Dublin Castle-State Apartments – closed until early June Dublin Castle is the heart of historic Dublin. In fact the city gets its name from the Black Pool - 'Dubh Linn' which was on the site of the present Castle garden. The castle stands on the ridge on a strategic site at the junction of the River Liffey and its tributary the Poddle, where the original fortification may have been an early Gaelic Ring Fort. Later a Viking Fortress stood on this site - a portion of which is on view to visitors at the 'Undercroft'. The south range houses the magnificent State Apartments that were built as the residential quarters of the viceregal court. They are now the venue for Ireland's presidencies of the European Community, presidential inaugurations and state functions. The State Apartments, Undercroft and Chapel Royal are open to visitors. On occasions, the State Apartments may be closed for state purposes.