The caretaker traditionally lived in rooms at the Library. This handwritten memo dates from the mid-twentieth century and describes the duties of a working caretaker.

Ó Conchubhair (see previous item) describes his encounter with ‘a woman with a scrubbing brush and pail’. Readers will notice that ‘sweeping of … steps down to the Gate’ was only one of her many tasks.

We know very little about the caretakers of Marsh’s Library. Account books kept in the library list the names of tradesmen, but unfortunately omit the female caretakers’ names.

Marsh's Library
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Citation:
Caretaker’s duties, Marsh’s Library,
Marsh's Library Exhibits: ‘Changed Utterly?’ curated by Elaine Doyle and Jason McElligott,
accessed June 3, 2025,
https://web.marshlibrary.ie/digi/exhibits/show/irishrevolution/item/632