On the left is the entrance to the State Apartments. The Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the Bedford Tower to the right.
Dublin Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath) off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, is a major Irish governmental complex, formerly the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Dame Street ( is a large thoroughfare in Dublin, Ireland. The street is the location of many banks such as AIB, Ulster Bank and the Central Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 Most of the complex dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland. John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death The Lordship of Ireland ( 1171 - 1541) was the nominally all-island Irish state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169-71 The Castle served as the seat of English, then later British government of Ireland under the Lordship of Ireland (1171–1541), the Kingdom of Ireland (1541–1800), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1922). The Lordship of Ireland ( 1171 - 1541) was the nominally all-island Irish state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169-71 The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 Upon establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the complex was ceremonially handed over to the newly formed Provisional Government led by Michael Collins. The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a previous administration or regime Michael John ("Mick" Collins (Mícheál Seán Ó Coileáin 16 October 1890 &ndash 22 August 1922 was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for
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Roles
Dublin Castle fulfilled a number of roles through its history. Originally built as a defensive fortification for the Norman city of Dublin, it later evolved into a royal residence, resided in by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or Viceroy of Ireland, the representative of the monarch. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (Ard-Leifteanant na hÉireann ( Plural: Lords Lieutenant) also known as the Judiciar in the early Mediaeval period The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (Ard-Leifteanant na hÉireann ( Plural: Lords Lieutenant) also known as the Judiciar in the early Mediaeval period The second in command in the Dublin Castle administration, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, also had his offices there. The office before 1800 The dominant position of the Lord Lieutenant in the Irish governmental system had been central to the British administration for much of the history of Over the years parliament and law courts met at the castle before moving to new purpose-built venues. It also served as a military garrison. Upon formation of the Free State in 1922, the castle immediately assumed the role of court complex, as the Four Courts on the Liffey quays had been badly damaged during the Civil War - a role it served for the first decade of the newly independent state. The Four Courts (Na Ceithre Cúirteanna in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland 's main courts building The Irish Civil War ( June 28 1922 &ndash May 24 1923) pitted supporters of the Anglo-Irish Treaty against its opponents
It was also decided in the 1930s that the inauguration of the first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde in 1938 would take place in the castle, and ever since the complex has been host to this ceremony. The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Head of state of Ireland. Douglas Hyde (Dubhghlas de hÍde Pseudonym An Craoibhín Aoibhinn) (17 January 1860 &ndash 12 July 1949 was an Anglo-Irish scholar of the Irish language The castle is also used for hosting official State visits as well as more informal foreign affairs engagements, State banquets, Government policy launches, as well as acting as the central base for Ireland's hosting of the European Presidency approximately every 10 years. Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union which is rotated between European Union
Origins
To its left is the Chapel Royal. The Chapel Royal (Séipéal Ríoga in Dublin Castle was the official Church of Ireland chapel of the Household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1814
Dublin Castle was first founded as a major defensive complex upon the orders of King John of England in 1204, shortly after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, when it was commanded that a castle be built with strong walls and good ditches for the defence of the city, the administration of justice, and the protection of the King’s treasure. John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death The Norman invasion of Ireland was a Norman military expedition to Ireland that took place on 1 May 1169 at the behest of Dermot MacMurrough Largely complete by 1230, the castle was of typical Norman courtyard design, with a central square devoid of a keep, bounded on all sides by tall defensive walls and protected at each corner by a circular tower. A keep is a strong central Tower which is used as a dungeon or a fortress Sited to the south-east of Norman Dublin, the castle formed one corner of the outer perimeter of the city, using the River Poddle as a natural means of defence along two of its sides. The River Poddle, one of the fifty or so rivers of Dublin and the source from a pool on its course of the name "Dublin" rises in Fettercairn today part of Tallaght The city wall directly abutted the castle’s north-east Powder Tower, extending north and westwards around the city before rejoining the castle at its south-western Bermingham Tower. The Poddle was diverted into the city through archways where the walls adjoined the castle, artificially flooding the moat of the fortress's city elevations. One of these archways and part of the wall survives buried underneath the 18th century buildings of the castle, and are open to public inspection.
