History of City Hall

Centre of Trade

Today, City Hall is the headquarters of Dublin City Council and the place where the Lord Mayor and City Councillors meet to discuss plans for the city. Originally, when the building first opened in 1779, it was known as the Royal Exchange.

The Royal Exchange became the epicentre of trade for the merchants of Dublin. This was where people came to exchange Irish Punt to English Sterling and where merchants and tradesmen gathered to discuss their trades. Upstairs, there were even coffee rooms and the building soon became a thriving and vibrant meeting place.

Even before it was used for local government, the planning of the city took place here. The Wide Streets Commission met here in the late 1780s and 1790s to develop the areas we now call O’Connell Street, d’Olier Street, Henry Street, Westmoreland Street and College Green.

Its use as a meeting place gave rise to some of the building’s more exceptional designs. Those walking around the rotunda’s outer ring will notice a distinct echo when they speak. This was purposely added to the design so that private conversations would be muffled and couldn't be overheard too easily.

Centre of Government

When the Act of Union was introduced in 1800, the Irish Parliament was abolished and Dublin’s economy was devastated. Ireland’s currency would soon be amalgamated into Sterling and the Royal Exchange fell out of use.

The building was rented out and, during this time, became the site of Daniel O’Connell’s first public - and perhaps most famous - address opposing the Act of Union.

In 1851, Dublin City Council - which was then known as Dublin Corporation - bought the building. Following a programme of alterations, it was reopened as City Hall in 1852. Since then, Dublin City Council has completely refurbished the building to its original condition.

In 1824, the building's original balustrade had collapsed killing a number of people who were gathered to witness a public flogging. It wasn't until 1866 that Dublin Corporation replaced the temporary railings that were in place with the current design.

City Hall also underwent a two-year refurbishment programme in 1998 and is now fully restored to its original 18th century glory. Today, it remains at the heart of local government and locally elected councillors meet in the chambers upstairs to make decisions about the running of the city.

The 1916 Rising

In 1916, City Hall was used as a garrison and hospital for the Irish Citizen Army during the Easter Rising. The building was seized by Sean Connolly, who had a key due to his job in the motor department. 35 rebels, mostly women, were based here under the instruction of Kathleen Lynn.

The first Dublin casualty of the 1916 Rising occurred here. A guard named James O’Brien was shot by Connolly, who was later himself killed by a sniper based on the roof. By midnight, after a 12 hour siege, Lynn surrendered to the British.

Visit City Hall

City Hall is open to the public for free Monday-Saturday. Discover its wonderful history and architecture for yourself.