Discover Alone
“River under the floor, lads.”
Dublin Castle is not just a fancy office park, though it does look the part. King John put a motte-and-bailey here in 1204, but do not look for knights jousting. You are staring at Georgian palaces from the 1700s. It served as the seat of British government until 1922, when the keys were handed to the new Irish state. Michael Collins signed the treaty here, which is a bit ironic given the British presence. The name comes from the Dubh Linn, a dark pool that gave Dublin its title. The River Poddle still flows underneath, so the floors are never truly dry. Now it hosts presidential inaugurations and state receptions. You can walk through the State Apartments, which are grander than my auntie’s living room. Some rooms close for official events, so keep your eyes open. It is a working complex with a museum side, so mind the guards. Do not go looking for the river, just enjoy the history above ground.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor, Public domain
Then Tom went looking for the oddest places around it.
Stop 2 · Five minutes' walk
City Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Markets
“Onions crying since the 1890s.”
City Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Markets is where fresh produce goes to die with style in County Dublin. Built by a man who died mid-project, it’s got a ghostly sense of humour and a tombstone that would read: 'Here lies the smelliest building in town.' I bet the onions are still crying from the 1890s. Check your nose before you get too close.
Corner-sited double-height red brick and terracotta market, erected 1892, having fifteen-bay north elevation to Mary's Lane and twenty-four bay west elevation to St. Michan's Street. Hipped roof of eight pitches arranged on east-west axis, with recent…
From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 50070296Photo: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Stop 3 · A short walk away
Dublin District Court
“Seagulls judging your biscuit choices.”
Collins Barracks on Benburb Street has seagulls that act like they own the place and have opinions about its massive stables. They’re probably arguing about whether the tobacco tax funded the whole thing or just the good biscuits. Wave at them from a safe distance, but don’t expect any polite replies in return.
Detached U-plan former hospital, dated 1900, comprising five-bay two-storey centre block with gabled breakfronts to either end of front (south) elevation, having two-storey canted bay windows to each breakfront, adjoining seven-bay two-storey over…
From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 50070336Photo: Nialljpmurphy, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Stop 4 · Round the corner
Saint Patrick's Tower
“Weathervane crozier, look up.”
Saint Patrick's Tower in County Dublin is a windmill that used to grind grain for whiskey. It was the largest smock mill in Europe! It’s got a copper roof and a Saint Patrick weathervane holding a crozier. Look up!
Freestanding round-plan tapered nine-stage smock windmill, built 1757, rebuilt 1805. Now disused. Copper ogee domed roof with figurative weather vane of Saint Patrick holding mitre and crozier to top. Brown brick walls with stepped brick eaves course, and…
From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 50080329Photo: Sarah777 at en.wikipedia, Public domain
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Stop 5 · Hop back in the car, 5 minutes
Alliance Française\National Library of Ireland
“Monkeys mocking your French accent.”
Alliance Française\National Library of Ireland in County Dublin has monkeys carved into the stone, which makes me feel very at home. It’s a former gentlemen's club now playing dress-up for French language learners. The monkeys are judging your accent right now.
Corner-sited three-storey L-plan former gentlemen's club over raised basement, built 1859-61. Open portico to front elevation and canted-bay to lower floors of north elevation. Interior reordered 1971. Front (west) elevation has five-bay ground and first…
From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 50100214Photo: Alicia Fagerving, CC BY-SA 3.0
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The whole day on one map
See everything else around Dublin Castle →
Over a million places across Ireland and Britain, all free. Explorer Tom has a story for nearly every one.