A James Gandon masterpiece

This site was formerly the location of a 13th-century Dominican Friary and housed the 4 Courts of Chancery, the King’s Bench, the Exchequer, and Common Pleas. Before the completion of this building Ireland’s legal system was divided in 2 with the greater Dublin area being under English law, and outside this, justice was administered by wandering jurists using 2000-year-old Brehon laws! It was therefore decided to house the legal system and the 4 courts under one roof.  The original designs for the Four Courts Building were by Thomas Cooley but were altered and completed by James Gandon. Gandon is regarded as the leading English architect to have worked in Ireland during the 18th century and his other works include Custom House, Emo Court, Kings Inn, and even O’Connell Bridge. During the Irish Civil was of 1921, The Custom House and The 4 Courts came under heavy artillery fire which not only gutted parts of the buildings but also destroyed many valuable historical records dating as far back as the 12th century.