Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-30
ABOUT DUBLIN CASTLE
Scene of Much Bloody History
and Cruelty.
1T WAS FINISHED IN 1918
Only a Little of the Original Struct-
ure Remains.
IRISH PARLIAMENT THERE
It Used to Assemble at the Castle
Recent Robbery Of Regalia
Unsettled.
BY WILLIAM r.. CURTIS.


BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
DUBLIN. June 81. 1905.
Dublin Castle does not correspond with
the conventional ideas of what castle
should be- 1t looks more like the dormi-
tory Of an ancient university or hospital
or a military barrack. although there
are two ancient towers in which many
men have been imprisoned and in which
several patriots have died. and the south
side of the pile which faces south over
looks beautiful lawn in the very center
of Dublin has quite the appearance of
fortress. It has been the scene OF much
bloody history, much treachery and
cruelty and many deeds of valor have
been done in the two courtyards One of
the viceroys Of the sixteenth century. in
a letter to the King Of England. describ-
ing its partial destruction by fire. wrote
that he had lost nothing but a few bar
rels OF powder and the worst castle in the
worst situation In Christendom."
a certain portion of the building is re-
served for the official residence of the
lord lieutenant and there are long suites
of quaint old rooms with antique furniture
now disguised with its summer wrappings
of pink Powered chintz. in which kings
and queens and dukes and earls have been
entertained for centuries. In olden times
1t was the habit OF the lord lieutenant to
permit his guests to go to the wine cellar
with glasses In their hands and drink
from whatever hogshead they pleased, and
1t is recorded that some gentlemen who
were imbibing longer than usual sent
the cellarer to the Duke OF Ormonde. who
then occupied the Office. to provide them
with chairs. With that true Wit that
DISTINGUISHED the Irish race high and low.
the duke replied that he did not encourage
his guests to drink any longer than they
could stand. This custom was abandon
ed by the Earl Of Halifax owing TO the
carelessness Of certain bewildered gen
tlemen who left the wine running out OF
the spiggot and lost him many gallons
OF precious Madeira.
Lord Aberdeen Spends Little Time
There.
The present lord lieutenant, Lord Aber-
deem, spends as little time in the castle
as possible because the vice-regal lodge.
his country residence. which is only half
an hours drive distant in Phoenix Park,
is so much more comfortable and home
like. but all state ceremonies must take
place at the castle, and their excellencfes
and the household usually bring in their
court costumes early in February. for the
season commences the second Tues
Wednesday evening. reception Thurs
day and Friday a banquet. In the en-
suing week state ball Is given. and
twice a week thereafter entertainments
until the 18th Of March. when the season
is finished with St. Patricks ball. The
presentation OF guests may be arranged
for at the levees or the drawing room,
and everybody who has been presented
can go to the ball.
The Inauguration of new viceroy
takes place In the throne room. where
also a farewell reception is held when
he retires.
The castle dates back to the days when
the Irish people were wild and half saw
age clans. and 1t was necessary to have
some stronghold. as the king said. Ito
curb the city as well as to defend it,
and to provide safe place for the GUS
tOdy Of the royal treasure. 1t was 10
Gated in the center of the present city
Of Dublin, but at that time was outside
what is called Cork Hill. because -.ichard
Boyle. the Earl OF Cork. had his castle
upon the slight elevation 1t now occu-
pies. Meiller Fitzhenry. an illegitimate
son of Henry ii. designed and began the
building 1t was finished in 1918, and
Irish history.
Very little Of the original structure re-
mains. only portion of the walls. The
towers have been cut down and modern
lied. One of them is now used for supper
room for social occasions. and a kitchen Is
on the lower floor. The other. which was
originally a prison and is the most COM
plete surviving fragment of the ancient
fortress. is repository for historical
documents and the records of the govern
ment for the last four or five centuries.
There are three circular rooms. one above
the other; the walls are nineteen feet
thick In places and four or five long mar
row cells are built into them like recesses
far end. One of the cells has secret
chamber hidden in the wall and accessible
only by a revolving door, which is diff
cult to distinguish from the rest of the
stone.
Tower Not Used as a Prison Since
1903.
The tower has not been used As a prison
since 1898 and 1903. the rebellion of En-
met and Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and
the documents relating to their con-
spiracy are preserved here In the very
cells where the men who were convicted
by them lay awaiting trial and execution.
The late Mr.. Lecky. the historian. search
ed them thoroughly and gave surprising
account OF the character OF the private
papers that were seized with the effects
OF the patriots in those days. Love let
tiers, poems, reflections on various sub
jects rules OF conduct. maxims of the
sages, drafts of speeches and proclama-
tions fin soaring language and many at
tempts at literary work are lying mere
with the reports of spies. informers. de-
tectives and officials. some Of them from
comrades whose treachery was never sus-
pected and which Mr.. Lecky was not per-
mitted to publish even at this late day.
The castle. which is now used only for
social and clerical purposes by the vice.
roy and a few of the executive depart
ments was besieged in 1884. during the
rebellion of that vain and reckless youth.
Thomas Fitzgerald. son of the Earl of
Kildare. who is known in history as
'Silken Thomas" because his horsemen
wore q fringe of silk upon their helmets
and their armor. He was appointed tenn
porary governor during the absence of
his father. who had been summoned 10
London to answer certain charges. A
false report having reached Thomas that
the earl had been beheaded. he declared
war in Ireland upon King Henry and be-
sieged the castle for several months, until
the people Of Dublin got tired of the
strife and drove him away.
In 1888 trial by combat took place
in the courtyard of the castle between
Conner MacCormack OConnor and
league Fitzpatrick O'Connor to settle the
responsibility for the murder of clans
man. The weapons were sword and
shield. The lord justices and the coun-
cilors, the governor general. the sheriffs
R1.e> L. - Ill.