The Three Castles of Dublin: An Eclectic History of Dublin Through the Evolution of the City’s Coat of Arms

The Three Castles of Dublin have been the symbol of the city since 1230, when they first appeared on a city seal as three watchtowers over one of the city’s fortified main gates. Over time, the towers assumed greater significance as a symbol and by the mid-16th century they had been divided and separated into three distinct castles. In 1607, Daniel Molyneux, the Ulster King-at-Arms, devised the first heraldic achievement for Dublin, with three castles on a shield, surrounded with supporters and other elements synonymous with the city. Since then, both the council and the citizens have engaged with the symbol and every Dubliner is familiar with the city’s coat of arms as it appears throughout the city on buildings, flags, plaques, streetlights and water hydrants to name but a few examples. This book covers the history of the city with chronological examples of the three castles photographed.