While visiting the temporary exhibition at the National Print Museum, visitors can see how
books were composed entirely by hand for centuries, how mechanical typesetting machines such
as the Linotype and Intertype were operated in the newspaper industry and how historical hand
presses such as the Columbian and the Albion made the wooden presses of Gutenberg’s time redundant.
A recent addition to the Museum collection is a
and the
1922 Oglaigh na hEireann Proclamation, both on loan from a private lender. The 1916 Proclamation
is regarded as Ireland’s most famous piece of printed ephemera, having been printed secretly on
a Columbian printing press in Liberty Hall, Dublin. A replica of the Columbian printing press is
on display at the National Print Museum.
Although regarded as a fascinating tribute to the history of printing, the Museum is much more.
The Museum offers, where possible, the opportunity to gain ‘hands-on’ experience of the ancient
craft of printing through guided tours, workshops, and handling sessions and open days. Visitors
may use the reference library by appointment or browse in the
Museum shop or
Gutenberg Café. The
collection can also be brought to the community through outreach workshops in libraries, art
centres and other venues.
