The outstanding medieval fortress known simply as The Castle still stands protectively in the heart of Ireland’s historic Capital City. Located on the historic Dame Street, Dublin Castle occupies a sprawling complex of multiphase historic buildings that are situated on a massive area of 11 acres within one of Irelands most beautiful and culture filled cities.
In Irish Dublin Castle is Caislean Bhaile Atha Cliath and has played a central role in some of Ireland’s most historic and bloody events. Until 1922 Dublin Castle was the administrative power centre of the British Administration in Ireland.
It high walls contains some of most tantalizing secrets of Ireland’s past, if walls could talk, oh what stories would be told. These walls whisper of history, revolution and brutality, that engulfs Ireland’s past and our quest for freedom from British rule in Ireland. The Cobble Stones of Dublin Castle echo of the past events, that would shape our future.
The first castle on this site dates to the reign of King John I of England and Lord of Ireland but the majority of what we see today date from the 1800’s Constructed by Meller Fitzhenry in 1204 by the decree of King John I Of England who was also Lord of Ireland.
Dublin Castle was a massive defensive castle complex that was designed to protect and solidify Norman Control over the thriving town of Dublin.
It was a defensive feature city but as with all medieval castle it had several purposes. It was the centre of the Norman administration power and control in Ireland a brutal, cruel and bloody role that would become synonyms with Dublin Castle throughout its long existence.
The King’s treasurer in Ireland was also protected within its strong walls and protective ditch defensive system. Its location by the Dubh Linn (Dark Pool) gave Dublin its name. This historic pool was located on the River Poddle before it joins the River Liffey.
This gave Dublin Castle extensive views as well as for natural defensive features. The Norman era of Dublin Castle would have seen the main body of Dublin Castle’s construction was completed in approximately 1230.
It is of quintessential Norman design consisting of a massive stone keep in the centre of a courtyard, surrounded by high strong defensive walls with high defensive towers at the corners.
The city walls of Dublin would have extended from the walls of Dublin Castle. The walls of Dublin were incredible and intimidating.
The Normans diverted the River Poddle to the City by way of Archways where the City Walls met the Castle filling the Castle moat.
During the medieval period Dublin Castle continued to thrive, develop and change according to the times, adapting to the changing world around it.
Wooden buildings would have become stone, damage and changing fashion in architectural styles saw many phases of change and development and refurbishment however Dublin Castle has always survived and endured.
Dublin Castle was The British Centre of power in Ireland. It was used as a court, gathering place, banqueting hall and as a House of Parliament. It was famously the Court of Castle Chambers the Irish version of the English Star Chamber.
After a massive fire engulfed Dublin castle in 1684, massive refurbishments and repairs saw Dublin Castle become like a phoenix rising from the ashes, transforming form a dark medieval defensive fortress to a magnificent Georgian Palace paradise.
Medieval features of the past are now mainly below ground level with the exception of the Great Medieval Record Tower that was once a vital point in the castles defensive system.
In the aftermath of the United Irishman’s Rebellion of 1798 General James Holt was imprisoned within the walls of the Birmingham Tower while he awaited his transportation to Australia.
The Castle had always remained since its inception the centre of British Rule in Ireland. Dublin Castle was a major site during Ireland’s most historic event, The Easter Rising of 1916 saw the course of Irish history follow a road to freedom that was to be written in the blood of Irish men and women.
25 men and women from The Irish Citizen Army and Cuman na mBan succeeded in breaching the gatehouse and the guardroom of Dublin Castle but got no further, if the rebel forces had succeeded in taking Dublin Castle it would have been the shot that rang out around the world and perhaps the outcome of 1916 would have been different.
The first death of 1916 took place at Dublin Castle. Sean Connolly was tasked by Irish Citizen Army leader and signatory of Poblacht Na H Eireann, (The Proclamation) James Connolly to take members of the Irish Citizen Army and Cuman na mBan to Dublin Castle.
