First Tourist Attraction - Dublin Castle

Went to Dublin Castle today with two of my roommates, Mary from New York and Rosie from Blackpool, England. The castle is right in the middle of Dublin down the street from my university so it was easy to get to and a gem to find in the middle of what has become such a modern metropolitan city. 

 The outside clock tower in the courtyard of the castle. To the right of this building is the tax office where Bram Stocker first started his career as a clerk. The castle itself remains today a fully functioning government building. Apparently yesterday the same Bollywood movie that was filming at Trinity was filming in the castle.

Dublin Castle was built to house the Protestant Ascendency, or the British nobility who came to plunder Ireland in the 12th century after the Vikings. The original medieval castle burnt down in a fire but remains of the exterior wall and the mote were excavated over the past 10 years.

 

This area of the old castle is the only part that remains of all of Viking Dublin. The Vikings gave the city it's name actually when they used a sea port off the coast of Dublin and termed it "Duflin" translated in English as the Blackpool. The water from the mote under the castle is an underground river that runs beneath the city and eventually connects to the Liffey.

The interior castle was rebuilt in the 17th century when Henry II ascended the British throne and came to Ireland. It has housed many dignitaries over the years, most notably for our time, Queen Elizabeth II on her royal tour which marked her first ever visit to the Republic of Ireland. 

Outside in the courtyard of the new castle. The only part of the old castle that remains as seen in pictures above is the tourrette from the 12th century prison (figures). 

notice the ram's head!

 The ladies receiving room on the right and reception room on the left where figures such as Queen Victoria would entertain her ladies in waiting and dignified guests.

 

Portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert still hang in the receiving room as Victoria specified that she commissioned the portraits specifically for the ladies room. 

Interior of the Throne Room. The last British monarch to sit on the seat was King George the VI, Queen Elizabeth's father.

 

These two symbols sit atop the throne, the unicorn represents the house of Stuart and the lion the house of Tudors, each figure holds the Irish symbol of the harp. 

 This chandelier which weighs more than a ton (scary to stand beneath let me tell you!) was commissioned after the Union in 1801. There is a wreath that runs along the base of the last ring of lights which contains three symbols, the rose for Britain, the thistle for Scotland and the shamrock for Ireland. The Union was a contentious historical event for the Irish but I suppose this entire castle was as well considering that it represented England's dominant rule in Ireland.

 This is the room where the Irish President, to be newly elected come this October will be officially sworn in. The current President Mary something or other has held the seat for 14 years.

 Their are three paintings on the ceiling of the room painted by an Italian artist who was later hired for several more portraits. The three murals represent key events in Irish history beginning with St. Patrick bringing the Christian religion to the island and ending with Henry II visit to Dublin to lay claim to the land.

Me at Dublin Castle.
(sorry it's not more of a close up...)