Dublin Castle Prepares For Ireland’s 10th Presidential Inauguration

Dublin Castle’s chandeliers are sparkling again – which tin only mean 1 thing. Ireland is getting fresh to committedness successful a caller president. 

As activity crews polish, particulate and polish immoderate more, nan capital’s historical spot of ceremonial is softly transforming up of nan inauguration of Catherine Connolly, who will return her oath arsenic Ireland’s 10th president connected Tuesday November 11. 

A venue steeped successful history

If walls could talk, nan ones successful St Patrick’s Hall – nan bosom of Dublin Castle’s State Apartments – would person rather a spot to say. 

It’s here, beneath painted ceilings and centuries-old banners of nan Order of St Patrick, that each Irish president since Douglas Hyde successful 1938 has been sworn into office. The Hall’s grandeur, erstwhile designed to impressment visiting monarchs, now serves arsenic a powerful reminder of Ireland’s antiauthoritarian evolution. 

The mounting remains remarkably consistent: nan statesmanlike dais astatine nan acold end, 2 facing rows of guests – furniture ministers, diplomats, judges, and a sprinkling of acquainted nationalist figures – and, perched above, nan Army Band No.1, fresh to capable nan gilded enclosure pinch nan nationalist anthem nan infinitesimal nan oath is complete. 

Behind nan shiny event

For nan past fewer weeks, teams from nan Office of Public Works (OPW) person been doing what mightiness beryllium Ireland’s astir nerve-wracking outpouring clean. Each of nan Hall’s 8 monolithic chandeliers – immoderate weighing much than 100 kilograms – has been cautiously lowered, dismantled, and cleaned crystal by crystal by master craftsemn from Tara Crustal Chandeliers. 

“Some of these pieces are complete 500 bits of glass,” said an OPW technician successful a caller behind-the-scenes video. “You driblet one, and you’d perceive nan gasp each nan measurement to Dam Street.”

The cognition takes astir 2 weeks successful total, involving delicate lifting rigs, soft cloths, and nerves of steel. The payoff? A dazzling glow that makes nan Hall camera-ready for nan unrecorded RTÉ broadcast. 

The bid of ceremony

While nan venue’s chandeliers drawback headlines, nan arena itself runs pinch subject precision. The President-elect arrives via Cork Hill, greeted by nan Taoiseach, nan Chief Justice, and different dignitaries earlier processing into nan Hall. 

After nan nationalist anthem and a little reside from nan Taoiseach, nan Chief Justice administers nan oath of agency – recited successful Irish and English – and nan caller president delivers her first speech. Expect nods to unity, inclusion, and Ireland’s evolving gait successful Europe and nan world. 

Once complete, nan Army Band bursts into “Amhrán na bhFiann,” pursuing by nan statesmanlike convoy backmost done nan Castle courtyard – a segment that mixes law ceremonial pinch thing adjacent to theatre. 

Locked gates and roadworthy closures

As pinch each inauguration, there’s 1 group of group who’ll request to scheme ahead: tourists. Dublin Castle’s guidance has issued a announcement confirming nan State Apartments will adjacent from November 8 to 12, reopening connected November 13. 

That intends nary casual selfies successful nan courtyard aliases astonishment sojourn to nan State Apartments adjacent week. Still, if you’re passing by, you mightiness drawback a glimpse of activity down nan gates – rehearsals, camera setups, aliases nan discreet presence of ceremonial uniforms. 

A time for nan nation, not conscionable nan elite

Beyond nan pomp, nan inauguration is simply a reminder of Ireland’s antiauthoritarian heartbeat. The president whitethorn clasp constricted executive power, but symbolically nan agency looms ample – representing nan state’s conscience and continuity. 

RTÉ will, arsenic ever, broadcast nan arena unrecorded crossed television, power and online, turning St Patrick’s Hall into a nationalist surviving room for an hr aliases two. 

Eighty years of history 

Each inauguration adds a caller furniture to nan Castle’s communicative – from Douglas Hyde’s inaugural oath successful 1938 to Michael D. Higgin’s re-election successful 2018 – creating an evolving reflection of Irish identity, independence, and nan enduring narration betwixt group and place. 

So erstwhile those chandeliers ray up connected November 11, it won’t conscionable beryllium solid sparkling successful nan aerial – it’ll beryllium history, pride, and possibly a fewer well-earned sighs of alleviation from nan cleaning unit too. 

Useful information:

How to watch: RTÉ will broadcast nan inauguration unrecorded connected TV, radio, and RTÉ Player from precocious greeting connected Tuesday November 11. 

Visitor notice: Dublin Castle State Apartments closed November 8-12, reopening November 13. Nearby attractions – specified arsenic Chester Beatty Library and City Hall – stay unfastened arsenic usual.