The Pictures of Dublin: Dublin Castle

Bedford Tower from Cork Hill

I took a few quick pictures of Dublin Castle while crossing the courtyard and the garden to get to the Chester Beatty Library, the museum I wanted to visit (http://picturesofdubhlinn.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/chester-beatty-library.html)

< Cork Hill Gate with the statue of Justice, not blindfolded

Castle Hall and Bedford Tower from the Great Courtyard

In the 10^th century, Viking defences were built here. Dublin Castle was started in 1204 under the orders of King John of England. It became a fortified stronghold and, ever since, has represented the seat of power in Ireland – including the British colonial rule, the independent Irish Free State (1922), and today’s Presidential events (inauguration, State visits).

Overall, Dublin Castle is a group of buildings set around a yard. There are several old looking towers, but it doesn’t look anything like a castle.

Many structures and elements date from the 18^th and 19^th centuries; fire damaged most of the original structures in the 17^th c .
There are also some conferences centres on site.

The entrance to the State Apartments (on left, under the portico)

Dublin Castle is a popular visitors attraction. One can visit the State Apartments, but also the Chapel Royal, the remains of the Gun Powder Tower and a Viking defence bank.

The entrance at Dublin Castle

To get to the Dubh Linn Gardens and the Chester Beatty Library, one can go through the coffee shop, the terrace and the Octagonal Tower at Dublin Castle.

The Octagonal Tower is fairly plain but has a beautiful green marble floor, I expect Connemara marble >

Strangely, the outside the Octagonal Tower has been painted blue.

< From here, one can see the Chapel Royal, at the far corner, and the round Record Tower (see further down).

Lovely peacock as a weather vane on this clock tower, on another building at Dublin Castle (18th century clock tower building). The Chester Beatty Library is below that.

The weather was… grey!

View of the Dubh Linn Gardens and the Coach House, from the terrace of the coffee shop at Dublin Castle.

The Dubh Linn Gardens (1680) are where the River Poddle created a dark tidal pool, in Viking times, and is the site that gave Dublin its name, since “black pool” in Irish is “dubh linn.”

The old Coach House (1833) built for the horses is now an events venue.

In 2003, the Special Olympics Summer Games took place in Ireland. The international organisation provides sports opportunities for people with learning disability. This monument is surrounded by plaques with the names of everyone involved in the 2003 games: 7000 athletes, 3000 coaches and I think the volunteers who helped.

Dublin Castle and its many architectural styles:

the Octogonal Tower in blue, Record Tower and the Chapel Royal (on right)

Record Tower dates from circa 1228 and is the only surviving part of the medieval fortification. The battlements (around the top) were added in the 19^th century.

The crypt of the Chapel Royal is now an arts centre.