A Family Literary Tour of Dublin
Written by Niamh Martin
Have fun discovering literary treasures for children in Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature.
Table of Contents
Mythical Ireland
As we turn to leave, a friendly looking man in a big green hat whispers gently, “don’t annoy the fairies”. And with a wink and a grin, he is gone! We are in Dublin and have just taken a tour of the National Leprechaun Museum, situated in the city centre.
The 45-minute tour here is a great introduction to Irish Myths, Folklore and Legends for families (aged 6+). We discover from our tour storyteller why Leprechauns are only found in Ireland and why fairies chose Ireland as the place to go underground. The sense of enchantment here makes us tingle as we make our way through “the other world” hearing stories, some of which are true, we are told, but all of which are real. It feels magical, and very typical of our encounters in this enchanting city.
Outdoor Fun
Dublin is brimming with centuries of storytelling and mythology and we don’t have to look far for literary-related family activities in this very walkable city. Across the River Liffey, we seek out “The Giant’s Garden”, a playground on Merrion Square named after a story by illustrious writer Oscar Wilde. Inspired by mythology, “The Selfish Giant” is a moral tale about what can be gained by thinking of others and ends with the Giant allowing the children into his garden. As we approach the playground, loud peels of children’s laughter ring out. It’s a wonderful noise and we immediately feel our spirits rise a couple of notches – just as the Giant’s must have too. Across the road is Oscar Wilde House, a museum, where Oscar lived and was inspired to write this story.
Modern Irish Children’s Writers
With our tummies rumbling, we visit the Museum of Literature Ireland (nicknamed MoLI, after Molly Bloom from Joyce’s Ulysses). Located on busy St. Stephen’s Green, we find a secret garden and excellent café within, providing unusually peaceful surroundings in the centre of a capital city. We explore the museum and make the most of the family-friendly Litlab (on level four), where children are encouraged to get creative, write their own stories or produce some artwork. The older kids soak up the children’s exhibitions and displays of Irish young adult writers such as Derek Landy (Skulduggery Pleasant) and Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl). MoLI is a superb place to get a better understanding of just how deep literature is embedded in Ireland’s DNA. It’s a place where past and present Irish literary worlds exist simultaneously. Don’t leave without seeing the first unbound edition of Ulysses.
Goths and Ghouls
As evening approaches, we go to the Viking area of Dublin and its dark, brooding streets to see what inspired Bram Stoker’s Gothic classic, Dracula. For older kids, a visit to the crypts at St. Michan’s Church will delight. Here, five long burial vaults show mummified remains of Dublin’s most influential families (from 1600-1800). Stoker is known to have visited St. Michan’s, perhaps feeding his fertile imagination about the afterlife! Just 10 minutes walk away is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, was Dean. A guided tour reveals Swift’s tomb and highly entertaining stories explaining why he wrote his satirical story that has become a children’s classic.
Our base is Motel One, located opposite Jervis tram stop on Abbey Street. The hotel is themed on Ulysses, making it a perfect stay for a literary tour of the city. For families who enjoy books, Dublin is simply a wonderland, where literature feels like something you can take part in. Have fun spotting the numerous writer’s statues dotted around the city, the bridges named after two Nobel Literature Laureates and the famed bookshops (Winding Stair, Chapters, Books Upstairs).
You can even share a pizza with some famous writers (see Milano’s restaurant on Dawson Street)! Go see the extensive wall mural covering the restaurant, featuring Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett.
Need to Know
Tours of St. Michan’s Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, on a drop-in basis with tickets purchased on arrival. No website available but email office@stmichanschurch.ie for further details.
Book a slot online to see the Book of Kells. It is being rehoused within Trinity College Dublin until 2026, while the Old Library is being redeveloped. The Book of Kells is a 9th-century illustrated manuscript of the Bible.
