The scene of tonight’s reception

The scene of tonight’s reception

21 Jun 1932

Thousands of visitors who will attend the State function at Dublin Castle to night, and who have never been within its precincts before, may be interested in some notes on its ancient history.’ Yesterday many workmen were busily engaged laying carpets, putting shrub, and flowers into place, and doing other in preparation for to-night’s event.

As the visitors drive through, the Cork Hill gate, which is the entrance for all vehicles they -will cross the site of the Ditch and on the right will pass the main guard, now the office of the Ulster King of Arms, in which are traces – of the original gate tower. A space on the left in which is a found – to was a site purchased in the middle of the 18th century for a replica of the Main Guard but the completion of what would have been an imposing entrance was never completed.

THE UPPER YARD
The buildings of the Upper Yard, which when entered, represent the limits of the Medieval castle, erected at the beginning of the 13th century, the only visible trace of which remaining is the Wardrobe Tower, sometimes erroneously filed the Berminqham Tower, over which was the national flag, and which retains practically all its original appearance. The Storehouse Tower, to the north-east, at Cork Tower, to the north-west, have disappeared. the site of the latter being now occupied by the Post Office buildings. However, the foundations of the Berminqham Tower under the Round Room, which supper will be served to certain the guests, can still lie descerned.

OCTAGONAL ROOM
There is also a trace of the original Castle in the charming octagonal room through which the majority of the guests will pass going to the marquees, and under the bridge the well-known River Poddle still runs, although now confined to what night he termed a brick sewer.

ST. PATRICK’S HALL
St. Patrick’s Hall, which is the scene of the reception, was built in 1747, and beneath it still remains the thick curtain wall which formed the outer defences of the Castle. The ceiling of St. Patrick’s jail is adorned by interesting paintings depictions St. Patrick converting the Irish, Henry II – receiving the submission of the Irish chieftains. George III. being endowed with attributes of liberty and justice and other allegorical representation.

The wall of the Upper Yard was rebuild at the close of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th centuries, and as the male visitors are depositing their cloaks in the temporary cloakroom they will notice that the arches which formed this colonnade have been filled in.

THE CHAPEL ROYAL
In the Lower Castle Yard, brilliantly floodlighted, is the Chapel-Royal, which is comparatively modern, as it was built in 1814 by the architect Johnston at a cost of £42,000. It contains, in Tullamore limestone, the heads of the Kings of England, and in the coloured glass windows are the arms of the Lord Lieutenants of Ireland. To those who remember the State apartments many years ago, it will he interesting to see them restored to their original character, a heavy task that has been carried out by the Office of Public Works in a very few weeks. The portraits of
a ion” line or Viceroys again adorn the walls of whom it may be said with Andrew Maxwell, “There are the good, the bad, and these, mixed everywhere.”

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