Dublin Castle

It is located in Dublin city south of the Liffey Dublin castle was founded  in 1204 by order of King  John. There is one entrance and some heavy duty towers . The castle covered most of the  ground of  the upper yard . By the beginning of the seventeenth century the castle was fully built. Law courts, meetings of parliament, the residence of the Viceroy and a council chamber. In 1534 the castle came under siege by Thomas Fitzgerald otherwise known as “Silken Thomas”.

 On the 7th April 1684 a fire broke out in the Vice regal Quarters. To stop it spreading to the Powder tower the linking building was blown up. New designs by Sir William Robinson were built by October 1688. In 1907 the so called Irish Crown Jewels were stolen under the very noses of the armed guards. They were never recovered.

 Today the State Apartments of Dublin Castle are used for Presidential inaugurations and during the time Ireland held the presidency of the EEC. Dublin Castle is also used for other important Government meetings. The Castle also held the Metropolitan Area Headquarters for the Garda Síochána for one and half centuries before they moved to Harcourt Square.

 The building pictured above is Bedford Tower. The tower was built between 1750-1760 the first balcony was used for the state musicians who performed before assembled officials and the garrison cavalry on special occasions. The Bedford Clock Tower named after the lord Lieutenant John Russell Duke of Bedford was built over the base of the original western gate tower of the medieval castle.

     Paul Moran & Paul McGrath

The Old Castle

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