Exploring the Northern Irish Landscapes That Inspired Literary Legends
With stories around every corner, Northern Ireland is a real page-turner of a destination.
Heaney Homeplace, Co. Londonderry.
"I have known and loved this area since childhood and have written about it – or rather, out of it – often."
These prescient words come from Seamus Heaney, whose poetry collection North became the toast of poets and critics alike when it was published in 1975. Northern Ireland’s landscape also inspired CS Lewis to open the wardrobe to Narnia 75 years ago in his seminal children’s fantasy, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and legend has it that Jonathan Swift drew inspiration from Belfast’s Cave Hill for the sleeping giant in his satire Gulliver’s Travels (1726).
Perhaps the regions long, dark winters may well have stirred the imagination and helped shape the region’s creative soul, or maybe its rich storytelling tradition stems from the country's scale: a land that is small enough to know deeply and intimately. Whatever the reason, the vibrancy and power of the written word has never been stronger, or so readily available.
Northern Ireland is replete with portals into its literary past, from some of the world’s most atmospheric libraries and cultural centres, to walking trails and literary festivals associated with local titans of the pen. And with 2025 shaping up to be a standout year for literary anniversaries, the coming months are an ideal time to immerse yourself in the written word – and libraries are the perfect place to begin. Here are the region’s top literary gems to explore this year:
Armagh Robinson Library, Armagh
Armagh Robinson Library, Armagh
The mantra for Northern Ireland’s oldest public library is “the healing place of the soul”. That was the goal of Archbishop Richard Robinson when he founded the library in 1771 as part of his ambitious vision to establish Armagh as a seat of learning and culture. Designed by the architect Thomas Cooley, the library serves as both a repository of knowledge and a residence for the Library Keeper.
Its shelves hold over 40,000 printed works, 355 manuscripts and more than 4,100 museum objects, with collections spanning medicine, science, history, law, theology, and travel, alongside ancient coins, medals, maps, and illuminated manuscripts. Among the highlights is Jonathan Swift’s personal copy of Gulliver’s Travels, published in 1726, complete with his handwritten corrections – this is a special place to wile away some time.
The Linen Hall’s recent acquisition of the CS Lewis Collection meant the iconic Belfast institution was in a perfect position to mark an important milestone - it is 75 years since the publication of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the first published book in his classic children’s series The Chronicles of Narnia. The books have since sold more than 120 million copies worldwide in 47 languages.
As well as being Belfast’s oldest subscription library, Linen Hall is an essential pit stop for literary fans. Having weathered two world wars and the Troubles, it now holds over 350,000 items, including pamphlets, posters, newspapers, and the largest Robert Burns collection outside Scotland. This splendid cultural hub also hosted monthly meetings of the Word of Mouth poetry collective, founded by Ruth Carr, which played a vital role in championing Northern Irish women writers and poets.
Mussenden Temple & Downhill Beach, Co Londonderry.
Mussenden Temple, Castlerock, County Derry~Londonderry
Perched dramatically on a cliff above Downhill Strand, County Derry~Londonderry, Mussenden Temple was built as a library in 1785 for Frederick Hervey, the region’s Earl Bishop. A renowned eccentric, Hervey allegedly made portly members of his clergy run along the strand and swim in the sea. Inspired by the Roman Temple of Vesta, this circular folly once housed his carefully curated book collection, with marble busts occupying the alcoves beneath its domed roof.
The books are long gone, but the temple stands as a testament to Hervey’s passion for art, nature, and solitude. An inscription by Lucretius is etched upon the wall: “Tis pleasant, safely to behold from shore/ The rolling ship, and hear the tempest roar.”
Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, County Derry~Londonderry
Heaney travelled a long way from his childhood on a small farm in Northern Ireland to become one of the world’s greatest poets and a Nobel Prize winner. This immersive, interactive visitor centre in his hometown of Bellaghy celebrates his life and legacy, with intimate and moving exhibitions.
Of particular interest here is the library and digital archive, with a handpicked selection of more than 800 books, including books by Heaney’s friends and contemporaries, as well as authors the poet himself enjoyed reading.
With North, Heaney’s collection of poems about Northern Ireland, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Seamus Heaney HomePlace is hosting an ongoing programme of events, readings and exhibitions on the poet’s life, work and influences. These include a study of the Belfast Group – a poets’ workshop organised in 1963 – which also included Michael Longley, Derek Mahon, James Simmons, Paul Muldoon, and Ciarán Carson.
Where Northern Ireland’s stories come to life
Of course, Northern Ireland’s literary places of interest go beyond just libraries. Travel around and you’ll find a wealth of literary intrigue, from independent bookshops to renowned festivals.
A great place to start is the nine-kilometre-long CS Lewis Trail, which commences at CS Lewis Square in east Belfast, where bronze Narnia sculptures evoke The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Close to here are Lewis’s childhood home, Little Lea, his baptismal church, and the CS Lewis Reading Room at Queen’s University. Pop into pubs such as The John Hewitt and the Crown Liquor Saloon, and you’ll be surrounded by the ghosts of writers past, or pick up a book by one of Northern Ireland’s leading authors, such as Anna Burns or Jan Carson, at the charming No Alibis bookshop, tucked away on Botanic Avenue.
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Winter views of the Mourne Mountains, Co. Down.
Beyond Belfast, the trail leads into the Mourne Mountains - which bewitched Lewis with their majestic peaks and stunning views -, as well as Kilbroney Forest Park and Tollymore Forest, whose grottos, arches and mossy paths conjure up a real-life Narnia, along with a life-sized stone lion along Tollymore’s Azalea Walk as a tribute to Lewis’ Aslan himself.
Enniskillen has been a literary hub since at least the time of the monks who compiled the Annals of Ulster on Belle Isle. Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett both studied at Portora Royal School, at the heart of the city, while Shan Bullock, John Kelly and Séamas Mac Annaidh are among other names associated with the area.
For Oscar Wilde fans, the inaugural In Our Dreams Festival (16–20 October 2025) celebrates the highlights of his life and his most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest, which turns 130 this year. A flamboyant, fun-filled weekend of theatrical wit and festive fantasy awaits.
Never has there been a better time to enjoy the magnificent literary birthright of Northern Ireland, to read Swift’s handwritten works, to dream where CS Lewis once dreamed, to contemplate the bogs and eels and lowland strands of Seamus Heaney’s world.