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Historical SitesBelow you will find an enumeration of almost all historical sites in and around Dublin. From castles & churches to cemeteries and other cultural heritage sites. We also provide you with contact details, opening hours, admission charges and a short explanation of the particular attractions. Ardgillan CastleBalbriggan The castle was built in 1738 and consists of two stories. The ground floor is beautifully furnished in Georgian and Victorian style and the first floor is home to regular exhibitions. Opening Times:
October to March:
Ashtown CastlePhoenix Park Ashtown Castle is situated next to the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre in Phoenix Park. It is fully restored and its medieval tower house dates before the 17th century. Casino, MarinoMalahide Road The Casino is located 3 miles north of Dublin's city centre. Built by Sir William Chambers, it is considered as one of the finest 18th century neo-classical buildings in Europe. Designed as a pleasure house it contains 16 finely decorated rooms. A surprise, as Casino means "small house". Opening Hours:
April: May: June-September: October: November-December: Christ Church Cathedral [ www.cccdub.ie ]High Street / Dublin Street The Christ Church Cathedral is Dublin's oldest building and was founded by the Norse King Sitric around 1030. The city's history is obviously linked with Christ Church as the medieval Irish Parliament met within the church and it is also the place where King Edward VI of England was crowned. Opening Hours:
Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre [ www.dalkeycastle.com ]Castle Street The town of Dalkey is situated on the southern end of Dublin Bay. The Heritage Centre houses a medieval towerhouse of the 15th century, a tenth century church including graveyard and a modern exhibition area with an art gallery. James Joyce's second chapter of 'Ulysses' is set in Dalkey. Opening Hours:
Drimnagh Castle Restoration ProjectLongmile Road The Drimnagh Castle is situated in the south of Dublin. It has been established in the 13th century. With government assistance, a major restoration project took place in 2000. Many of the original interior has been restored and may now be visited. The castle also offers interactive education and entertaining heritage drama. The guided tour lasts approximately one hour. Opening Hours:
November 1st to 31st March: Dublin Castle [ www.dublincastle.ie ]Dame Street Dublin Castle is a major tourist attraction. Based in Dublin city centre right between of the River Liffey and its tributary the Poddle. All historic buildings have been restored and may be visited - from the Medieval Tower to the Chester Beatty Library. The castles State Apartments today host Heads of State, Presidents and leaders of business, industry and government. Opening Hours:
Famine Emigrants SculpturesCustom House Quay The emigrant sculptures were built in memory of the hundreds of thousands of Irish people who were forced into emigration during the famine. With their few possessions they departed from Dublin docks to Liverpool with America as their final destination. The sculptures are located beside the Custom House on the riverside. General Post OfficeO'Connell Street The General Post Office became a symbol of 1916 Easter Rising, when it has been seized by members of the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army on Easter Monday. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic has been read out from the steps of the building by Patrick Pearse. Opening Hours:
Admission is free Glasnevin CemeteryCity Centre Ireland's largest cemetery, Glasnevin, has been opened in 1832 in order to establish a burial place for the Catholics. As it has later acted as the National cemetery, a lot of famous men who helped shape modern Ireland are buried there. Ha'penny BridgeThe Ha'penny Bridge was established in 1816 and is Dublin's oldest pedestrian crossing over the River Liffey. It was also the first iron bridge in Ireland and originally named Liffey Bridge. The bridge got its modern nickname, because there was a half-penny charge to cross it until 1919. Kilmainham GaolInchicore Road The Kilmainham Gaol is one of the largest unoccupied goals in Europe. It gives the visitor a good insight into how it was to have been confined in one of the forbidden bastions. The Kilmainham Gaol houses an exhibition illustrating the political history of the prison and its restoration. Opening Hours:
Leinster HouseKildare St The Leinster House has been the formal palace of the Duke of Leinster. The government bought it in 1924 for parliamentary use. Visitors may now visit the main rooms as well as the public gallery. Admission is free Lusk Heritage CentreLusk Village The Lusk Heritage Centre includes a round tower, a 19th century church and a medieval belfry. These monuments were built over a period of almost a thousand years forming a unit nowadays. Malahide Castle [ www.visitdublin.com ]Malahide Malahide Castle was a fortress as well as the private home of the Talbot family. The family lived in the castle from 1185 to 1973. According to a legend, 14 members died at the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 while they were having breakfast together. The house is furnished with wonderful period furniture and has an enormous collection of Irish portrait paintings. Tours are available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Finnish and Japanese. Opening Hours:
