Dublin Castle

The State Apartments dominate the south range of the Great Courtyard. They were built as the residential and public quarters of the Viceregal Court and were the seat of the executive and focus of fashionable and extravagant social life (an account of Viceregal Court life is given in Chapter 15 of the Dublin Castle History).

Today the Apartments are the venue for Ireland's Presidencies of the European Union, Presidential inaugurations and prestigious functions.

The Undercroft is sited at lower ground floor level in the Lower Castle Yard, opposite the Chapel Royal. The city walls join the Castle at this point. Here, the archway allowed small feeder boats to land provisions at the postern gate, from larger boats moored on the Liffey. The double archway and postern gate are still visible. Also on view here is the Viking defence bank, within the butt of the Norman Powder Tower. The original Tower was five stories high - the top storey being occupied by the Lord Deputy during the 16th century.

• Access to The State Apartments and Medieval Undercroft is by guided tour only
• The State Apartments are wheelchair accessible, however, the Medieval Undercroft is only accessible by stairs
• Groups of 10 or more must be booked in advance
• Foreign language tours may be available on request
• Information leaflets are available in the following languages: English, Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Greek, Chinese and Japanese
• Tour Prices: 
  • Adults: €4.50
  • Students (valid ID required)/Seniors: €3.50
  • Children: 12 and under: €2.00, 6 and under: Free
  • Group rate available on request

Heritage Cards: Alternatively you may wish to consider purchasing a Heritage Card. The Heritage Card guarantees free admission to all our fee-paying State managed OPW Heritage Sites located throughout the country for one year (with the exception of Muckross Traditional Farms, Killarney).  At certain locations, parking facilities and ancillary services are provided by other bodies or agencies. There may be a charge for the use of such services. Any such charges are separate to and are not covered by the Heritage Card. The card costs are as follows: Adults: €21.00 Students (valid ID required)/Seniors: €16.00 Family: €55.00 (max. 2 adults and a reasonable number of children under 18)           More information on Heritage Cards may be found             on the Heritage Ireland website.