Dublin Castle is the heart of historic Dublin. In fact the city gets it name from the Black Pool - 'Dubh Linn' which was on the site of the present Castle Garden. The Castle stands on the ridge on a strategic site at the junction of the River Liffey and its tributary the Poddle, where the original fortification may have been an early Gaelic Ring Fort. Later a Viking Fortress stood on this site - a portion of which is on view to Visitors at the Undercroft.

The largest visible fragment of the original 13th century Norman Castle is the Record Tower. Beside it is the early 19th century Gothic revival Chapel Royal which was recently restored and features particularly fine plaster decoration and carved oak gallery fronts and fittings. The Great Courtyard contains the principal buildings of the post medieval Castle which formerly housed the viceragal administration. The south range houses the magnificent State Apartments which were built as the residential quarters of the viceregal court.

This centre of 20th century commerce is one of the most striking of Dublin's 18th century buildings. Built in 1729 to house the Irish Parliament, it became redundant when the British and Irish Parliaments were united in London, when the Irish Parliament voted itself our of existence.

It would be a shame to leave our noble city without spending a few moments in one of Europe's most unique chambers, the Irish House of Lords where the Irish Parliament once sat in this magnificent chamber with woodwork in Irish oak, you can see the 18th century tapestries, and a sparkling Irish crystal chandalier of 1233 pieces dating from 1765.