Printing House

The Printing House was commissioned in 1734 under Provost Richard Baldwin’s tenure and was completed in 1736. It was built to the design of the Palladian architect, Richard Castle. the building is the third oldest building within the Trinity College campus and it housed Dublin University Press until 1976. The building is two storeys over a basement, behind a Doric portico of Portland stone. The building was extended to the east in 1840 -1842 - this extension was demolished in 2018 as part of the Printing House Square development. The Printing House is a Protected Structure (Ref No. 2003) and a Recorded Monument - (DUB18-020508).

Building restoration work was completed in 2023 and work is now nearing completion. The 2023 works restored the fabric of the building including re-roofing with salvaged slate, restoration of the timber sash windows and on the front portico, along with restoration and cleaning of all masonry.

The current project works will provide a temporary home for the display of one of the World's most famous manuscripts, the Book of Kells. These works include internal fit-out of mechanical, electrical and security systems and a new temporary accessible visitor entrance at an existing doorway, located on the east side of the building. Together with the temporary pavilion, located in New Square, the Printing House will enhance the Book of Kells Experience.

The Book of Kells will be displayed in the Printing House for the duration of the construction works on the Old Library Redevelopment Project.