Dublin's oldest medieval banquet hall has reopened following restoration works at Malahide Castle.
The iconic Great Hall has reopened significant works carried out to the fabric of the historic building that has helped restore one of finest Medieval Banqueting Halls in the country.
The Great Hall receives over 100,000 visitors from home and abroad each year and dates all the way back to 1475.
Read more: Portrait of Dublin's first female Lord Mayor unveiled in Council chamber
It was redesigned in the 1820s by the 2nd Baron Talbot of Malahide in the neo-gothic style and remains largely how he left it to this day.
Over €500,000 was invested by Fingal County Council in carrying out the restoration, with the majority of works being carried out on the exterior of the building.
Internal restorations included works on rafters and minstrel’s gallery, as well as conservation of the 19th century windows and fireplaces.
Extensive conservation of the paintings was also undertaken by the National Gallery of Ireland, with the artworks now re-hung and the illustrious room once again opened to the public.
In Medieval times, the Great Hall was used for large feasts with lavish displays of food and drink in the name of hospitality.
Nowadays, the room houses a collections of Jacobite portraits, displayed in their original setting, and includes 31 portraits on loan from the National Gallery of Ireland.
Malahide Castle was home to the Talbot family for nearly 800 years with a history dating back to 1185.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony, said: "We are extremely fortunate to have a wealth of beautiful heritage properties across the County - it’s vitally important that we look to preserve these great historical buildings for future generations to enjoy."
Cathal Dowd Smith, Curator for Malahide Castle commented: "The Great Hall at Malahide is one of the finest Medieval Banqueting Halls in the country. The works undertaken by Fingal have future-proofed the space and allow us to continue to preserve the furnishings and artworks which call Malahide Castle home."
Visits to Malahide Castle can be booked at Malahidecastleandgardens.ie.
READ NEXT:
In pictures: Crowds mourn Michael Collins at his Dublin funeral 100 years ago
Old photos show the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise train through its 75 years
In pictures: Sunny days in and near Dublin through the years
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox
