Dublin Castle administration facts for kids
Dublin Castle was once the main place where Ireland was governed by England and later by Britain. When people said "Dublin Castle," they often meant the British government in Ireland. The Castle was home to the executive branch, which made decisions, and the Privy Council, a group of advisors. These groups were chosen by the British government. The courts (judicial branch) were in a different place called the Four Courts. The law-making body (legislature) met elsewhere, first in Dublin and then in London after 1800.
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Who Was in Charge?
The main leader of the government in Ireland was known by different names over time. These included the justiciar, the Lord Deputy, and from the 1600s, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. This person was also called the Viceroy.
Before 1707, this leader represented the government of England. After that, they represented the government of Great Britain, and from 1801, the United Kingdom. The Lord Lieutenant was also the personal representative of the King or Queen in Ireland. If the chief governor was away in England, three Lords Justices would take over their duties.
The Lord Lieutenant
By the 1800s, the Lord Lieutenant became less important. Their main helper, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, started to have more power. The British government's main group of ministers (the cabinet) would almost always include the Chief Secretary, but not always the Lord Lieutenant.
Changes Over Time
The Government of Ireland Act 1920 gave the Lord Lieutenant a new job. They would represent the Crown in two new parts of Ireland: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. However, the Irish War of Independence and later the Irish Civil War meant that Southern Ireland's government never really started. Northern Ireland's government began in 1921.
When the Irish Free State became independent from the United Kingdom in 1922, the role of Lord Lieutenant was ended. Their duties were then split between two new roles: the Governor-General of the Irish Free State and the Governor of Northern Ireland.
Other Important People
Other key officials in the Dublin Castle government included the Chief Secretary for Ireland, the Under-Secretary, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the Attorney-General for Ireland, and the Solicitor-General for Ireland. All of these jobs were ended in 1922.
The Chief Secretary's office became the basis for the new President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State. This person was effectively the prime minister. The Under-Secretary's job became similar to the chief civil servant in the new Irish Government.
The Civil Service
Just like the government workers in London became the British Civil Service, the officials in Dublin became the Irish Civil Service. The Irish Office in London was the part of the British Civil Service that worked with Dublin Castle. It was similar to how the Colonial Office worked with governments in other colonies.
After Ireland was divided (the Partition of Ireland), most Irish civil servants moved to either the Civil Service of the Irish Free State or the Civil Service of Northern Ireland. Those in the Irish Free State who did not support the new government were allowed to retire early with a smaller pension.
Learn More
- Dublin Gazette
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