The Four Courts

The Four Courts, located on Inns Quay in Dublin, is Ireland's most important courthouse. The Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Dublin Circuit Court all have their main offices in the Four Courts. The building also hosted the Central Criminal Court until 2010, which is currently located in the Criminal Courts of Justice complex.

The structure was formerly home to four superior courts: Chancery, King's Bench, Exchequer, and Common Pleas, thus the name. Courts were established for the new Irish Free State under the Courts of Justice Act 1924, with the Supreme Court of Justice, presided over by the Chief Justice, replacing the Court of Appeal, and a reconstituted High Court of Justice, presided over by the President of the High Court, continuing the jurisdiction of the old High Court. Following a vote in 2013, a new Court of Appeal was formed in 2014, essentially taking over the appellate authority of the Supreme Court and the former Court of Criminal Appeal. The civil division is housed at the Four Courts.

This Dublin structure was not called for the four courts that now use it; rather, it was named after the building's previous four occupants: the courts of King's Bench, Chancery, Common Pleas, and Exchequer. Thomas Cooley's ideas were implemented at Four Courts, with construction commencing in 1776. After Cooley died in 1784, Architect James Gandon took up building tasks and provided the present product appreciated by so many in Dublin today.

Location: Inns Quay, Dublin, Ireland