Ireland’s Best Libraries

I don’t have to look very far to find treasure. It’s just as far as a library.

You know what they say, digital reading is all fun and games, but there is a sacred beauty to holding a book in your hand and letting it speak to you. If you haven’t tried this before, go ahead and take a light stroll to your nearest library. You’d know what I’m talking about once you sit in a corner between shelves and shelves of books stacked on top of each other left and right. In fact, several authors have drawn inspiration from libraries ever since the first book made its way into those shelves. In fact, the esteemed author, Susan Orlean, wrote an entire book, titled ‘The Library Book’ on how libraries drove her to be brave and pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. But how do you find out which library would prove to be the right reading palace for you? There are so many of them in every city! Well, that’s why we’re here! This StarInsights report provides a comprehensive analysis of the top-rated and most-reviewed libraries in Ireland, allowing you to pick and choose which library’s ambiance intrigues you the most.

Overview into libraries

You can find libraries, both public and private, in each and every city across Europe. With about 65000 public libraries, Europe is said to be the leading continent in the number of libraries. Nordic countries even consider them as symbols of freedom of expression, literature, and the equality that anyone can walk in those doors, pick up a book and start learning. To put it differently, the library industry is a rather significant one in Europe. Unfortunately, the industry doesn’t seem to be doing so well ever since the technology revolution of this century. Just 2 years ago, the UK announced a cut of 6 million pounds on the library sector to fund other facilities that seem more pressing. In fact, librarians are becoming obsolete by the minute, and the profession becoming less respected every single day. This is rather unfortunate, since several librarians of the 1800s liked their job so much that they eventually went ahead and tried their hand at writing. Therefore, we urge all binge readers to play their role in reviving this industry. Take your children to libraries, or tell them stories like Matilda. To put it differently, it is on us to keep the library legacy running and have its doors open for the next generations.

Speaking of Ireland specifically, there are over 330 libraries on the island. So, without further ado, let’s get to some statistics on the best libraries out there. By the end of this report, we hope you’ve found your library of choice in Ireland.

Best Rated Libraries in Ireland

Library	Rating	Number of Reviews
Marsh’s Library	4.9	126
Deansgrange Library	4.9	78
County Library	4.8	48
Baldoyle Library	4.8	53
Leixlip Library	4.8	41
Kevin Street Library	4.7	32
Cabra Library	4.7	58
Drumcondra Library	4.7	45
Clondalkin Library	4.7	31

 

Most Reviewed Libraries in Ireland

Library	Rating	Number of Reviews
Trinity College Library	4.5	596
LexIcon Library and Cultural Centre	4.4	199
Marsh’s Library	4.9	126
National Library of Ireland	4.2	124
Central Library	4.1	108
Pearse Street Library	4.1	108
Blanchardstown Library	4.4	104
James Joyce Library University College Dublin	4.3	82
Ballyroan Library	4.4	81

For the purpose of this analysis, data were obtained from the Google Business Profile on September 4, 2022. Based on these numbers, the top three libraries in Ireland in terms of ratings are Marsh’s Library, Deansgrange Library, and County Library with a 4.9-star rating. All three of these libraries are relatively new and differ in the number of reviews. Marsh’s Library tops the list with 126 reviews, followed by Deansgrange Library at 78 and County Library with 48 reviews. The fact that these relatively new libraries have managed to gather reviews shows that they are succeeding in bringing people to their doors. Therefore, kudos to them for their efforts in reviving the industry.

In terms of the number of reviews, the Trinity College Library tops the list with over 500 reviews and a respectable 4.5-star rating. This is followed by the LexIcon Library and Cultural Centre with 199 reviews and 4.4 rating stars. Next comes Marsh’s Library, the lead on the best-rated list, with 126 reviews and a 4.9-star rating. Overall, applause goes to all these libraries for being in the top 10 of both lists!

As mentioned before in this report, this industry is on the decline. Hence, we urge you to get your families out and visit your nearest library. Any improvement in these numbers (we hope so) will be reflected in our following report!