Custom House

Frommer's Review

The Custom House, which sits prominently on the Liffey's north quays (to the right of the O'Connell Street Bridge if you're coming from the South Bank), is a fine Georgian building. Completed in 1791, it is beautifully proportioned, with a long classical facade of graceful pavilions, arcades, and columns, and a central dome topped by a statue of Commerce. The 14 keystones over the doors and windows are known as the Riverine Heads, because they represent the Atlantic Ocean and the 13 principal rivers of Ireland. Although it burned to a shell in 1921, the building has been masterfully restored, and its bright Portland stone was recently cleaned. The exterior is the main attraction here, and most of the interior is closed to the public, but if you're very interested in learning more, there's a visitor center with exhibitions and an audiovisual presentation telling the story of its reconstruction.

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