The Shelbourne has stood on the north side of St Stephen’s Green since 1824, when Martin Burke opened a hotel in three townhouses facing the park. The present building dates from the 1860s, and the hotel keeps its place as the most historic luxury hotel in Dublin.
History
The Shelbourne has witnessed much of modern Irish history. During the Easter Rising of 1916, fighting took place on the Green in front of the hotel. In 1922, the committee charged with writing the Constitution of the Irish Free State met in room 112, now known as the Constitution Room. Writers, politicians and visiting stars have filled its lounges from then until now.
Architecture and design
The Victorian red-brick façade faces the Green, and the interiors have been restored around the Lord Mayor’s Lounge, where afternoon tea is served.
Dining
The Horseshoe Bar, with its horseshoe-shaped counter, is one of the best known bars in Dublin, alongside the No. 27 bar and the hotel’s restaurant.
Weddings and events
The Shelbourne’s Great Room and salons host weddings, banquets and conferences on St Stephen’s Green.
At a glance
What sets it apart
- 01Founded in 1824 on St Stephen’s Green
- 02The Constitution Room, where the Irish Free State constitution was drafted
- 03The Horseshoe Bar, a Dublin institution
- 04Afternoon tea in the Lord Mayor’s Lounge
Chronology
Dates that matter
1824
Martin Burke opens the hotel in three townhouses on St Stephen's Green.
1867
The present building, designed by John McCurdy, opens on the site.
1916
British troops occupy the hotel during the Easter Rising; fighting takes place on the Green.
1922
The committee drafting the Constitution of the Irish Free State meets in room 112.
1951
Elizabeth Bowen publishes her history of the hotel, The Shelbourne.
2005
The hotel closes for a two-year renovation.
2007
The Shelbourne reopens in March.
2014
Kennedy Wilson buys the hotel.
2020
Four statues removed from the façade in July are returned in December.
