Dublin Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dublin Castle
Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath
The Dubhlinn Gardens, which were completed in 1680, are located adjacent to Dublin Castle.
General information
Address	Dame Street
Town or city	Dublin
Country	Ireland
Coordinates	53°20′34″N 6°16′03″W / 53.3429°N 6.2675°W / 53.3429; -6.2675
Elevation	9 metres (30 ft)
Opened	1204; 821 years ago (1204)
Owner	Ireland
Grounds	44,000 square metres (11 acres)

Dublin Castle, seen from the park to the south, outside the walls

Dublin Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a very important place in Dublin, Ireland. It's a big group of buildings used by the Irish government, for big meetings, and as a popular place for tourists to visit. You can find it right in the middle of Dublin, near Dame Street.

This castle was once a motte-and-bailey castle, which is a type of castle built on a mound. It was chosen because it's on the highest spot in central Dublin. For many years, until 1922, it was the main place where the British government ruled Ireland. Most of the buildings you see today were built in the 1700s, but a castle has been on this spot since the time of King John, who was the first Lord of Ireland. The castle was the center of power for English and later British rule in Ireland for centuries.

After a special agreement called the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in 1921, Dublin Castle was officially given to the new Irish government, led by Michael Collins. Today, it's where each new President of Ireland officially starts their job. It's also used for important state events and welcoming visitors from other countries.

The castle was built near a dark pool of water called "Dubh Linn," which is how Dublin got its name. This pool was part of the River Poddle before it joined the River Liffey. When the castle was built, the River Liffey was much wider, so the castle was naturally protected by both rivers. The River Poddle now flows underneath the castle complex.

What Dublin Castle is Used For

Entry to the State Apartments

Dublin Castle has been used for many different things throughout its long history. At first, it was built as a strong fort to defend the Norman city of Dublin. Later, it became an official home for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was the King or Queen's representative in Ireland. Important government offices were also located here. Over time, the Irish parliament and some law courts even met at the castle before moving to their own buildings. It was also a base for soldiers and, later, for intelligence services.

When the Irish Free State was formed in 1922, the castle was temporarily used as a courthouse because the main courts building was damaged during a conflict. This lasted for about ten years.

In 1938, it was decided that the first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde, would officially start his job at the castle. Every President since then has had their inauguration ceremony there. The castle is also used to welcome leaders from other countries, host important dinners, and launch new government plans. It's also the main place when Ireland hosts the European Presidency, which happens about every 10 years. There are two special conference centers, The Hibernia Conference Centre and The Printworks, built for these European meetings.

The castle's State Apartments are like a museum, showing off historical items. The castle complex also has a police unit and the Garda Museum, some offices for public works, and the Chester Beatty Library, which is a famous museum of books and art.

Dublin Castle's Long History

Soldiers at Dublin Castle in 1830

Dublin Castle and Black Pool

The Record Tower, the only remaining tower of the medieval castle, built around 1228. Next to it is the Chapel Royal.

Dublin Castle was first built as a major defense by Meiler Fitzhenry in 1204, following orders from King John. He wanted a strong castle with thick walls and good ditches to protect the city, help with justice, and keep the King's treasures safe. By 1230, the castle was mostly finished. It was a typical Norman castle with a central courtyard, strong walls, and round towers at each corner. It was built southeast of Norman Dublin and used the River Poddle as a natural defense on two sides.

The River Poddle was directed through arches into the city, filling the castle's moat. You can still see one of these old arches and part of the wall buried beneath the 18th-century buildings today.

Soldiers at Dublin Castle, around 1905

Over the Middle Ages, the wooden buildings inside the castle changed. A big stone and timber Great Hall was added, used for parliament, courts, and banquets. This hall was damaged by fire in 1673 and later taken down. The castle suffered serious fire damage again in 1684. After this, it was largely rebuilt, changing from a medieval fort into a grand Georgian palace. Today, almost no medieval buildings are left above ground, except for the large Record Tower, which dates from around 1228–1230. It's the only original tower still standing.

In 1799, Joseph Holt, a leader in the 1798 Irish Rebellion, was held in the Bermingham Tower before being sent to Australia.

In 1907, the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the castle. They have never been found.

Plan of Dublin Castle and grounds with a pedestrian entrance highlighted

Carved head of Saint Patrick on the Chapel Royal

Panorama

At the start of the Easter Rising in 1916, a small group of Irish Citizen Army members managed to take over the castle's entrance and guard room before more soldiers arrived. During the Anglo-Irish War, the castle was the main center for the British efforts against Irish independence. In 1920, three Irish Republican Army members, Dick McKee, Conor Clune, and Peadar Clancy, died there.

When the Irish Free State was created in 1922, Dublin Castle stopped being the main government center. It was used as temporary courts for some years. After the courts moved out, the castle became a place for important state ceremonies. Since 1938, every President of Ireland has been officially sworn into office at the castle. It has also been the place where former Presidents lay in state after they passed away.

Buildings and Design

State Apartments: Grand Rooms for Important Events

The State Apartments are located in the southern part of the castle's Upper Yard. These were once the private rooms and entertainment spaces for the Lord Lieutenant. Today, these beautifully decorated rooms are used by the Irish government for official events, like launching new plans, welcoming leaders from other countries, and the inauguration of the President every seven years. These apartments and their collections are now part of an official museum.

Here are some of the main rooms in the State Apartments:

Saint Patrick's Hall

St Patrick's Hall

This is the most magnificent room in the State Apartments and has some of the most important decorations in Ireland. It used to be the ballroom for the Lord Lieutenant. Today, it's where Presidents are inaugurated. If a President of Ireland passes away while in office, like Erskine H. Childers in 1974, their body lies in state here. It's one of the oldest rooms in the castle, built in the 1740s. Its decorations, including a famous painted ceiling by Vincenzo Valdre, are mostly from around 1790. The ceiling shows three scenes: King George III's coronation, Saint Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland, and King Henry II meeting Irish leaders. A special dinner to welcome Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland was held here in 2011.

