The story of Dublin Castle

The city's very name was born right here. The castle was built by the dark pool, Dubh Linn in Irish, which gave Dublin its name, and the River Poddle still runs beneath the complex today. It was founded as a major defensive work by Meiler Fitzhenry on the orders of King John of England in 1204, on the highest point of central Dublin, where it was protected by two rivers.

From the late 17th century onward it was mostly rebuilt as a Georgian palace. For centuries this was the seat of English, and later British, government in Ireland, and the official residence of the Lord Lieutenant who represented the monarch. After the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in December 1921, the complex was ceremonially handed over to the Provisional Government led by Michael Collins.

Since 1938, when Douglas Hyde was inaugurated here as the first President of Ireland, every presidential inauguration has taken place within these walls. The castle also hosted the state banquet for Queen Elizabeth II's historic visit in 2011.