Dublin Castle & Chester Beatty Library

An easy 6-minute walk from the hotel’s front door will bring you to the gates of Dublin Castle. Originally built in the 13th Century on an old Viking site, Dublin Castle was the centre of clerical power under the English (and later British) administration.

In 1922, the site was handed back to the Irish government, who have since opened it as a tourist attraction for visitors to the city. Unfortunately, a fire in 1684 destroyed a large portion of the castle and several chambers were lost at this time- but there is still plenty to be seen onsite, including sections of Medieval and even Viking foundations.  

The State Rooms, rebuilt after the fire in the 17th Century in a truly impressive Georgian style, can also be toured- provided that they are not in use, as they are still used to this day to host visiting dignitaries. Every Irish president since 1938 has been sworn in in these rooms and other notable visitors have included John F. Kennedy (1963), Nelson Mandela (1990) and Queen Elizabeth II (2011).

We would always recommend any of our guests visiting Dublin Castle to also stop by the Chester Beatty Library. Admission to the library is free of charge (although donations are gratefully received) and offers one of the more unique experiences in Dublin.

Sir Alfred Chester Beatty was a successful mining engineer from the United States of America- at one time, one of the richest men in the world and famed for his global travels. 

Upon his death, he bequeathed all that he had collected on his travels to the city of Dublin, asking for it to be displayed for future generations. The Chester Beatty Library therefore houses books, manuscripts and other curiosities from all four corners of the earth, displayed in a very impressive fashion.