Dublin Castle
| Dublin Castle | |
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| Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath | |
The Dubhlinn Gardens, which were completed in 1680, are located adjacent to Dublin Castle
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 Location within Ireland
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| General information | |
| Address | Dame Street |
| Town or city | Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′34.39″N 6°16′2.742″W / 53.3428861°N 6.26742833°WCoordinates: 53°20′34.39″N 6°16′2.742″W / 53.3428861°N 6.26742833°W |
| Elevation | 9 metres (30 ft) |
| Opened | 1204 |
| Owner | Irish government |
| Grounds | 44,000 square metres (11 acres) |
| Website | |
| www |
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Dublin Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath) off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the seat of the United Kingdom government's administration in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland. The Castle served as the seat of English, then later British government of Ireland under the Lordship of Ireland (1171–1541), the Kingdom of Ireland (1541–1800), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1922).
After the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, the complex was ceremonially handed over to the newly formed Provisional Government led by Michael Collins.
The castle today is a major tourist attraction and conferencing destination. The building is also used for State dinners (the most recent being for Queen Elizabeth II in 2011) and most significantly, the inauguration of the presidents of Ireland.
Dublin Castle fulfilled a number of roles through its history. Originally built as a defensive fortification for the Norman city of Dublin, it later evolved into a royal residence, resided in by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or Viceroy of Ireland, the representative of the monarch. The second in command in the Dublin Castle administration, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, also had his offices there. Over the years parliament and law courts met at the castle before moving to new purpose-built venues. It also served as a military garrison. "Castle Catholic" was a pejorative term for Catholics who were considered to be overly friendly with or supportive of the British administration.
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