– The stained glass windows in the Chapel Royal feature the coats of arms of many of the Irish Viceroys; ironically, the very last Irish viceroy filled the last open spot in the windows in 1922.
The Romans who settled Londinium (modern-day London) in England never annexed Hibernia (aka Ireland), leaving today’s major Irish city to be settled by the Vikings instead.
The original castle stood as the administrative headquarters for English rule in Ireland for over four centuries, until a fire broke out in 1684 that severely damaged the establishment.
The result was a large-scale need to rebuild, instigated by William Molyneux, Surveyor-General of Ireland. The effort took time, but over the next 150 years, the castle was transformed into a Georgian palace building by building. The State Apartments building was constructed along the south side of the castle’s upper yard. The building was a blend of formal public spaces and private rooms used by the Lord Lieutenant (or Viceroy) and his family.