The Peadar Ó Laoghaire Archive contains a significant portion of work of this man who was ordained at St Patrick's College Maynooth in 1867. Extensive in its content, the archive contains Father O'Laoghaire's original works in Irish, translations into modern Irish of works from other languages, translation of the Old Testament, and modernisation of Gaelic Irish folk tales, as well as notes on Irish grammar and language usage. 

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This exhibition launched on the bicentenary of the infamous sermon (charge) given by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, William Magee (1766-1831) in St Patrick’s Cathedral on 24 October 1822. Archbishop Magee’s charge sparked religious controversy in Ireland, playing a significant role in driving the Second Reformation, including the 'Bible War', and being countered by the emergence of an assertive Irish Catholicism.

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An exhibition celebrating the architect of the Russell Library, Augustus (Welby Northmore) Pugin, with a selection of material from the historic collections of the Russell Library and  Special Collections & Archives in the John Paul II Library. To view the exhibition click here 

Scientific (P)ages of Discovery is an exhibition of remarkable 17th and 18th century books and handwritten notes was hosted by the Russell Library, Maynooth for Science Week 2023.  To view the exhibition click here.

A special exhibit for Research Week 2023 shines a light on the most exceptional period of book publishing through a showcase of six items which were recently catalogued from the rare book collections of St. Patrick’s Pontifical University held in the Russell Library. These six treasures are the only known recorded texts of their kind in Ireland. To view the exhibition please click here.

‘Antiquities, Adventures & Aristocracy’, explores the extraordinary life and travels of Howe Peter Browne, 2^nd Marquess of Sligo (1788 - 1845), captured in letters home to his ‘Dearest Mother’ Lady Louisa Catherine Howe (1767 - 1817). These fascinating documents (155 in total) make up the Marquess of Sligo Archive, which was acquired by Maynooth University Library in 2018.

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Diamonds in the Rough: The Dublin Imprints of the Swayne Bequest is a digital exhibition exploring some of the rare Irish imprints of the 18th and 19th centuries from the Monsignor Swayne Collection held in the Russell Library. Monsignor Seán Swayne, chairman of the Irish Episcopal Commission for the Liturgy and parish priest of Graiguenamagh, Co. Kilkenny, died in May 1996. His bequest to the library of Maynooth College included 100 books printed before 1850.  Nearly half of the books (47) were printed in Ireland, making this an important collection in terms of Irish print history.  To view the exhibition please click here.

Yvette Campbell, Assistant Librarian guides you through best practice techniques for describing basic elements of rare books cataloguing which requires "complete and faithful transcription of the title- page in its original language, greater details in the physical description area and careful thorough recording of various distinguishing features including signature statements, identification of format, annotations, pagination errors, illustrations techniques, printing methods, bindings, style and provenance" (DCRM). To view the exhibition please click here.

The theme of Heritage Week 2023  is "Living Heritage" celebrating the practices, knowledge and skills that have been passed down from one generation to the next, and are still in use today. This year we have used our MU Library Treasures blog as the inspiration for the Heritage week exhibition, to compliment the theme. The blog is a living document of heritage and allows us to share the contents from the historic collections of the Russell Library and the Special Collections in the John Paul II Library.You can view the exhibition here.

On 8th November 1623, the publication of Mr William Shakespeare's 'Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies' also known as the First Folio was registered. Without the publication of this important work, many of the Bard's most famous plays would have been lost. To celebrate the quarter-centenary of this publication, Maynooth University Library is delighted to commemorate the anniversary with a digital exhibition: 'Reader Look Not on his picture, but his book'

We celebrated ‘Explore Your Archive’ in 2023 with an exhibition entitled ‘Five Women, Five Moments: an exhibition celebrating women in the archives at Maynooth University Library. This exhibition highlights archival material relating to five notable women drawn from our collections including Margaret Grubb, Caitlín Hutchinson, Teresa Deevy, Sister Majella McCarron, and Niamh Bhreathnach.  To view the exhibition, click here

An Damer: A Landmark in Irish Theatre, an exhibition to mark Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025.
Based on the archival collection of the late Caoimhín Ó Marcaigh, this exhibition consists of documents and ephemera relating to the Damer Theatre, which was establish by Gael Linn in 1955, in the hall at the Unitarian Church, Saint Stephen's Green.

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