Muriel McCarthy Fellowships Fund

Dr Muriel McCarthy retired on the 13th of October 2011 after forty-four years service in Marsh’s Library. For the last twenty-two years she held the post of Keeper. The major achievements of her tenure as Keeper included the restoration of the fabric of the building, the creation and development of the Delmas Conservation Bindery, and, as early as 1995, the computerisation of the entire library catalogue, now available on the internet.

Muriel McCarthy has lectured on Marsh’s Library and on Jonathan Swift to universities, antiquarian societies, and local history groups in Ireland and internationally, and has raised the profile of the library by many radio and print interviews. She is the author of All Graduates and Gentlemen, a history of the library now in its second edition, as well as numerous papers and exhibition catalogues. She has also co-edited the proceedings of two major conferences held in the library.

Her contribution to the cultural life of Ireland has been recognised by many awards, including honorary degrees from TCD and NUIM, life memberships of the RDS and the Old Dublin Society, the Lord Mayor's Award in 1988 and 1994, and a lay canonry in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.

In recognition of the remarkable achievements of Muriel McCarthy in her long service as Keeper of Marsh's Library, the Governors are pleased to announce the establishment of a Research Fellowship fund in her name.

It is anticipated that up to three fellowships will be awarded annually for research related to any aspect of the library's collections. The resulting publications and presentations will further enhance international awareness of the library as a unique research resource. Notice of application for these fellowships will be posted in due course.

Donations, whether large or small, are invited from her many friends and supporters.