Through the Middle Ages the wooden buildings within the castle square evolved and changed, the most significant addition being the Great Hall built of stone and timber, variously used as Parliament House, Court of Law and Banqueting Hall. The building survived until 1673 when it was damaged by fire and demolished shortly afterwards. No trace of medieval buildings remain above ground level today, with the exception of the giant Record Tower dating from c. 1228-1230, the sole surviving tower of the original fortification: its battlements an early 19th century addition.
Throughout the British rule of Ireland, "Castle Catholic" was a pejorative term for Catholics who were seen to be overly friendly with or supportive of the British administration. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete".
Famously, the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the Castle in 1907.
During the Anglo-Irish War the Castle was the nerve centre of the British effort against Irish separatism. The Irish War of Independence (or Tan War, or Anglo-Irish War, Irish: Cogadh na Saoirse) from January 1919 to July 1921 was a guerrilla Irish republicanism (Poblachtánachas is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a single independent Republic On the night of Bloody Sunday in 1920, two Irish Republican Army officers and a friend were killed, "while trying to escape", in the grounds of the Castle. Bloody Sunday was a day of violence on 21 November 1920 in Dublin, during the Irish War of Independence ( 1919 - 1921) The Irish Republican Army ( IRA) (Óglaigh na hÉireann was a military organisation descended from the Irish Volunteers, established 25 November 1913 and who
The Castle ceased to be used for government purposes when the Irish Free State came into being in 1922. The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by It served for some years as temporary Courts of Justice (the Four Courts, the home of the Irish courts system, had been destroyed in 1922). The Four Courts (Na Ceithre Cúirteanna in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland 's main courts building Once the courts moved out, Dublin Castle was used for state ceremonial. Éamon de Valera as President of the Executive Council on behalf of King George V received credentials from ambassadors to Ireland there in the 1930s. Éamon de Valera (ˈeɪmən dɛvəˈlɛrə (born Edward George de Valera) (14 October 1882 &ndash 29 August 1975 was one of the dominant political figures in 20th century The President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State ( Irish: Uachtarán ar Ard-Chomhairle Shaorstát Éireann) was the Head of government or prime In 1938, it was used for the inauguration of Douglas Hyde as President of Ireland. Douglas Hyde (Dubhghlas de hÍde Pseudonym An Craoibhín Aoibhinn) (17 January 1860 &ndash 12 July 1949 was an Anglo-Irish scholar of the Irish language The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Head of state of Ireland. Inaugurations of subsequent presidents took place there in 1945, 1952, 1959, 1966, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1983, 1990, and 1997. President Erskine Hamilton Childers' lying-in-state took place there in November 1974, as did that of former President Eamon de Valera, in September, 1975. Erskine Hamilton Childers (11 December 1905 &ndash 17 November 1974 served as the fourth President of Ireland from 1973 until his death in 1974 Éamon de Valera (ˈeɪmən dɛvəˈlɛrə (born Edward George de Valera) (14 October 1882 &ndash 29 August 1975 was one of the dominant political figures in 20th century
The castle is a tourist attraction and, following major refurbishment, is also used as a conference centre. During Ireland's presidencies of the European Union, including most recently in the first half of 2004, it has been the venue of many meetings of the European Council. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The European Council (referred to as a European Summit) is the highest political body of the European Union. The crypt of the Chapel Royal is now used as an arts centre, and occasional concerts are held in the grounds of the Castle. The Chapel Royal (Séipéal Ríoga in Dublin Castle was the official Church of Ireland chapel of the Household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1814 The complex of buildings is usually open to the public, except during state functions.
State Apartments
The State Apartments, located in the southern range of buildings of the Upper Yard, contain the rooms formerly used by the Lord Lieutenant for personal accommodation and public entertaining during the Castle Season. Today these richly decorated rooms are used by the Irish Government for official engagements including policy launches, hosting of State Visit ceremonial, and the inauguration of the President every seven years. The principal rooms of the State Apartments include:
- Saint Patrick's Hall
This is the grandest room of the State Apartments, and contains one of the most important decorative interiors in Ireland. Formerly the ballroom of the Lord Lieutenant's administration, today the room is used for presidential inaugurations. It is one of the oldest rooms in the castle, dating from the 1740s, though its decoration largely dates from c. 1790, including the most significant painted ceiling in Ireland executed by Vincenzo Valdre (c. 1742–1814). Comprised of three panels, the ceiling depicts the coronation of King George III, Saint Patrick introducing Christianity to Ireland, and King Henry II receiving the submission of the Irish Chieftains. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places Saint Patrick (Patricius Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Roman Britain -born Christian Missionary and is the Patron saint
- Throne Room
Originally built as the Battleaxe Hall in the 1740s, it was converted for use as a Presence Chamber around 1790. The regal decoration dates from this time and from subsequent alterations in the 1830s. It contains a throne built for the visit of King George IV to Ireland in 1821.
