Welcome to Dublin Castle
Constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland. In 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government. It is now a major government complex and a key tourist attraction. We hope you enjoy your visit.
Opening Times
Open all Year Round
Monday – Sunday and Public Holidays 09:45 – 17.45
Last admission at 17:15
Closed 25 – 27 December and 1 January
Average Length of Visit: Guided Tour 1 hour. Self Guided Tour 30 minutes.
Admission is by guided tour with a self guiding option also available.
The Castle Blog
Read the latest posts below, and click through to the full Castle Blog for all news updates.
Social Distancing at Dublin Castle, 1832
By William Derham, Collections, Research & Interpretation In these times of Covid-19, with its restrictions and lockdowns, it can be easy, when searching for a word to describe the uncharted situation we find ourselves in, to reach for “unprecedented” – never...
“Brilliant Star, Brilliant badge, Gold Badge, ORDER OF ST PATRICK, for the use of The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.”
By William Derham, Curator of 'Splendour & Scandal: The Office of Arms at Dublin Castle'. So reads the engraved lettering on the oval brass plate of an otherwise nondescript mahogany and brass-bound box. It is no bigger than a biscuit tin, and to some eyes little...
100 Years of Women in Politics and Public Life: Objects in Focus
Countess de Markievicz’s Despatch Bag Audio-description of Countess Markievicz’s Despatch Bag. Commentary by the curator Sinéad McCoole. Commentary by curator Sinéad McCoole interpreted in Irish Sign Language I had no idea that she belonged to “the...