Custom House, Dublin
The Custom House is Dublin鈥檚 answer to the expression: 鈥淕o big or go home.鈥� Born in 1791, this stately giant is one of James Gandon鈥檚 architectural flexes, joining his other local hits like the Four Courts and O鈥機onnell Bridge. It cost a jaw-dropping 拢500,000 sterling to build鈥攑artly because it鈥檚 massive, partly because Gandon had a thing for details, and mostly because it鈥檚 sitting on what used to be a soggy mudflat. To make sure it didn鈥檛 sink like your average late-night decision, builders laid it on a forest of pine planks. Fancy solution...
Ironically, just nine years later, the Act of Union decided customs duties belonged in London. So, this grand monument to Irish trade was suddenly... unemployed.
Still, the building held its head high鈥攐r rather, its 35-metre dome, modeled after that by Christopher Wren at London鈥檚 Greenwich Hospital. Its long Neoclassical fa莽ade is peppered with sculptures by Edward Smyth: river gods, cattle heads, and other stone-faced symbols of Ireland鈥檚 economy. Above the entrance, the Liffey itself watches over with appropriate gravitas.
After being repurposed for various municipal administrative duties鈥攕uch as public hygiene, poor relief, and even accommodating, at one point, a huge Famine pot鈥攖he building faced calamities. A devastating fire in 1833 and deliberate torching by the IRA in 1921 are just a few of them. Still, in the style befitting a great diva, the structure made a remarkable comeback鈥攑ainstakingly refurbished, slightly altered both inside and out, but still stealing the show...
Apart from government departments, over the years, the Custom House has also accommodated all sorts of characters, including comic novelist Flann O鈥橞rien and the ever-melodic songwriter and author Percy French.
You don鈥檛 need to go inside to feel its presence; a lap around the building offers plenty of architectural eye-candy. And for that chef鈥檚 kiss Instagram moment, cross to the south side of the river. Trust us鈥攜our camera won't be disappointed.
Ironically, just nine years later, the Act of Union decided customs duties belonged in London. So, this grand monument to Irish trade was suddenly... unemployed.
Still, the building held its head high鈥攐r rather, its 35-metre dome, modeled after that by Christopher Wren at London鈥檚 Greenwich Hospital. Its long Neoclassical fa莽ade is peppered with sculptures by Edward Smyth: river gods, cattle heads, and other stone-faced symbols of Ireland鈥檚 economy. Above the entrance, the Liffey itself watches over with appropriate gravitas.
After being repurposed for various municipal administrative duties鈥攕uch as public hygiene, poor relief, and even accommodating, at one point, a huge Famine pot鈥攖he building faced calamities. A devastating fire in 1833 and deliberate torching by the IRA in 1921 are just a few of them. Still, in the style befitting a great diva, the structure made a remarkable comeback鈥攑ainstakingly refurbished, slightly altered both inside and out, but still stealing the show...
Apart from government departments, over the years, the Custom House has also accommodated all sorts of characters, including comic novelist Flann O鈥橞rien and the ever-melodic songwriter and author Percy French.
You don鈥檛 need to go inside to feel its presence; a lap around the building offers plenty of architectural eye-candy. And for that chef鈥檚 kiss Instagram moment, cross to the south side of the river. Trust us鈥攜our camera won't be disappointed.
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Custom House on Map
Sight Name: Custom House
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Dublin, Ireland
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
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