, and accessible way.

              Booking is not required.

                If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us at heaneyexhibition@nli.ie

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                Exhibition | Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats

                Date Permanent Exhibition | Open Monday to Sunday
                Location National Library of Ireland, 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 P638
                Category Exhibition
                Price Free, booking not required
                Date Permanent Exhibition | Open Monday to Sunday
                Location National Library of Ireland, 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 P638
                Category Exhibition
                Price Free, booking not required
                WB Yeats wearing a suit, seated in a chair and leaning slightly on a cane

                William Butler Yeats (INDH3464)

                In Person

                Experience our award-winning exhibition on William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), one of the great writers of the 20th century and a significant influence on modern Irish cultural identity. The exhibition is comprised of items from the National Library of Ireland’s Yeats Collection, the largest collections of books, manuscripts, and personal items relating to WB Yeats in the world.

                The exhibition touches on Yeats’s many interests – Ireland, literature, folklore, theatre, politics, mysticism, and the occult. Some highlights include manuscripts of many of Yeats’s most beloved poems including “The Lake Isle of Inisfree” and “Easter, 1916”, his Nobel Prize medal, personal artefacts – from Yeats’s school reports to a cherished carved piece of lapis lazuli – remarkable photographs of Yeats and his family and friends, and much more.

                This exhibition is made possible by the generosity of the Yeats family in donating these wonderful items to the NLI.

                Permanent Exhibition, Open Monday to Sunday

                Monday, Thursday & Friday, 9.30am - 5pm, last admission 4.30pm

                Tuesday - Wednesday, 9.30am - 7pm, last admission 6.30pm

                Saturday - Sunday, 9.30am - 5pm, last admission 4:45pm

                Public Holiday Mondays, 12pm - 5pm, last admission 4:45pm

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                  Exhibition | Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again

                  Step into the World of Seamus Heaney
                  Date Running until 2027 | 10am–4pm Monday to Saturday, last admission 3.30pm | Closed on Bank Holidays
                  Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, D02 VR66
                  Category Exhibition
                  Price Free, booking not required
                  Date Running until 2027 | 10am–4pm Monday to Saturday, last admission 3.30pm | Closed on Bank Holidays
                  Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, D02 VR66
                  Category Exhibition
                  Price Free, booking not required
                  image of doorway
                  In Person

                  Experience the poet’s life, work, and imagination through his desk, manuscripts, and personal treasures.

                  Enter the life and imagination of Seamus Heaney, Ireland’s Nobel Prize–winning poet, and experience the forces—both personal and cultural—that shaped his extraordinary work. This immersive exhibition invites you to walk alongside Heaney through the moments, memories, and inspirations that defined his life.

                  At the center of the experience is Heaney’s own writing desk, a quiet witness to his creative process. Surrounding it are original manuscripts, letters, unpublished works, diary entries, photographs, personal artefacts, and multimedia recordings—each offering a window into the mind of one of the 20th century’s greatest poets.

                  Enhance your visit by joining one of our daily guided tours at 11:30 am and 2 pm, offering deeper insights into the exhibition’s highlights. Larger groups are also warmly welcomed, and advance bookings can be arranged for a tailored experience.

                  Drawn from the extensive archive generously donated by Heaney and his family to the National Library of Ireland in 2011, the exhibition brings his legacy vividly to life.

                  Curated by Professor Geraldine Higgins, Director of Irish Studies at Emory University, it is presented in partnership with the National Library of Ireland, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Bank of Ireland, blending scholarship, creativity, and cultural heritage in one unforgettable journey.

                    If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us at heaneyexhibition@nli.ie

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                    December In-Person Tours | Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again

                    December in-person tours
                    Date Tuesday, December 6th, 13th, and 20th | 11am-12pm
                    Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Bank of Ireland Cultural & Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Co. Dublin, D02 VR66
                    Category Tour
                    Price Free; booking not required
                    Date Tuesday, December 6th, 13th, and 20th | 11am-12pm
                    Location Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, Bank of Ireland Cultural & Heritage Centre, Westmoreland Street, Co. Dublin, D02 VR66
                    Category Tour
                    Price Free; booking not required
                    image of a woman looking at computer
                    In Person

                    Every Tuesday, join our exhibition guides for a tour of 'Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again'.

                    Enjoy a fascinating journey exploring the highlights of Heaney's archive, from his rural origins through to his remarkable career as a poet.

                      If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us at heaneyexhibition@nli.ie

                      Visit

                      Getting Here Opening Hours Reader Registration Accessibility
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