The Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle 20th October 2022 – 19th March 2023 The Office of Public Works, in association with The Paul Kane Gallery, is proud to present the exhibition on the extraordinary life and work of Veronica Bolay. Veronica was born in 1941 in Hamburg and graduated from the Hamburg School of Art and Design with the highest possible honours. Veronica moved to Dublin in 1971. Securing early shows in the Setanta Gallery, the Lad Lane, Lincoln and Grafton Galleries she immersed herself in the blossoming artistic community of Dublin in the 70’s and 80’s, exhibiting her ..read more

The Objects of Love Exhibition State Apartment Galleries, Dublin Castle 29th September 2022 – 29th January 2023 The Office of Public Works in association with Holocaust Awareness Ireland presents The Objects of Love by Oliver Sears. This poignant exhibition tells the fate of individual lives torn asunder in Nazi-occupied Poland and beyond. Told through a curated collection of precious family objects, photographs and documents, Dublin based art dealer, Oliver Sears vividly brings to life this extreme edge of European history where his mother Monika and grandmother Kryszia are the beating hearts ..read more

In a year full of commemorative centenary events, 17 August is not one date that stands out immediately. However, it was significant in the life of Dublin Castle and for Ireland as a whole. On that day, 100 years ago, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) finally departed the Castle to be replaced by a new Irish police force, the Civic Guard. The Castle had long served as a base for policing in Ireland. Since 1836, the head of The RIC known as the Inspector General and his deputy had been based there in offices that occupied a block in the Lower Castle Yard. The RIC was responsible for policing o ..read more

‘Sing an English aria from time to time. This pleases them very much’- Johann Sigismond Cousser: a Hungarian Musician in Ireland by Peter Whelan, Artistic Director, Irish Baroque Orchestra Although almost entirely unknown today, Johann Sigismond Cousser was probably the most distinguished composer to have lived in Dublin for an extended period. This well-travelled composer arrived in Dublin in 1707, where he spent the final 20 years of his life. Born in Presburg (then Hungary) in 1660, his professional work took him across Europe, particularly to the German-speaking lands of the Holy ..read more

The Bedford Tower, Dublin Castle. Photograph by Donal Murphy. Text by William Derham. The Bedford Tower dominates the Upper Castle Yard of Dublin Castle and in 1922 it was home to the Office of Ulster King of Arms, the heraldic authority of all Ireland. The Office comprised myriad functions connected to genealogy, heraldry, pomp and circumstance, and was home to an impressive library of books and manuscripts connected to that work. The head of the Office, the Ulster King of Arms, was largely absent and the daily functions of the Office were carried out by his deputy, Thomas Ulick Sadleir. Co ..read more

With Dr Kate O’Malley and Dr Ann Marie O’Brien With an introduction and closure by Dr Sinead McCoole, curator of the Pop up Museum ‘100 Years of Women in Politics and Public Life’ at the Coach House of Dublin castle, currently running on line.   Maud Gonne, Iseult Stuart and Andrew Woods. Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.   Listen to two fascinating talks by historians Ann Marie O’Brien and Kate O’Malley on: Mary MacSwiney, Muriel MacSwiney, Maud Gonne MacBride, Charlotte Despard, Mollie Woods, Mairead Gavan Duffy, Cáit O’Ceallaigh, Alice Ginnell, Anita Bulfin, Nancy Wys ..read more

by William Derham, Research & Collections One hundred years ago, on 16 January 1922, an event that The Irish Independent described as ‘certainly the most significant event in Irish history for hundreds of years’, took place on a cold Monday at Dublin Castle. At 1.45 pm that afternoon the machinery of government, and the Castle itself, were formally handed over by the last Lord Lieutenant, or Viceroy, of Ireland to the new Provisional Government. Often represented as a colourful ceremony, what follows is a description of what actually happened that day, drawn primarily from accounts that ap ..read more

One hundred and one years ago this month, as the War of Independence continued to unfold across the island of Ireland, Christmas approached. It may seem strange to consider Christmas during a time of conflict, not least an historic one that has left such bitterness behind it, but sometimes it can also be hopeful. In December 1920, IRA member Ernie O’Malley was captured by British forces in Kilkenny and was taken to Dublin, where he was imprisoned in Dublin Castle. For part of his time he was kept in the Guard Room of the Auxiliary “F” Company, which looked out onto Exchange Court. The same Gua ..read more

American President Richard Nixon at Dublin Castle for a Luncheon held in his Honour, with An Taioseach Jack Lynch, circa October 1970 (Part of the Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI Collection). by Bronagh Dempsey, Curator of ‘Famous Faces’ For centuries now, Dublin Castle has played host to many visitors from around the world. These visitors included royalty, presidents, prime ministers, poets, writers, athletes and other key figures. The exhibition ‘Famous Faces’ offers visitors a glimpse into some of the key state and political figures who have graced the halls of Dublin Castle since the ..read more

State Apartments, Dublin Castle Continues to 6 February 2022 What Colour is Metal? is a new exhibition of innovative master-metalsmiths from across 10 countries, exploring the intriguing relationship between metal and colour in contemporary silversmithing and jewellery. What Colour is Metal? exhibition captures a vital time in studio metalsmithing and patination. Long-time leaders who have wholly altered the terrain continue to push boundaries of their materials, as the mid-career metalsmiths whom they trained forge new directions, and new generations of makers bring fresh approaches to ..read more