Step inside the reading world of the Yeats family.

Now available to consult at the National Library of Ireland, the Yeats Family Library offers a rare and intimate look at the books that inspired one of Ireland’s most influential artistic families.

It is the extant library of the Yeats family and includes many inscriptions, ownership marks, bookplates, and some annotations. There are 330 books in the collection, plus several volumes in duplicate. These were unsold items from The Dun Emer Press, The Cuala Press and The Dolmen Press. The Yeats sisters worked with Evelyn Gleeson at The Dun Emer Press in Dublin from 1902. They subsequently founded The Cuala Press after parting company with Gleeson in 1908. Lolly managed The Cuala Press and operated the printing press while Lily helped create works of art and craft. Both sisters had trained under William Morris & Co. in London. This publishing business was run by the Yeats family until the late 1940s.  The books published included works by WB Yeats and other writers associated with the Irish literary revival. They were designed, printed and published by the Yeats sisters. The Cuala business included other forms of art and craft, as well as printing, including embroidery.

Viewable by appointment in the Manuscripts Reading Room on Kildare Street.

Explore the collection in the NLI’s catalogue: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000925164

Learn more, and see photographs of the books here: https://www.nli.ie/news-stories/stories/inside-yeats-family-library