Come Here To Me!

Women show their loyalties, Dublin 1922.

Michael Staines, of the Irish Volunteers, was Quartermaster General within the General Post Office during Easter Week 1916. He was the son of an RIC man, sent to Frongoch for his part in the rebellion where he became ‘Camp Leader’. In 1922, only six years on from the insurrection, he would be leading the Civic Guards through the gates of Dublin Castle, once more playing a leading role in Irish history.

For 700 years, prior to Staines and his men marching into that complex, Dublin Castle had meant one thing and one thing only, representing the fortified home of English (and later British) rule in Ireland. Standing in its courtyard today Justice gazes down on you, the work of John van Nost the Younger dating to 1753 and facing not towards the people of Dublin but away from them. She comes complete with drainage holes in her scales, to keep them from tipping unevenly. One couldn’t make it up. Does any statue say so much?

Notice the holes in the scales of Justice.

To mark the 90th anniversary of the handover of Dublin Castle, a series of public tours and talks have been organised. Details on how to attend are below. Some of these events will give visitors a different experience to the normal Dublin Castle tour. I’ll be attending several of the events, and am especially looking forward to Dr. Shane Kenna’s lecture ‘The Secret Service in Dublin Castle’.

Monday 16 January 2012; Anniversary of Handover 18.15
The Last Years of British Rule in Dublin Castle
Tour with Aisling Gaffney

Sunday 22 January 2012 12.00
What do national and foreign dignitaries miss on their visit to Dubiln Castle? Join Liz McCay for a quirky tour of her choice of art works from the historic collection, including behind the scenes access.

Tuesday 24 January 2012 18.15

Bedford Hall

‘The Secret Service in Dublin Castle’:
Lecture on a permanent secret service department established at the Castle after the Phownix Park assassinations in May 1882.

By historian Dr Shane Kenna.

Sunday 29 January 2012 11.00
‘A Piece of Make-do and Mend’:
An architectural tour with William Derham.

Limited places available by booking only.
Please email jenny.papassotiriou@opw.ie or dublincastle@opw.ie
or Tel: 01 645 8812