Four Courts
Four Courts
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This historic building is home to Ireland's legal court system. The building was designed by Thomas Cooley and James Gandon and completed in 1796. It was almost completely destroyed during the Civil War in 1922 and reopened in 1931. You are welcome to visit the building to observe the courts in action during the legal terms. You can tour the building using a self guiding booklet available at the Information Desk off the Round Hall, inside the main entrance on Inns Quay. There is a permanent exhibition on the first floor and two coffee shops serving refreshments. You can complement your visit to this 18th century building by taking the LUAS to the Criminal Courts of Justice, a 21st century building, located near the main entrance to the Phoenix Park.
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Address
Neighborhood: North City Centre
How to get there
- Four Courts • 2 min walk
- Smithfield • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
91 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
52
Average
20
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Roberts69
Northampton, UK18,896 contributions
Aug 2022
A historic landmark building dating back to 1786 on the Northern bank of the River Liffey in the western part of central Dublin. Did not venture inside as we had limited time but it is a magnificent structure with its colonnaded rotunda and neo-classical dome. Certainly worth stopping to admire for 5 minutes and take a snap or two.
Written October 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia21,246 contributions
Aug 2022
Located on the Liffey river, stands this impressive structure built in the late 1700's it was completely destroyed during the civil war of 1922, what we see today was completed 1n the 1930's, the Luas/tram, runs by the back of it, which is highly recommended.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,009 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We learned about Four Courts and stopped by on our walking tour. These legal buildings are very important in Dublin as this is these are the courts of justice.
Written December 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie Y
Peterborough, UK37 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
The facade is beautiful but the history of the Four Courts is worth a read. There are some plaques on the walls upstairs.
Written March 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dranreb E
Dublin, Ireland12 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
This is an extraordinary building. Entrance is through the "public entrance" on the quays.
The great unwashed may only enter that way and visitors are not only welcome but entitled to enter. Subject to not bringing in knives, mace,guns or weapons and there are no exceptions to this no matter how low your view is of the legal profession.
The advice is walk anywhere in the building go into the courts and the timber work is beautiful
There is an information desk
Ask for :
1 The round hall... Visit any of the 4 courts there .All are usually working and worth a visit
2 The Supreme Court .. Lovely room .They don't seem to sit a lot so you can be there without being interrupted
3 HINT...Ask a barrister can you see the inside of the "law library" . That is the only way to get in is if you are brought in by a barrister. One that has a wig and gown on is best.
Reasonably priced food in the basement (hard to find ..ask directions)
It will take 1/2 a day
The great unwashed may only enter that way and visitors are not only welcome but entitled to enter. Subject to not bringing in knives, mace,guns or weapons and there are no exceptions to this no matter how low your view is of the legal profession.
The advice is walk anywhere in the building go into the courts and the timber work is beautiful
There is an information desk
Ask for :
1 The round hall... Visit any of the 4 courts there .All are usually working and worth a visit
2 The Supreme Court .. Lovely room .They don't seem to sit a lot so you can be there without being interrupted
3 HINT...Ask a barrister can you see the inside of the "law library" . That is the only way to get in is if you are brought in by a barrister. One that has a wig and gown on is best.
Reasonably priced food in the basement (hard to find ..ask directions)
It will take 1/2 a day
Written October 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland30,815 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Pity it’s under reconstruction but a very nice building none the less. Very commanding structure on the banks of the River Liffey.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mopdoc
Dublin, Ireland83 contributions
Jul 2014 • Business
I would recommend a visit to the Four Courts in Dublin to see how justice is carried out. There are two types of court cases - Civil Actions and Criminal Prosecutions. The criminal aspect of our Irish cases have moved from the Four Courts to the CCJ at Parkgate Street which was opened in 2010.
The District court, Circuit court, High court and Supreme court for all civil actions are still held at the Four Courts building where there is so much history on the judicial system in Ireland.
I would recommend a visit to the Four Courts and also the CCJ at Parkgate Street.
The District court, Circuit court, High court and Supreme court for all civil actions are still held at the Four Courts building where there is so much history on the judicial system in Ireland.
I would recommend a visit to the Four Courts and also the CCJ at Parkgate Street.
Written September 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W
Douglas, UK2,314 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Another great and iconic Dublin view and building. 1790’s domed court building. Columns. Perfect symmetry.
Written March 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
northants90
Northampton, UK3,180 contributions
Nov 2018
We walked past this building on each day of our trip to Dublin. It is a lovely building and really important given the association with the legal services. Striking and beautiful and well worth checking out.
Written November 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vincent D
Dún Laoghaire, Ireland1,174 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
The four courts is the primary courts of justice in Ireland. It is sited west of the city centre.
James Gandon was the architect who arrived in Dublin in 1781. The building consists of a rotunda (public allowed to visit) off which are four courts this giving the building its name. Over the rotunda is a huge dome.
The building employs granite from Wicklow and Portland stone from south of England.
Gandon loved Roman ceremonial gateways- and they occur here as well.
James Gandon was the architect who arrived in Dublin in 1781. The building consists of a rotunda (public allowed to visit) off which are four courts this giving the building its name. Over the rotunda is a huge dome.
The building employs granite from Wicklow and Portland stone from south of England.
Gandon loved Roman ceremonial gateways- and they occur here as well.
Written November 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it possible to visit the Four Courts? I mean, go inside and walk freely as you can do in a museum or the only option is to see it from outside?
Thanks
Written February 1, 2016
Yes. I visited the court as part of a group and we were told by the Courts Service that everyone can visit the court and move freely. Most cases are also open to the public. You have to go through security.
Written January 30, 2018
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