- Fascinating glimpse into the work, life and times of Ireland's national poet William Butler Yeats.
- Background information makes Yeats more accessible.
- Unique opportunity to study Yeats first-hand.
- Excellent use of space and multimedia.
- Ultimately only for those interested in Yeats or (at least) Irish literature.
- No access to library proper.
- The National Library of Ireland was established in 1877, but harks back to the library of the Royal Dublin Society (1731).
- The library building in Kildare Street was opened in 1890 with a large, domed reading room.
- Most of the material in the Yeats Exhibition has been donated to the library by the Yeats familiy.
- The National Library of Ireland holds the largest Yeats collection in existence.
The first thing you notice after entering the National Library is ... that you won't get in. Unless you hold a readers card or a temporary pass (enquire at the information desk to find out how to get one). The way to the Yeats Exhibition is to the right, access is free and unhindered.
And the first thing you will notice there is a sort of temple, an octagonal structure within which you can enjoy Yeats Nobel Prize-winning poetry in a multimedia presentation. And the (sizeable) rest of the exhibition is very multimedia-oriented as well.
And sometimes confusing - the room is divided into multiple sections, rooms are created on the peripherie (the Abbey Theatre, a library, a "magic" space). And you are constantly listening to those little voices. Not in your head, but the whisperings of literally dozens of readings from Yeats' works, notes and other documents.
The focus stays mainly on the works and writings of Yeats, his artistic legacy. But his life is also explored - from his ill-fated infatuation with Maud Gonne to his artistic parents and siblings, from the artwork in his books and on their covers to his involvement in the Order of the Golden Dawn.
Overall impressive and well laid-out, with the multimedia exhibits setting the tone but not dominating, and sometimes welll worth the visit alone - Yeats reflections on the Easter Rising become very poignant when you read them on a background of flames.
