The dome of the Four Courts is an iconic Dublin landmark. We will occasionally offer visits to the upper dome, facilitated by our colleagues in the OPW.
Visits to the dome of the Four Courts are occasionally offered, which are facilitated and led by the Office of Public Works. Tours begin in the Round Hall for an introduction and donning of safety equipment before proceeding up to the dome by staircase.
Any such tours will be advertised here. Strict conditions are laid out and you should note the visit is not suitable for persons with mobility issues. See 'Safety Requirements' below.
Currently no visit is scheduled.
The lower and upper domes are visible in James Gandon's designs (image courtesy Irish Arcitecture Associaltion).
The space between the domes was originally used to store records that eventually became a weight hazard and were moved to the Public Reords Office, and is where visitors can be taken on site visits.
The dome is an active construction site.
Visitors on scheduled tours should be aware of steep climbs and narrow stairways. Sturdy footware is a must, which means decent hiking boots, or alternative, with a hard, flat sole.
Runners, pumps or anything with a high heel are not suitable and won’t be allowed on site.
Hard hats anf hi-vis vests will be supplied to visitors and are mandatory to wear.
The currents phase of works focuses primarily on the Portland Stone capitals that ring the drum of the Four Courts and support the dome above. The existing stone capitals are in poor condition having been damaged by past events, including a major fire at the Four Courts during the civil war in 1922. The Outer Dome and Inner Dome, located above the Rotunda, suffered extensive damage as a result of the fire. The original timber roof and much of the interior and exterior were destroyed. An extensive restoration programme, carried out under the direction of T.J. Byrne, Principal Architect at the Office of Public Works was completed in 1932. Almost a century later, each capital must now be carefully removed from its position under the dome for a detailed structural examination.
Carving of replacement capitals has been taking place at the workshop of Irish Natural Stone Ltd. in Co. Clare. Each intricate capital has been painstakingly hand-carved by a team of stonemasons, with over 1000 hours of work required per capital. The masons use the same traditional techniques as in James Gandon’s day to create moulds and templates of the capitals. The capitals are then carved and finished by hand from blocks of Portland Stone in accordance with best conservation principles.
Looking upwards from the Round Hall, the scaffolding for hoisting stonework is visible through the oculus.
Viewing the Round Hall from the oculus.