eir Donates Rare K1 Phone Kiosk To The Little Museum of Dublin

One of Ireland’s last surviving K1 phone kiosks is set to make a striking return to public life, thanks to a landmark donation from Ireland’s leading telecommunications provider, eir, to the Little Museum of Dublin. A century after the first kiosk was installed in Ireland, the historic K1 was unveiled on the 1st of October 2025, as the only functioning one of its kind in the country.

First introduced in the 1920s, the K1 was the first standardised public telephone kiosk in the UK and Ireland. This particular kiosk, originally located on Parkgate Street before later being moved to Dawson Street, was retired from service and kept in storage for over a decade. Now, in a powerful gesture of preservation, eir has donated the K1 to the Little Museum of Dublin, reviving this rare piece of telecommunications heritage.

Oliver Loomes, CEO of eir, said today “I'm delighted we’ve been able to bring this iconic K1 kiosk back into the public eye, not just as a piece of telecommunications history but as a living symbol of connection. At eir, we believe in honouring the legacy of Irish communications while continuing to shape its future. By donating this rare and beautifully restored kiosk to the Little Museum of Dublin, we are proud to share a tangible link to our past. We've also fitted it with a specially adapted phone, so visitors can once again enjoy the simple pleasure of making a call from a K1”.

Prof. Rhona Mahony, Chair of the Little Museum of Dublin board, commented “The Little Museum of Dublin is delighted to act as custodians of this important relic of Irish telecommunications history. Having last been located on Dawson Street, just around the corner from the museum, this feels like a homecoming for the K1 kiosk. Thanks to eir’s generosity, visitors to the Little Museum of Dublin will have the unique opportunity to phone a friend or family member using the now-antiquated rotary dial and AB box, which is a novelty for younger generations raised on touch screens, whilst at the same time being immensely nostalgic for older generations”.

Originally brought to Ireland in 1925, the K1 kiosk was the first standardised public phone box across Britain and Ireland. At their peak, over 3,300 payphone boxes were in use across the country, complemented by over 5,000 indoor units, playing a vital role in daily life. While most of these structures have now been removed, many have been thoughtfully repurposed into tourism kiosks, defibrillator sites and more recently, 109 electric vehicle charging stations through eir’s partnership with EZO (formerly EasyGo). This restored K1 kiosk represents a different kind of preservation: a celebration of Ireland’s telecommunications heritage in its original form.

Visitors to the Little Museum of Dublin will have the chance to experience the K1 first hand and even make free phone calls to Irish numbers.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.littlemuseum.ie

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