Dublin Custom House

Dublin Custom House

The Custom House is located on Custom House Quay on the north bank of the River Liffey in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, situated between Butt Bridge and Talbot Memorial Bridge. This masterpiece of 18th-century neoclassical architecture is hailed as the crown jewel of Dublin’s city buildings. Today, it serves as the headquarters for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The proposal to build a new Irish Custom House came from John Beresford, who later became Ireland’s first Commissioner of Revenue in 1780. The original architect was Thomas Cooley, who unfortunately passed away. In 1781, Beresford appointed James Gandon as the principal architect for the Custom House—this was Gandon’s first major project of such scale. The construction was completed in 1791, taking ten years and costing an then-unthinkable £200,000. The building stands majestically along the River Liffey, with all four façades adorned with coats of arms and decorative sculptures representing Ireland’s rivers.

As Dublin’s port moved downstream, the Custom House’s original role in tax collection diminished, gradually transforming into the administrative headquarters for local government in Ireland. During the Irish War of Independence in 1921, the Custom House was set on fire by the Irish Republican Army. The blaze caused the collapse of the original structure, including the central dome, and the loss of many invaluable historical records. After two major restorations, the Custom House we see today was restored.

The Custom House

Must-visit reason: One of Dublin’s most noteworthy historical buildings

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Ireland[Ireland]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Dublin [Dublin]

City where the attraction is located: Dublin [Dublin]