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History · Leinster, Dublin

Casino at Marino

An 18th-century garden temple that is secretly a fully functional 16-room house

  • EraGeorgian
  • Admission€4 adult, €3 senior/group, €2 child/student, €10 family (~$4.40 / ~$3.30 / ~$2.20 / ~$11); heritageireland.ie
  • HoursGuided tours only, mid-March to early November, at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00; closed Nov–Mar; surrounding parkland open daily 07:00–18:45
Casino at Marino

Commissioned by James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont, as a garden pavilion for his nearby (now demolished) Marino House, the Casino appears from outside to be a single-room Greek temple but conceals 16 rooms across three floors, with drainpipes hidden inside hollow columns and chimneys disguised as decorative urns. It is regarded as one of the finest neoclassical buildings in Europe.

Practical information for Casino at Marino
Admission €4 adult, €3 senior/group, €2 child/student, €10 family (~$4.40 / ~$3.30 / ~$2.20 / ~$11); heritageireland.ie
Hours Guided tours only, mid-March to early November, at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00; closed Nov–Mar; surrounding parkland open daily 07:00–18:45
Address Cherrymount Crescent, off Malahide Road, Marino, Dublin 3, D03 HH70, Ireland

Why it matters

State-owned since 1930 and restored by the Office of Public Works; ranked among Ireland's most important 18th-century neoclassical buildings

Site facts

Built
1758–1775
Architect
Sir William Chambers

Weather through the year in Ireland

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Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding

Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Ireland.

Location

Cherrymount Crescent, off Malahide Road, Marino, Dublin 3, D03 HH70, Ireland

53.3713, -6.2270 View on map

Highlights

  • 16 rooms concealed inside what looks like a single small temple
  • Hollow columns disguise drainpipes; urns disguise chimneys
  • Zodiac ceiling in the state room