LexIcon Library and Cultural Centre — Attraction in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

I came to Ireland with myths of the sword and the stone, but instead wound up in a Sisyphean battle of trying to draw water from the sinks of this library. You're supposed to touch and hold this button for three seconds to release water, but I spent perhaps 20 minutes over the course of a morning pressing that button and got water thrice, for five seconds each. Exasperated, soap on my hands (which made it harder to unlatch the door), I asked what the trick was of the man waiting to use the bathroom. "I haven't gotten water from those in 5 years" was his reply, and I'm sure he's not alone. Five years, that is, of mucking about in the bathroom, skipping the whole hand washing thing, then carefully turning the pages and stroking the spines of antiquarian, local, and more modern books within this library.

To any librarians who might be reading this: I've had great luck in the past with faucets whose knobs turn, as well as those that sense when a hand is held underneath. I can only imagine the salesman who wooed you on these, but they're not working. If possible, next time, I'd prefer not to repeat my newly formed ritual of soaping up, walking outside to the water fountain to rinse off, then stomping back into the bathroom to dry my hands with toilet paper, as the air dryer is also of...

Subject matter. Corona and wash facilities in ladies toilet attached to cafe. On friday. a friend and myself despite several attempts were unable to use the soap dispensers in the ladies toilet. Eventually following advice from staff in restaurant we figured out that one had to push the bottom of soap dispenser to the wall. There is I believe sign on the dispenser saying this but I could not see it. I wear glasses.

In the spirit of cooperation around the crucial advice given about handwashing we sought out a manager on the overall library premises. We recommended a TRANSPARENT sign advising how the dispensers worked. We left somewhat disheartened as felt the response was poor Today I was in dunlaoghaire with 4 friends and decided to check to see if our suggestion about had been implemented. There was none . I asked the 4 friends to check the dispensers. . Only one of the 4 was able to immediately work the dispenser. THE REQUEST. Please put a sign showing how to use...

I wasn’t expecting to be so impressed, but the Dún Laoghaire LexIcon completely won me over. From the moment I stepped inside, I could tell this wasn’t an ordinary library. It’s beautifully designed—modern, airy, and full of natural light. The building itself almost feels like part of the landscape, with the park wrapping around it and the sea visible from the upper levels. What struck me most was the atmosphere. It’s peaceful, yet buzzing with quiet activity—children exploring books, people working in cozy corners, others just taking in the views. I loved the mix of traditional library space with creative and tech-friendly zones. The James Joyce room was a lovely surprise too, connecting the space to the deep literary roots of the area. It’s the kind of place where you can lose track of time, whether you’re reading, writing, or just thinking. A true cultural sanctuary. I left feeling inspired—and a little envious of everyone who gets to visit it regularly. If you’re ever in Dún Laoghaire,...