It was August 12th 1821 and three people awaited with great expectation for the arrival of His Majesty George IV. Who were these three? Earl Talbot, ruler of Dublin Castle, Abram King esquire in the Mansion House and Jonas Greene the recorder whose main responsibility was ensuring that every effort should be made to impress his majesty on his visit to Dublin and convey to him the loyalty of his then Irish subjects.
George IV, pictured , landed at Howth on Sunday August 12th and although nothing like it is today he was surprised at the beauty of our beloved city. From Howth he drove to the Vice Regal Lodge in Phoenix Park and rested for a few days. He made his state entry into the city on Friday August 17th, which was also his birthday.
Decorations and arches were erected on the route and the houses were lavishly decorated, blue being the chosen colour for the welcome. At the top of Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) he received the keys of the city.
The procession was enormous, never to be repeated– the royal party, civic officials, military, clergy and aconcourse of some twenty thousand gentlemen on horseback wearing blue followed the royal carriage on its way to the castle.
In front of the GPO a balcony was erected for foreign ambassadors and their families. The vocal reception was huge “God bless you, Ireland loves you …” the king replied “I love Ireland.”
He attended a service in Christchurch, the Theatre Royal, dinner in the mayor’s house and Trinity College. On September 3rd he departed from Dunleary– which from that day would be known as Kingstown.
There the Lord Mayor addressed his majesty and he received from Dan O’Connell a laurel crown. Thanking all, the royal party departed.
In 1838, the coronation of Queen Victoria, pictured right, took place. The Lord Mayor of the day issued a proclamation asking for the illumination of the city to testify to the universal joy at the coronation of the young queen on June 28th.
The city was greatly illuminated– candles and oil lamps were the main source along with some gas. The Alliance gas company had introduced gas to Dublin in 1825 but due to cost and the difficulties in supply it was slow to be accepted.
Back to the coronation there were rings, brooches, earrings and other souvenirs on sale. The Royal Coburgh Gardens (now Iveagh Gardens) off St Stephen’s Green were opened on June 26th for a huge firework display.
Firing commenced at 8pm and admission was one old shilling. The weather was very unfavourable (some thing haven’t changed) yet huge crowds gathered in the park on the day for the review of the 7th fusiliers, 2nd Dragoon Guards, 17th Lancers, 8th Hussars and the 79th Highlanders. At twenty past one a Royal salute was fired amidst thunder, lightening and heavy rain.
The Zoological Gardens opened its gates for the day to huge crowds, the Rotunda Gardens were beautifully illuminated, with bands playing and fireworks being let off. A transparency of the queen was shown bearing a shamrock, rose and thistle in one hand. The Lord Mayor patrolled the main streets on foot, the High Sheriff on horseback and handsome carriages moved through the streets.
Wreaths, crowns and harps adorned the city. Full-length transparencies of the queen illuminated many buildings. Trinity College displayed The Royal Arms, the Gresham Hotel had a full-length portrait of the queen surrounded by four stars and several shots were fired from the top of Nelson’s pillar.
The Custom House was lavishly illuminated and celebrations were trouble-free. On June 29th a coronation regatta was celebrated. “Her Majesty may she reign long and happy” was the coronation cry that Thursday in June many years ago.
Yes indeed the second city of Victoria’s empire celebrated with great gusto. One thing remains the same– we Irish still know how to throw a good pary!