MacSwiney had been arrested and interned or imprisoned many times, but following his arrest in August 1920 he went on hunger strike.

Artefacts from the collections of the National Library of Ireland reveal how MacSwiney’s slow death was a terrible personal tragedy for his family, and a critical event in the War of Independence. It was also a powerful international propaganda coup for the cause of Irish independence, and a moral and political nightmare for the British government.

Heaney's own writing desk is the focal point of an experience that explores Heaney’s creative process through original manuscripts, as well as letters, unpublished works, diary entries, photographs, personal artefacts and multimedia recordings. 

This exhibition draws on the extensive archive that Seamus Heaney and his family donated to the National Library of Ireland in 2011. 

Curated by Professor Geraldine Higgins, Director of Irish Studies at Emory University, this exhibition was created in partnership between the NLI, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Bank of Ireland.

Booking a Group Visit

If you would like to book a free guided group visit to Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again, please send an email to heaneyexhibition@nli.ie or call 01 670 6153 and a member of our Team will be in touch with you. You can find out more about our group offerings by visiting our Learn section. We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition.

From Turmoil to Truce: Photographs of the War of Independence explores key aspects of the Irish War of Independence through the National Library of Ireland’s photographic collections. 

Ireland is a dangerous place in 1920 and 1921. Across the country, repressive British Forces are ranged against increasingly agile, aggressive IRA units. In between those opposing sides are ordinary people trying to live in extraordinary times.

The exhibition draws on 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.

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

Exhibition opening hours

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 4.30pm) Public Holiday Mondays: 12pm - 5pm (last admission 4.30pm)