Castle and city (An urban history of Dublin Castle, c. 1801-1923)

Adopting an urban history approach that explores the Castle’s role within Dublin city, this book provides a fresh perspective on Dublin Castle, and with it a new angle on Dublin’s history. It examine sthe many social, economic, and cultural interactions between Castle and city during the British-Irish Union (1801-1923). This approach allows for the exploration of Dublin’s status as one of many nineteenth-century ‘stateless capitals’ – cities that were no longer capitals of a state, kingdom, or empire, but still claimed to be capital of a nation, principality, or province within a larger polity. The Castle’s interactions with Dublin city encompassed ceremonial, administrative, policing, military, and intelligence functions, and many Dubliners developed a ‘love/hate’ relationship with the Castle, heavily criticising one aspect of its functions whilst hoping to benefit from another. The book considers competition among city businesses to supply the Castle with goods and services, from luxury products for the Viceregal Court to more mundane items for government departments, and highlights the Castle’s many interactions with the city’s welfare and health infrastructures through the presence of the Viceroy or Vicereine at charity events, requests from the city’s hospitals for state funding, or officials’ forceful attempts to maintain public health.

The book will be of interest to scholars of Urban History and nineteenth-century Irish history.