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When you arrive in Ireland, whether you have 24 hours in Dublin or a week, I’m sure Dublin Castle is up there on your things to do in Dublin list. And so it should be. You can visit the State Apartments of Dublin Castle, and learn something about Ireland’s history, in a short visit to Dublin Castle.
A little bit of history – Dublin Castle, Ireland
The first stronghold dates from the 13th century. The structure was a defensive Norman Castle with four circular towers and high walls. A fire destroyed much of the castle in 1684. After that, the medieval Dublin Castle transformed into a Georgian building. Only one of the original towers survives to this day.
Dublin Castle served many purposes during this time. For a long time, it was the residence of the Viceroy of Ireland, the British monarch’s representative in Ireland. The State Apartments we see today hosted a social season with grand balls and ceremonies. This is where the independent Irish state was born in 1922, and also where every president is invested in office since then.
A visit to Dublin Castle in Ireland
At the moment, due to the pandemic, you can only visit the State Apartments on a self-guided tour.
Let me take you on a step-by-step tour of the State Apartments at Dublin Castle in Ireland.
The first thing you will notice as you enter the area open to the public at Dublin Castle is the Grand Staircase. You can easily imagine people of the 1800’s stepping on these stairs in their evening gowns, on their way to the ball.
You will also visit the State Apartments Galleries, the Portrait Gallery, a Gothic Room, and a few other rooms. The most interesting of them are the ones below.
The Throne Room at Dublin Castle
The Throne Room at Dublin Castle is one of the most representative places of British rule in Ireland. This is where the Viceroy of Ireland held his audiences and also where he received his guests. The throne was also used by English Monarchs, among them Queen Victoria and King George V.
St. Patrick’s Hall
St. Patrick’s Hall was originally the Dublin Castle’s ballroom, and it is one of the oldest rooms in the castle. The ceiling is composed of three painted panels. The flags on the walls represent the knights of St. Patrick’s order.
This grand room is used for the inauguration of each President of Ireland and also for State Events. St.Patrick’s Hall is where the Irish President organized the dinner to welcome Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Ireland in 2011.
The State Corridor
The State Corridor is also interesting with its neoclassical design featuring vaults and arches. Today, the corridor holds a portrait of each president of the Republic of Ireland. This is how I learned that 2 of a total of 9 Irish Presidents were women. Did you know that?
What else
When you leave Dublin Castle, take a stroll through Dubhlinn Gardens. Dubh Linn means Black Pool in Gaelic, and it’s where Dublin got its name. The castle was built by the Black Pool, being protected at the time by two rivers. The gardens are a nice space where you can rest for a few minutes.
I also suggest visiting the Chester Beatty Library, which holds some incredible treasures from all over the world.
Useful info
In 2021 Dublin Castle was free to visit, but you still needed to book an available time slot here, up to 7 days before your visit. I will update with for 2022 as soon as the information becomes available.
Dublin Castle is open every day from 9:45 AM to 5:45 PM. A tour of the State Apartments will probably take you between 45 minutes and 1 hour.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed the tour of Dublin Castle in Ireland. When you do visit, tell me all about it in the comments below. Meanwhile, if you fancy visiting another Irish Castle, head to Malahide Castle and Gardens, one of the easiest day trips from Dublin City.
Disclosure
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