Constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland. In 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government.

These momentous events paved the way for the creation of the Republic of Ireland and were closely associated with the history of Dublin Castle. Since that historic moment, a tradition of state ceremony has been maintained at the Castle.

Erected in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland. In 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government.

As Dublin Castle is a working Irish Government building, security, access to rooms and opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice. Every attempt will be made to advertise these closures on our website ahead of time, but we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Join one of our experienced guides for a fascinating tour that takes you from the excavation site of Viking and medieval Dublin to the Gothic Chapel Royal and finally to the splendour of the former viceregal State Apartments.

All venues in Dublin Castle are available for corporate hire. Dublin Castle is also home to events of Government importance throughout the year. Event spaces at Dublin Castle are not available for hire to private individuals.

These fascinating, curious and often beautiful objects allow us to explore and understand the Castle’s unique place in Irish history across the centuries. They make it not only a vital place of learning and enquiry but also a source of delight and inspiration.

The room, which ranks amongst the finest Dublin domestic interiors of the mid18th century, was a perfect fit for the space available in Dublin Castle and was carefully reconstructed in the State Apartments in 1966.

It can be hard to gain a good picture of Dublin Castle sometimes. Metaphorically speaking, it looms large in the story of Ireland’s struggle for independence and yet relatively little has been written about the building itself, or the events that actually took place there.

However, it was significant in the life of Dublin Castle and for Ireland as a whole. On that day, 100 years ago, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) finally departed the Castle to be replaced by a new Irish police force, the Civic Guard. The Castle had long served as a base for policing in Ireland.