Grand Lodge of Ireland

Freemasons’ Hall in Dublin houses the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the second most senior grand lodge in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence, built between 1866 and 1869. Inside, it’s filled with many meeting rooms boasting fantastic architectural features and styles, making a walk through the building feel like a trip around the globe. The rooms are all stuffed with hidden details that hint at the mysterious group the building serves. The Grand Chapter Room is Egyptian-style and even contains two sphinx. The Knight Templar Preceptory room takes the style of a Templar Chapel with stained glass windows. The Prince Masons’ Room has a gorgeous Gothic Tudor-style look with a design inspired partially by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, particularly the Choir Stalls of the Knights of The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick. During the Irish Civil War, the building was seized by the “irregulars” for six weeks but thankfully remained unscathed. Freemasonry is no longer referred to as a “secret society” but rather a society with secrets. If you book a tour of the lodge, a guide will be happy to answer all questions … except when he can’t!