Memories swirl as Dublin’s Kevin Street Library reopens

Memories of times gone by swirled around Kevin Street Library in Dublin 8 on Wednesday as it officially reopened after being closed for five years while undergoing long-needed renovations.

Sisters Christine and Assumpta Broe grew up nearby – their father had a shop on Dean Street – and as they looked around they recalled their introduction to books in the library, which has been a fixture in the community since 1904.

Assumpta, who became a science teacher, remembers that as soon as she could read she wanted “big fat books with loads of writing. No pictures.”

Christine, who has published books of her poetry, recalled how she started out reading the stories of Enid Blyton. She remembered hiding the next Blyton book she wanted to read under a library shelf – as you could only borrow one book at a time – for safe keeping.

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Exhibition space

Poet Gerard Smyth, who grew up nearby, recalled sitting in what is today the children’s library, where he said he “first started reading poetry seriously”.

The library, which closed in 2013, was officially reopened on Wednesday following the completion of a €3.9 million modernisation and refurbishment, which has created a spacious library, a bright children’s library (featuring a slide), a new exhibition space and improved accessibility for those visiting.

Dublin City Council architects co-ordinated the redesign for 21st-century use but the project protected many original features including the Victorian weather vane, exterior brick work, fireplaces and interior wood panelling.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring and Minister for Community Development Michael Ring were on hand but the public have been coming and going since July 25th. Since then almost 800 people have joined, 1,500 have renewed their library accounts, and 10,000 items have been borrowed.

Locals

The Minister, whose department provided €1 million for the project, said the facility would “act as a hub of educational, cultural, information and civic engagement within the southeast area of the city and further afield”.

Many locals came along to see what had changed and were entertained by children from the nearby St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, Synge Street CBS, St Patrick’s Grammar School and Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount.

Acting Dublin city librarian Brendan Teeling was “delighted the local community has taken the library back into their hearts, making this a place full of life, learning, and a lot of laughter”.

The Lord Mayor said Dubliners “have been using this library since it first opened in 1904 and with this beautiful restoration and modernisation we can be sure that future generations will have the benefit of this facility for many years to come”.