The Castle Gardens

There have been gardens at Dublin Castle since at least the early years of the seventeenth century.

The gardens are located south of the Chapel Royal and State Apartments, enclosed by a stone wall, and entered through Celtic-inspired wrought-iron gates. Beyond a 'four seasons' garden, there are four smaller corner gardens, all featuring specially commissioned sculptures. Three of these are designated as memorial gardens: one dedicated to investigative journalist Veronica Guerin; another with a bronze sculpture commemorating the 2003 Special Olympics in Ireland, inscribed with the names of 30,000 volunteers; and the Garda Memorial Garden (redesigned 2009), which honors members of the Gardaí (Irish Police) killed in the line of duty, with their names on a roll of honor. This garden's design and sculptures reflect the impact of premature deaths.

The Dubh Linn Garden is located at the heart of the site, featuring patterns of sea serpents cut into the lawn. This garden is near the original 'dubh linn' or 'black pool' where Vikings harbored ships, which gave Dublin its name. The gardens are popular with visitors and citizens, especially on sunny summer days.