Dublin Castle
Dublin
Dublin Castle stands in the centre of Dublin, near Dame Street. Founded in 1204, it became a palace in the 1700s, and today it welcomes major events of the State.
From fortress to palace
The castle was founded in 1204, soon after the Normans arrived in Ireland. It was meant to defend the city, run the courts and guard the king's treasure. For more than seven centuries it was the centre of English, and later British, power on the island.
After the fire of 1684, almost everything was rebuilt in the 1700s. Today the Record Tower, built between 1204 and 1228, is the best-preserved medieval part. The battlements on top were only added in the 1800s.
The gate and the tower
The Bedford Tower was built from 1750, in place of an old medieval gate. It has a front of brick and stone and an eight-sided tower. Above the archway is a loggia, an open gallery with columns, used on grand occasions. On either side, two grand gateways carry statues by the sculptor John van Nost the Younger.
The garden of the name
Behind the buildings lies the Dubh Linn Garden. Shapes inspired by the sea are drawn on its lawn. The dark pool that gave the city its name was close by.
