Dublin City Hall

Dublin City Hall, Georgian elegance

The Dublin audio-guided tour leads you before the imposing Dublin City Hall, a neoclassical building with a solemn colonnaded façade. Built in the eighteenth century for the merchants' corporation, it originally served as the seat of the chamber of commerce.

A masterpiece of Georgian architecture

Built between 1769 and 1779 to the designs of the architect Thomas Cooley, the City Hall is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Dublin. First the Royal Exchange, a place of trade for merchants, it became the city hall in the nineteenth century. The building testifies to the prosperity of the Irish capital in the Age of Enlightenment.

What there is to see

Do not be intimidated by the façade: interior access is free. The Rotunda Hall, a circular vestibule covered by a dome and adorned with frescoes and columns, is a true jewel. There you also discover statues and an exhibition on the city's history. It is an elegant stop in the heart of the historic centre, next to Dublin Castle.

Practical information

Dublin City Hall is at the corner of Dame Street and Parliament Street, in the heart of Dublin, near the castle. Interior access is generally free during opening hours; opening times may vary. The Rotunda Hall is one of its highlights.

When was Dublin City Hall built?

It was built between 1769 and 1779 to the designs of Thomas Cooley, first as the Royal Exchange, before becoming the city hall in the nineteenth century.

What is the Rotunda Hall?

It is the circular vestibule of the City Hall, covered by a dome and adorned with frescoes and columns, considered a jewel of Georgian architecture.