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Location
Phoenix Park, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Description
Aras an Uachtarain (previously known as the Viceregal Lodge) is situated in Phoenix Park on the north side of Dublin.
Aras an Uachtarain is Irish for 'house of the president' and is the official residence of the President of Ireland. The house was originally a fairly plain brick structure, but has been improved and added to over the years to the elegant white Palladian building you see today. The East Wing was added in 1849 for a visit of Queen Victoria. The Entrance Hall dates from 1751and features a magnificent barrel-vaulted ceiling with plaster busts in the ceiling coffers. The State Reception Room (formerly the ballroom) features a plaster cast of a Lafranchini panel in the ceiling. The Francini Corridor leads from the Entrance Hall past the State Reception Room. One side of the corridor is lined with bronze busts of Irish Presidents mounted on marble columns and the other side features stucco panels showing classical figures. The formal gardens wee established by Decimus Burton in the 1840s.
Facilities
Aras an Uachtarain is open for public tours on Saturdays only. Admission is free and admission tickets are available from the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre at Ashtown Castle. You need to book on the day of your visit, as there are no advance bookings or group bookings available. The building is closed from 24th to 26th December. Guided tours are held from 10:15am to 3:30pm. Tours of the gardens are conducted, weather permitting, between June and September.
History
Aras an Uachtarain was designed by architect Nathaniel Clements, with construction starting in the 18th century. The administration of the British Lord Lieutenant bought the house and it was used as his summer residence in the 1780s, and later became the Viceregal Lodge. The office of Lord Lieutenant was abolished in 1922 when the Irish Free State came into being. From 1922 until 1932 it was the residence of the Governor-General of the Irish Free State. In 1937 when the office of President of Ireland was established, the house became the house of the president.
Other Castles in the Area
Ardgillan Castle, County Dublin
Ashtown Castle, County Dublin
Barberstown Castle, County Kildare
Bective Abbey, County Meath
Bellinter House, County Meath
Castletown House, County Kildare
Clontarf Castle, County Dublin
Dublin Castle, County Dublin
Dunsany Castle, County Meath
Howth Castle, County Dublin
Malahide Castle, County Dublin
Manderley Castle, County Dublin
Maynooth Castle, County Kildare
Powerscourt House, County Wicklow
Pucks Castle, County Dublin
Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin
Robswall Castle, County Dublin
Russborough House, County Wicklow
Swords Castle, County Dublin
Tully's Castle, County Dublin
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