Inn’s Quay ED

On the bustling north bank of the River Liffey sits Inn’s Quay ED. Inn’s Quay ED is more than just a district. It’s a place steeped in legal history. It’s home to the imposing Four Courts, Ireland’s main courts building. The Four Courts first opened its doors in November 1796. Today, the Four Courts houses the Supreme Court, the High Court, and the Dublin Circuit Court. It’s truly the heart of the Irish legal system. Inn’s Quay ED witnessed pivotal moments in Irish history. During the 1916 Easter Rising, the Four Courts served as the headquarters of Commandant Ned Daly and his First Battalion. They were right in the thick of intense fighting. The building suffered significant damage during the Civil War in 1922. This included the destruction of the Irish Public Record Office, a devastating loss of historical documents. The Four Courts didn’t reopen until a decade later. But the story of Inn’s Quay ED predates even the Four Courts. The land was once home to the King’s Inns. Established in 1541 by Henry VIII, King’s Inns is Ireland’s oldest institution of professional legal education. The King granted the Society the land where the Four Courts now stands. Interestingly, this land was originally occupied by Dominican friars. When the Four Courts was built in the 1790s, King’s Inns relocated to Constitution Hill. The current King’s Inns building was designed by the renowned architect James Gandon. The original King’s Inns on Inn’s Quay was a self-contained legal hub. It housed chambers for barristers, a dining hall, a library, a chapel, and even gardens.