Join the unique guided tour at the Government Buildings, and dive into history.
The building was constructed between 1904 and 1922 as a combination of Government Offices and a Royal College of Science, which occupied the magnificent centre block. King Edward VII laid the foundation stone on The 28th of April 1904. His son King George officially opened the building as a college of Science the V on the 8th of July 1911. The Architects were Sir Aston Webb of London (who also designed Admiralty Arch in London’s Trafalgar Square) and a member of a great Irish Architectural family Sir Thomas Manley Dean who was a Cork man. 1,000 people were at the opening ceremony. George V knighted the Architects on the day.

Internally the building was one of the most modern of its day. The floors were made of concrete and all the corridors were paved with marble tiles. Many rooms were fitted with fireplaces but it was mainly central heating that was used. Electricity was installed throughout and there was also a lift. Fans ventilated the rooms. It was one of the first colleges to admit women to its privileges.

The College was taken over by University College Dublin in 1926. In 1989 U.C.D. vacated the premises and moved to Belfield. Between January December 1990 and December 1991 the building was renovated by architects of the Office of Public Works to house the Department of the Taoiseach which had previously occupied as side wing. It was occupied by the Department in January 1991.

Pre-book Only.

Wheelchair accessible
Accessible Toilets
Assistance Dogs welcome