A Place of Stories

A Place of Stories is an audio journey through Ireland's first public library, Marsh's Library; an atmospheric meander through a hidden realm of knowledge and curiosities. Marsh's Library, opened in 1707, is home to some of the rarest books in the world. The interior of the library has remained largely unchanged over the past 300 plus years. The building is one of only a handful of 18th-century buildings in Ireland that are still used for their original purpose. The library contains a collection of over 25,000 books and 300 manuscripts from the late Renaissance and early Enlightenment periods including 387 books of which there is no other known copy in the world. It's also a resource that still has wonders to be discovered, such as recently discovered fragments of ancient chant music hidden for centuries in the binding of some of its books. We hear how these notes have inspired musician Sam Kavanagh as he breathes new life into them. That is the spirit of this magical place; Century old scripts that still inspire artists, scholars and academics to this day.

Presented and produced by Patricia Baker.

Contributors: Anne Boylan and Dr. Jason McElligot of Marsh's Library

John Paul Pititon, fellow emeritus in Renaissance History at TCD.

Sam Kavanagh: Musician and director of the LA LA LA Choir

Additional research by Roisin Power.

Edit and Final mix Gerry Horan Contact Studio.

Piano Music by Úna Keane.

Baroque music from the album The Irish Baroque Orchestra plays Bach.

Chant music Sam Kavanagh

Extract from Charles Maturin Melmoth the Wanderer read by Damian Kearney

A Curious Broadcast Production for RTÉ lyric fm funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.

Producer for RTÉ lyric fm: Eoin O Kelly

Production Co-Ordinator: Peter Curtin