President Catherine Connolly opens Ireland’s home for poetry and heritage at No. 11 Parnell Square

Ireland's President, Catherine Connolly, has officially opened No. 11 Parnell Square in Dublin, unveiling a newly restored cultural home for poetry, heritage, and public engagement in the heart of the city. The Georgian building, long steeped in Irish history, has been transformed through a €5.5 million conservation and restoration program that aims to secure its future while honoring its past.

The reopening marks a major milestone for Poetry Ireland and the Irish Heritage Trust, which now share the building with the Irish Landmark Trust. Backed by State support, philanthropy, and careful conservation work led by McCullough Mulvin Architects, the project has brought new life to one of Dublin’s most storied addresses.

Among the most significant additions is the Seamus Heaney Poetry Library, which will house the late poet’s private collection from his study, generously bequeathed by his family to Poetry Ireland. It will also include the Austin Clarke Poetry Collection and a broader contemporary poetry library gathered over the past five decades, creating a space intended for reading, study, inspiration, and connection.

No. 11 Parnell Square in Dublin.

Speaking at the opening, President Connolly said, “It is an honour to officially open Number 11 Parnell Square as it becomes Ireland’s home for poetry and heritage.

As President of Ireland, I warmly welcome the new life which the Irish Heritage Trust and Poetry Ireland/Éigse Éireann will breathe into this beautifully restored Georgian building, one which already holds almost three centuries of history.

Arts and cultural organisations have so often in the past been marginalised and forced into peripheral and sometimes inaccessible spaces. I am particularly pleased that the newly restored building will over the decades to come be an inclusive space where local communities are welcomed, where stories are shared, and where our past and heritage are woven thoughtfully into the present and the future.”

The redevelopment was funded in large part through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund under Project Ireland 2040, which contributed €3.9 million. An additional €1.55 million came from philanthropy and other sources. The work was completed within budget and included a full replacement of the roof, conservation of the Georgian façade, structural and safety upgrades, accessibility improvements, and energy efficiency measures that helped achieve an A3 Building Energy Rating.

James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said the building sits at the center of Dublin’s Georgian core and described the project as a valuable addition to the city’s cultural and built heritage. “No. 11 Parnell Square East is at the heart of Dublin’s Georgian core, and I am proud that this redevelopment and refurbishment has been made possible through funding from my Department’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. This building’s conservation and the preservation of its architectural heritage represent a significant addition to the built and cultural heritage of this part of Dublin City. No 11 Parnell Square East has a storied past and through this renovation, it can now continue on with a renewed purpose. State support for this building through URDF funding is now also a part of its story, and I hope that No 11 Parnell Square East will serve as an exemplar to future projects under this scheme.”

Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, also welcomed the opening, calling the conservation of the building a meaningful investment in Ireland’s cultural infrastructure. He said the project would strengthen the cultural quarter around Parnell Square and praised the organizations behind it for their work on behalf of the public.

The Irish Heritage Trust said the restoration returns the property to the heart of Dublin’s north inner city and secures its long-term future. Its chair, Ger Aherne, said the organization was honored to serve as custodian of the building and thanked Fingal County Council for entrusting it with the site’s future.

For Poetry Ireland, the opening represents both a homecoming and a new beginning. John O’Donnell, chairperson of Poetry Ireland, said, "The opening of Ireland’s Home for Poetry and Heritage, No. 11 Parnell Square, marks a deeply significant moment for poetry in Ireland. This remarkable building, with its rich, layered past, is now transformed into a living, breathing home for poetry on this island. In partnership with the Irish Heritage Trust, we are proud to have shaped this space that brings poetry into the heart of civic life and will help us in our mission to connect poetry and people. With the establishment of The Seamus Heaney Poetry Library, we honour one of Ireland's greatest poets, while creating a lasting resource for future generations of readers and writers."

The building itself carries a layered past. Once leased by Richard Steele and later remodeled by John Butler MP, it became part of Dublin County Council’s civic history in the 20th century and was also the setting for James Joyce’s “Ivy Day in the Committee Room” in Dubliners. Its restored Council Chamber now holds archival maps and carefully conserved interiors, including parquet floors, ornate plasterwork, and period details that reflect the building’s changing life over more than 300 years.

For more information visit IrishHeritageTrust.ie and PoetryIreland.ie.