The Victorian author Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) visited the island of Ireland on three occasions during his lifetime, all as part of public reading tours, in 1858, 1867 and 1869.

We have attempted to put together the daily movements of Dickens whilst in Ireland during his three visits based on material such as letters, newspaper reports and articles. There are some small gaps and we would be grateful for any information to make it into a comprehensive list.

1858.

It was as part of a national reading tour in 1858 – that had included England and Scotland – that Charles Dickens first visited Ireland, coming during the summer of that year. His itinerary whilst in the country included giving performances in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Limerick as well as a chance to do some sightseeing. Dickens travelled with his tour manager, Arthur Smith.

Advertisment for Charles Dickens readings in Belfast in August 1858 (from The Ulsterman newspaper, 25 August 1858).

The itinerary we have been able to compile during this tour appears to be as follows:

  • August 21 (Saturday). Dickens travels overnight by ferry from Holyhead in north Wales, arriving in Dublin. Whilst in the city he stays at the Morrison’s Hotel, Nassau Street.
  • August 22 (Sunday). Dickens travels around Dublin, sightseeing.
  • August 23 (Monday). Gives reading of A Christmas Carol at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm.
  • August 24 (Tuesday). Gives reading at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm.
  • August 25 (Wednesday). Gives reading at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm.
  • August 26 (Thursday). Final Dublin performance of the tour. Gives readings from The Poor Traveller, The Boots at the Hollytree Inn, and the Mrs. Gamp episode from Martin Chuzzlewit at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm.
  • August 27 (Friday). Takes a train from Dublin to Belfast. In the evening, Dickens gives his first Belfast performance at the Victoria Hall with a reading from A Christmas Carol. Crowds surge into the venue when the doors open, which police are unable to control, leading to many people sitting in the wrong seats.
  • August 28 (Saturday). In the morning, Dickens takes a walk from Belfast to Carrickfergus and back. Returns to give an afternoon reading of the story of Little Paul from Dombey and Son. In the evening he gives another public performance, with readings from The Poor Traveller, The Boots at the Hollytree Inn, and the Mrs. Gamp episode from Martin Chuzzlewit.
  • August, 29 (Sunday). Returns to Dublin, staying over at Morrison’s Hotel. Writes a letter to his daughter, Georgina, from the hotel.
  • August 30 (Monday). Travels from Dublin to Cork. Gives a reading of A Christmas Carol at 8pm at the Athenaeum.
  • August 31 (Tuesday). Cork. Gives two more public readings at the Athenaeum, at 1.30pm and at 8pm.
  • September 1 (Wednesday). Travels to Limerick, final stop in this tour of Ireland. Stays at the Royal Hotel and performs two readings at the Theatre Royal. In the evening he reads from A Christmas Carol at 8pm. Dickens received large applause at the end of the performance, local newspaper Limerick Reporter describing the scene as follows:

Mr. Dickens was received in the most flattering manner, and after he withdrew repeated applause called him before the audience, to whom he gratefully acknowledged their appreciation of his merit.

  • September 2 (Thursday). Limerick. Writes from the Royal Hotel to his nephew describing the success of his readings in Dublin, Belfast and Cork. At 8pm, Dickens gives readings from The Poor Traveller, The Boots at the Hollytree Inn, and the Mrs. Gamp episode from Martin Chuzzlewit at the Theatre Royal. A reporter from the Limerick Reporter, present for both of the performances in the town, described what Charles Dickens was wearing:

On both evenings Mr. Dickens was dressed in the most fashionable evening costume. There was a rose in the coat, and the snow whiteness of the shirt was further relieved by sundry gold studs, which reflected the top lights that were so placed as to fall on the figure of the Novelist, and bring out all his features in fullest definition.

1867.

In March 1867 Charles Dickens returned to Ireland, accompanied by Irish friend Percy Fitzgerald and tour manager George Dolby. Dickens visited just Dublin and Belfast on this tour. Whilst in Dublin, Dickens and his party stayed at the Shelbourne Hotel and in Belfast they stayed at the Imperial Hotel.

Whilst in Dublin, Dickens was disturbed by Fenian disturbances and wrote to his family expressing his concerns of trouble in the city. Dickens had arrived in the country just ten days after the 1867 Fenian Rising, a largely ill-fated and short lived rebellion against British rule in Ireland.

The itinerary we have been able to compile during this tour appears to be as follows:

  • March 14 (Thursday). Takes a 2pm ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. Heads to the Shelbourne Hotel in the city.
  • March 15 (Friday). Dublin. Dickens gives the first of three Dublin readings, held at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm. Reads Doctor Marigold and the trial scene from The Pickwick Papers.
  • March 16 (Saturday).
  • March 17 (Sunday).
  • March 18 (Monday). Dickens gives the second of three Dublin readings, held at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm. Reads from David Copperfield and Bob Sawyer’s Party from The Pickwick Papers.
  • March 19 (Tuesday).
  • March 20 (Wednesday). Belfast. Reading at the Ulster Hall, 8pm. Reads Doctor Marigold and the trial scene from The Pickwick Papers. The following day, the newspaper Northern Whig reported on the sold-out performance:

All yesterday, indeed. disconsolate persons were going about vainly seeking for tickets of admission. Every place was taken, and hundreds of people were unable to find seats.

  • March 21 (Thursday). Belfast.
  • March 22 (Friday). Dublin. Dickens gives the last of three Dublin readings, held at the Rotunda (now the Ambassador Theatre), 8pm. Reads from A Christmas Carol and trail scene from The Pickwick Papers.

Mr. Dickens appeared yesterday evening at the Rotundo, and read for the last time during the present visit to Dublin portions of his works. The great author has every reason to be delighted with the reception he has received, and there could not be better proof of his popularity than the fact that fully two thousand persons were refused admission. The Round Room and galleries were filled to suffocation. Mr. Dickens was obliged to wait for a considerable time until the audience could find seats

.
Freeman’s Journal. Saturday, 23 March 1867.
  • March 23 (Saturday). Dickens leaves Ireland, taking the early morning mail steamer Munster from Dublin to Holyhead, Wales.

1869.

In January 1869 Dickens again visited Dublin and Belfast on what was billed as – and would be – his last reading tour.

The itinerary we have been able to compile during this tour appears to be as follows:

Locations.

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