April to September October-March
Mansion HouseDawson Street Since 1715 the Mansion House has been the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The house includes a Round Room, where the Irish Declaration of Independence has been proclaimed, a metal portico and a large dining room. Marsh's Library [ www.marshlibrary.ie ]Marsh's Library The Marsh's Library was the first public library in Ireland. Established in 1701 it is now over 300 years old. It contains more than 25,000 books regarding the 16th, 17th and 18th century covering topics such as science, law, medicine, music as well as classical literature. Opening Hours:
Newbridge HouseNewbridge House The Newbridge House is located twelve miles north from Dublin's city centre. It has been established for the Archbishop in 1737. The house is set in 350 acres of land and includes one of the finest Georgian interiors in Ireland. Each room opened to the public houses antique and original furniture. Opening Hours:
October to March
Newman HouseRuth Ferguson The Newman House consists of two Georgian buildings. Both contain samples of the finest 18th century plasterwork in Dublin. Number 85 has been established around 1740 and has recently been restored. Dated to ca. 1765, number 86 houses lovely plasterwork in the rococo style. The Newman House later became home to the Catholic University with Cardinal John Henry Newman as the first rector. Tour Hours: 2nd April to 31st August:Rathfarnham CastleRathfarnham The Rathfarnham Castle was built in the end of the 16th century by Adam Loftus. The castle has a very interesting and colourful history. It was built as a defensible residence and was soon considered as one of the finest castles in the county. Opening Times:
St. Ann's ChurchDawson Street St. Ann's Church was founded in 1707. Visitors may admire a series of colourful stained glass windows from the middle of the 19th century. St. Audoen's ChurchCornmarket St. Audoen's Church is the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin. It houses an award-winning exhibition illustrating the importance of the church in the life of the medieval city. Opening Hours:
Admission is free St. Mary's AbbeyChapter House Founded in 1139, St. Mary's Abbey has once been the wealthiest Cistercian Abbey in Ireland. Today there are only two rooms remaining - the Chapter House and the Slype. Opening Hours:
St. Mary's Pro Cathedral [ www.procathedral.ie ]83 Marlborough Street St. Mary's Pro Cathedral serves as the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. It was constituted from Saint Mary's Chapel Liffey Street in 1825. The church is one of the four mensal parishes of the Archbishop of Dublin. Opening Hours:
St. Michan's ChurchChurch St St. Michan's Church has been rebuilt on the site of a Hiberno-Viking church of the 11th century in 1686. The church has magnesian limestone walls and magnificent woodcarvings of fruits and violins. According to a legend, Händel has played on the organ of the church. Opening Hours:
17th March to 31st October
St. Patrick's Cathedral [ www.stpatrickscathedral.ie ]Patrick's Close St. Patrick's Cathedral was built in 1192 by John Comyn, the first Anglo-Norman Bishop of Dublin. The present building was constructed between 1200 and 1270. Gradually the cathedral fell into disrepair, but was eventually restored between 1860 and 1900. St. Patrick's Cathedral is not only a museum, but also a church with services held every day of the year. Opening Hours:
Saturday Sunday
Tailor's HallThe Tailors Hall The Tailor's Hall has been established in 1706 and is the only remaining guildhall in Dublin. From 1706 till 1841 it was the meeting place of the Guild of Merchant Tailors. Today it is the headquarters of the National Trust for Ireland, An Taisce. The Tailor's Hall may only be accessed by appointment. The Oscar Wilde HouseNumber One The Oscar Wilde House has been the childhood home of Oscar Wilde from 1855 to 1878. In 1994 the American College Dublin came into possession of the house. Tourists may visit the study, drawing and dining room as well as the Sir William Wilde Surgery. Tour Hours:
The Shaw Birthplace33 Synge Street The Victorian house is the birthplace of Bernard Shaw, one of the greatest play writers in the English language. It has been restored to its Victorian elegance and is opened to the public since 1993. The Shaw Birthplace is worthwhile visiting as it has the appearance that the family have just gone out. Opening Hours:
Trinity College [ www.tcd.ie/library/ ]College Street Trinity College is the oldest University in Ireland, founded in 1592. The Old Library was built between 1712 and 1732 and houses the Book of Kells, a 9th Century manuscript of the gospels. Opening Times:
October to April:
Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church [ www.carmelites.ie ]57 Aungier Street The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church has been established in 1539, but has been extended in the 19th century. The church houses many altars and shrines, the most famous contains the remains of St. Valentine. Admission is free   |
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