Aras an Uachtarain

Aras an Uachtarain is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Ireland. It is located off Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. The building, which has ninety-five rooms, was designed by Nathaniel Clements and completed in 1751. The house was left empty for some years, until the office of President of Ireland was created in 1937. In 1938, the first President, Douglas Hyde lived there temporarily while plans were made to build a new presidential palace on the grounds. He lived in the residential quarters on the first floor of the main building. Later presidents moved to the new residential wing attached to the main house that had been built on for the visit of King George V in 1911. However, in 1990 Mary Robinson moved back to the older main building. Though Aras an Uachtaráin is possibly not as palatial as other European royal and presidential palaces, with only a handful of state rooms, it is a relatively comfortable state residence. It is also the venue for the meetings of the Presidential Commission and the Council of State. Áras an Uachtaráin also houses the headquarters of the Garda Mounted Unit.