No.11 Parnell Square Opens a New Chapter as Ireland’s Home for Poetry and Heritage

The Irish Heritage Trust and Poetry Ireland have officially marked the reopening of No.11 Parnell Square East following a major conservation-led restoration of the historic Georgian building in the heart of Dublin.

Officially opened by President Catherine Connolly, the project represents a significant milestone in the ongoing development of Dublin’s cultural quarter at Parnell Square and brings new life to one of the city’s most historically significant buildings.

Led by architects McCullough Mulvin, the €5.5 million restoration carefully conserved and adapted No.11 for a new future as a shared headquarters for the Irish Heritage Trust, Poetry Ireland and the Irish Landmark Trust.

Dating from the mid-eighteenth century, No.11 has played many roles throughout its history — from aristocratic townhouse and political gathering place to civic headquarters and cultural landmark. Today, the building enters a new phase as a home for heritage, literature and organisational collaboration.

The building features a new commissioned artwork, Infinity Loops by artist Méadhbh O’Connor, created through the Government’s Per Cent for Art scheme. Suspended within the entrance hall, the work responds to the building’s architectural details and layered history while reflecting themes of continuity, connection and renewal.  

The restoration project included the conservation of the Georgian façade, the preservation of the historically significant timber-lined Council Chamber and the restoration of original parquet floors, alongside substantial structural, accessibility, sustainability and fire-safety upgrades.

Among the additions to the building is the new Seamus Heaney Poetry Library, which houses the late poet’s personal poetry collection from his study, generously bequeathed by the Heaney family to Poetry Ireland. The library also includes the Austin Clarke Poetry Collection, contemporary poetry collections and additional archival material gathered by Poetry Ireland over almost fifty years.

The project was made possible through €3.9 million in funding from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund under Project Ireland 2040, alongside support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and philanthropic fundraising led by the Irish Heritage Trust and Poetry Ireland.  

Significant care was taken throughout the restoration to preserve the building’s architectural integrity while improving accessibility and environmental performance. The completed project achieves an A3 BER rating and includes sensitive energy-efficiency interventions appropriate to a protected structure.  

Located alongside institutions including the Gate Theatre, Hugh Lane Gallery, Irish Writers Centre and the James Joyce Centre, No.11 now contributes to the continued development of Parnell Square as one of Dublin’s most important cultural destinations.

As the Irish Heritage Trust celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2026, the reopening of No.11 marks an important moment in the organisation’s ongoing work to conserve, manage and sustainably develop Ireland’s built heritage while strengthening connections between people, place and culture.