The New Murrey and Blue blog

The Normans didn’t only conquer mainland Britain, but—as Anglo-Normans—crossed the Irish Sea to eject the Vikings from their settlement in what is now Dublin. The remains of the Viking settlement have been excavated beneath the present castle. To read about Viking Dublin, go here.

One thing led to another and in the 13^th century King John visited the stone castle that had replaced the Norman motte-and-bailey. Go here to read more and here.

Dublin Castle became the official residence of the royal representative in Ireland. King Richard II also visited Ireland.

Today, 21st October, in 1449, George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV and Richard III, was born in Dublin Castle. Edward IV “executed” him as a traitor on 18th February 1478, allegedly by having him drowned in a butt of Malmsey. George was only twenty-eight.

Toward the end of the 17^th century the castle was gutted by fire and mostly replaced and extended. All that remains of the medieval castle is the tower, see the top illustration. It is also known as “…the Wardrobe or Robe Tower and it was once used to store the British monarch’s personal property and treasure in Ireland . The Medieval Tower is one of the oldest, structures surviving in the city of Dublin, dating the early 13 ^th century. Its walls are massive and some 12 feet (4 m) thick and it is capped with stone battlements. The tower was restored in 1811….” To read more, go to this article and this one.

The castle remained the official residence until 1922, when the new Republic of Ireland was born. Now (covid allowing) it attracts 500,000 visitors a year.