Leinster House, Dublin

Kildare Street is ruled by the majestic Leinster House, Dublin's grandest 18th-century mansion, crafted by the esteemed architect Richard Castle (1690–1751). Erected in 1745 on sprawling fields for the Earl of Kildare, this opulent abode sparked a trend among the elite, who ditched the city's traditional hotspots for new homes in the vicinity. Originally dubbed Kildare House, its title changed when the earl ascended to the title of Duke of Leinster in 1766. Surrounding Leinster House, Dublin's largest Georgian-style enclave blossomed, standing the test of time.

Following the birth of the Irish Free State in 1922, the government claimed the building. Since then, it has housed the Irish parliament, known as the Oireachtas (pronounced “a-ruck-tas”), with its divisions into Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Éireann (the Senate). Greeting visitors in the entrance hall are portraits of two stalwarts of the inaugural Dáil, facing off against each other alongside depictions of former Irish presidents and an original edition of the 1916 Proclamation.