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.
The Clock Tower Building & The State Stables
By Dr Aidan O’Boyle, Guide & Information Officer The Clock Tower Building, now the Chester Beatty Library. The Clock Tower Building is located directly behind the State Apartments, it is bounded to the east by the Castle Gardens and to the west by the Ship Street...
The Bedford Tower, Castle Gates & Guard House
By Dr Aidan O’Boyle, Guide & Information Officer By the middle of the 18th century most the Upper Castle Yard either had already been, or was in the process of being, rebuilt. In February 1750 the Surveyor General, Arthur Jones Neville, sent a memorial to the...
Ship’s Biscuits in Ship Street Barracks
By Anna Caffrey, Guide & Information Officer Ship Street Barracks and the Rising Nestled in the south-west corner of Dublin Castle are the brick clad buildings of Ship Street Barracks. Four of the buildings were originally built around the 1750s and were converted...