As Sean Connolly was leaving Liberty Hall to carry out his duty, James Connolly famously said “ Good luck Sean, we won’t meet again” and how right he was. As they approached Dublin Castle, James O’Brien a Dublin Metropolitan Police Officer was attempting to close the Castle Gates and was shot dead.
There is controversy about whether Sean Connolly actually fired those shots but what is certain is that James O’Brien was the first fatality of The Rising.
Major A J Price entered the Castle Courtyard and fired shots at Connolly and his personal; they retreated to City Hall and on the roof of City Hall Sean Connolly was shot dead by a British Sniper, after his fatal injury Helena Molony whispered a prayer into Connolly’s ear.
The Castle was also home to divisions of detectives who were commonly known as G-men.
This castle is where intelligence operations of the British administration ran counter operations, whose purpose was to subvert the mission Irish Nationalists in their fight for Irish Independence from British Rule.
These G-Men were to become the target of The Squad, a group of skilled assassins under the command of Michael Collins.
The Squad carried out major operations during the Irish War of Independence and was ruthless in their cause of freedom.
On the dark day 21st of November 1920 known as Bloody Sunday saw what was one of the most horrific crimes committed by the British Forces of occupation in Ireland.
When British Forces, the brutal and cruel scourge that were know as the Black and Tan’s accompanied by the Auxiliaries opened fire on the crowd gathered in Croke Park for the all Ireland football final.
Killing 32 innocent people including women and children. This violent and brutal atrocity was in retaliation for Irish Republican Army assassinations of 15 members of the British administration; Michael Collin’s Squad carried out their assassinations.
On the night of Bloody Sunday 3 Irish Republican Army members were tortured and murdered within the walls of Dublin Castle. Dick McKee, Conor Clune and Peadar Clancy.
These atrocities are still very fresh in the minds of the Irish people and the events that took place within the walls and around Ireland will never be forgotten.
Since the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 after the signing of the Anglo -Irish Treaty, Dublin Castle was ceremonially handed over to Michael Collins the leader of the new provisional government. Michael Collins was said to have been late for the ceremony and the British Viceroy said you are seven minutes late.
Collins is said to have replied, “we’ve been waiting 700 years you can have your seven minutes”.
With the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 after the signing of the Anglo Irish Treat Dublin Castle was now again central to Ireland’s history.
The Presidents of Ireland are still inaugurated within these historic walls. Dublin Castle took over the role of the Irish Courts of Justice for several years as The Four Courts was severally damaged during the Irish Civil War. The Castle is still used for important State occasions.
These occasions are usually carried out within Dublin Castle State Apartments.
Saint Patrick’s Hall is the greatest room in the apartments and was formally the ballroom during the British rule in Ireland.
The laying in state of Irish Presidents who die in office takes place here. The dazzling State Apartments are in the care of the Irish office of Public works and include the State bedrooms, the former private living quarters of the Viceroy to The Crown, The State Dining Room, State Drawing Room, Portrait Gallery and many others.
The history medieval undercroft is also open to the public and does have fortifications that date back to the Viking era of Dublin’s History.
The towers are some of the most notable features of the Castle the base of many of the towers is the original part of the Norman construction period however the modern part are obvious to the eye. Today the castle is home to the some Government Branches; The Revenue Commissioners has offices here.
The OPW has offices in what would have been the stables.
The OPW manages and cares for Dublin Castle. The Garda Museum has its home in the Treasury Building showcasing the outstanding history of our national police force. Where there was originally a dark black pool is now a beautiful garden that is a commemoration site for fallen members of An Garda Siochana.
Dublin Castle also appeared in movies such as Michael Collin staring Liam Neason and was the used as the set of the Vatican in the series The Tudors.
This site is an essential visit for anyone visiting Dublin, it is the epicentre of Dublin’s past and a living reminder of how as a people and nation we have thrived and overcome adversity, this is a site that saw Ireland set on the course of freedom, where our county was handed back to our hero Michael Collins.
It is somewhere that unless you walk through those haunting gates you cannot begin to understand the magnitude and significance of this once brutal place and how it was so deeply ingrained in the history of Ireland, now welcomes visitors to witness our history in person.