After the Church of Ireland was no longer the official church in 1871, the Order of St. Patrick, an Irish order of knights, moved its ceremonies from St. Patrick's Cathedral to St. Patrick's Hall. The flags and special plates of the knights who were alive when Ireland became independent in 1922 are still there.

Throne Room

This room was first built in the 1740s as the Battleaxe Hall. Around 1790, it was changed into a special room for official meetings. The royal decorations are from that time and from changes made in the 1830s. It has a throne that was made for King George IV's visit to Ireland in 1821.

State Drawing Room

This room was updated in the 1830s to be the main reception room for the Lord Lieutenant. Today, it's used to welcome important visitors from other countries. It was mostly destroyed by fire in 1941 but was rebuilt between 1964 and 1968, using some saved items and making new ones to match.

State Dining Room

Also known as the Picture Gallery, this is the oldest room in the castle and still looks much like it did originally. It was built in the 1740s and was meant for dinners and as a private dining room. Today, it's still used for dining when conferences are held in St. Patrick's Hall.

State Bedrooms

These rooms were once the private sleeping quarters for the Lord Lieutenant. They were five connected rooms at the back of the building. They were completely rebuilt in the 1960s after a fire in 1941. Today, they are used as extra meeting rooms for the main apartments. The last important guest to stay in these royal bedrooms was Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her husband, Denis, during a European meeting in the 1980s.

State Corridor

This is a very grand hallway in the State Apartments. It was built around 1758 and designed by Thomas Eyre. It has a series of arches and vaults, which originally had skylights to let in light. Unfortunately, an office floor was built over the skylights when the corridor was rebuilt in the 1960s. The corridor still has exact copies of the original arch details, and the original door frames and fireplaces were saved before the rebuilding.

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  Throne Room

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  State Drawing Room

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  Portrait Gallery

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  Apollo Room

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  Connolly Room

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  Gothic Room

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  Yellow Room

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  State Corridor

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  Battleaxe Landing

Castle Towers: Strongholds of the Past

The castle has towers at two of its corners, and other towers once stood within the complex.

Bermingham Tower

The bottom part of the original Bermingham Tower is one of the few pieces left from the very first castle. It's at the southwest corner of the castle, and its upper part is modern. We're not sure which member of the De Bermingham family the tower was named after.

Record Tower

The Record Tower, at the southeast corner, is another original part of the castle. It's also known as the Wardrobe Tower and was built around the 1220s. It was fixed up between 1810 and 1813. It used to house the Garda Museum until 2017.

Bedford Tower

Building of the Bedford Tower started in 1750 and was finished in 1761. The Guard House looks similar to it.

Powder Tower

You can see the base of this tower in the basement of the northeast corner of the lower castle yard. It was also called the Storehouse Tower and was built around 1228. Its walls were very thick, about 3.7 meters (12 feet). The base of this tower is still along the path of the River Poddle. Even older Viking defenses remain under this part of the castle.

Cork Tower

This tower stood at the northwest corner of the medieval castle area. Its base is still there behind the west side of the upper castle yard.

Government Offices at the Castle

The Dublin Castle complex is home to several government offices. For example, some offices of the Revenue Commissioners (who handle taxes) are in a modern building at the end of the Castle Yard. This building was designed in the late 1960s.

Some parts of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which manages government buildings, are based in an old stables area. Also, some parts of the Garda Síochána (Ireland's police force) are located at the castle.

Visiting Dublin Castle: Tourism and Culture

Dublin Castle is usually open to the public, so you can visit and explore! However, it sometimes closes for special state events. The crypt (underground room) of the Chapel Royal is now used as an arts center, and sometimes concerts are held in the castle grounds.

The castle complex is also home to the Chester Beatty Library, which is a museum with amazing books and art from around the world. You can also visit the Garda Museum in the Treasury Building and the Revenue Museum.

The spot where the "dark pool" (Dubh Linn) once was, near the River Poddle, has been turned into a garden. It has a water feature that remembers police officers who have died in service. There's also a sculpture and a plaque near the garden that celebrates the volunteers of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

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  Panorama view of Dublin Castle showing from left to right: gateway to the Dubhlinn Gardens, Chapel Royal, Record Tower, gateway to the upper yard, Treasury Building, visitor reception centre, and Palace Street Gate.

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  Panorama view. The upper yard of Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland. The view shows, from left to right: Conference Centre, Bedford Hall flanked by the Gates of Fortitude and Justice, Revenue Commissioners, entranceway from the Chapel Royal/Record Tower yard, and finally States Apartments and Dubhlinn Tearooms.

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  Panorama view of the Dubhlinn Gardens, showing the Coach House (centre) and the Chester Beatty Library (right).

How Dublin Castle is Managed

Dublin Castle is looked after and managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), which is an Irish government agency.

Dublin Castle in Movies and Books

Film

Dublin Castle has appeared in many movies, including Barry Lyndon, Michael Collins, Becoming Jane, and The Medallion. It was also used in the TV series The Tudors, where it pretended to be the Vatican in the first episode.

Fiction

In George Moore's book A Drama in Muslin, Dublin Castle is mentioned in several chapters as a place for fancy parties and events related to the British government in Dublin.

See also

In Spanish: Castillo de Dublín para niños

• Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
• Chapel Royal
• List of castles in Ireland

Images for kids

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  The west part of the south outside wall of Dublin Castle includes these colourfully painted buildings, including the blue Bermingham Tower at far left.