- State Drawing Room
Formerly the principal reception room of the Lord Lieutenant and his household dating from the 1830s, today the room is reserved solely for use during visits of foreign dignitaries. Largely destroyed by fire in 1941, the room was reconstructed with minor modification in 1964–1968 by the OPW, making use of salvaged and replicated furnishings and fittings.
- State Dining Room
Also called the Picture Gallery, and formerly known as the Supper Room, this is the oldest room in the castle and largely retains its original decoration, having escaped major modification and fire over the years. It dates from Lord Chesterfield's building of the State Apartments in the 1740s, and was intended for use as a supper room adjoining St. Patrick's Hall and as a personal dining room. Today the room is still used for dining when conferences take place in St. Patrick's Hall.
- State Bedrooms
These former private quarters of the Lord Lieutenant were built as five interconnecting rooms running along the back of the building, adjoining the spine corridor that separates them from the State Drawing Room. Completely rebuilt in the 1960s following fire in 1941, the rooms maintain the original courtly sequence and today are used as ancillary drawing and meeting rooms to the principal apartments. The last dignitary to stay in the royal bedrooms was Margaret Thatcher, who spent a night there with her husband Dennis during one of the European Council meetings held in the 1980s. Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 The European Council (referred to as a European Summit) is the highest political body of the European Union.
- State Corridor
The most architectural space of the State Apartments, this expressive, deeply modelled corridor was originally built c. 1758 to the designs of the Surveyor General, Thomas Eyre. Based on the early 18th century corridor of Edward Lovett Pearce in the former Parliament House on College Green, it features a marching procession of vaults and arches which were originally top-lit. Sir Edward Lovett Pearce (1699 &ndash 1733 was an Irish Architect, and the chief exponent of Palladianism in Ireland. The Irish Houses of Parliament (Tithe na Parlaiminte also known as the Irish Parliament House, today called the Bank of Ireland, College Green Sadly an office storey was built over the skylights following complete reconstruction of the corridor in the 1960s as the result of differential settlement with the reconstruction of the adjoining Drawing Room. The corridor features exact plaster casts of the original arch detailing, and the original doorcases and fireplaces salvaged prior to rebuilding.
Dublin Castle is currently maintained by the Office of Public Works, and houses, among other things, offices of the Revenue Commissioners in a 20th century building at the end of the Castle Yard, some elements of the Office of Public Works itself in an old stables area, and some functions of the Garda Siochana. The Office of Public Works ( OPW) ( Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí (legally the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, though the full title is rarely used is a The Office of the Revenue Commissioners ( RC) ( - now called simply Revenue - is the Irish Government agency responsible for Customs, Excise ga '''''Garda Síochána na hÉireann''''' (ˈgaːrdə ʃiːˈxaːnə nə ˈheːɾʲən Irish for "Peace Guard of Ireland" often rendered
The castle complex also hosts the Chester Beatty Library, in a purpose-constructed facility. ChesterBeattyLibaryInside1jpg|right|thumb|Atrium]]The Chester Beatty Library was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1950 to house the collections of mining magnate
Other uses
Film
Dublin Castle has appeared in numerous films including Barry Lyndon, Michael Collins, Becoming Jane and The Medallion, as well as the television series The Tudors, where it doubles as the Vatican in the pilot. Barry Lyndon ( 1975) is a Period film by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844 by William Michael Collins a 1996 Biopic about Michael Collins, the Irish patriot and Revolutionary who died in the Becoming Jane is a 2007 Historical film directed by Julian Jarrold. The Medallion is a 2003 action / Comedy film directed by Hong Kong Filmmaker Gordon Chan, and starring Jackie A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U The Tudors is a historical fiction Television series created and entirely written by British screenwriter Michael Hirst.
Music
Dublin Castle hosts the Heineken Green Energy festival each May bank holiday weekend. Heineken Green Energy is an Irish Music festival that takes place at Dublin Castle over the May bank holiday weekend
See also
External links
- Dublin Castle is at coordinates Coordinates:
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