Casino Marino is really easy to get to, stand at any bus stop on Amiens Street and practically every bus that passes will take you to the Malahide Road from there it's only a five minute walk down the avenue to The Casino. My first impression was that it was very small. I know "casino" actually means "small house" but I had read that there were 16 rooms in The Casino at Marino and they were spread over three floors. Curiously what I saw when I walked up the drive did not match up with what I had read!
As you approach The Casino it really doesn't look like it contains sixteen rooms!
One of the four lions guarding The Casino.
Tickets for The Casino, a meagre €3, can be purchased in the basement. Before you do that walk around the outside of the building and pay attention to some of the architectural features. Take a look at the windows, all are not as they seem. Check out the huge oak door and the decorative stone work around it, it really is meticulous. Perhaps the most interesting feature is that none of four sides of the building are the same. Have a look at the photo below if you don't believe me!
Check out all four exterior sides of The Casino, all are completely unique.
Even the door is not quite what it seems!
During the tour many of the building's secrets were revealed to us by the wonderful OPW guide. Among them were the fake columns surrounding the building which are actually drain pipes. She pointed out how larger windows on the outside have been disguised as smaller windows on the inside and also how some windows which were added to give the exterior architectural balance don't even exist indoors! There were doors that led nowhere and even a whole first floor that you can't see from the outside. This building really is a trick to the eye and I can confirm that there are indeed sixteen rooms and three floors!
Pillars containing drainpipes! Caulfeild couldn't have things like drain pipes messing up the exterior!
The flooring throughout the house is all completely unique too. The ceiling above this floor pictured above reflects the same design.
The history of the building is interesting, it was designed by architect Sir William Chambers for James Caulfeild the first Earl of Charlemont. As a teenager Caulfeild was unruly and boisterous and as an attempt to cure him of his devilment his stepfather sent him on a grand tour of Europe, a punishment I personally wouldn't mind! Caulfeild spent a total of nine years touring Europe, Asia and North Africa. He came home a reformed man and set about bringing European architecture to Dublin. His townhouse, Charlemont House, now The Hugh Lane Gallery and The Casino at Marino are the best example of what remain standing today. In the end the building of The Casino and the pleasure gardens that surrounded it bankrupted Caulfeild, his heir was forced to marry a wealthy English heiress in order to preserve the estate.
Some of the lavish interior which eventually bankrupted Caulfeild.
The Second Earl's wife had an input into some of the design as it was her dowry that saved the estate. This wallpaper was added at her request. The blue colouring is achieved by using arsenic!
There were so many other interesting stories but I don't want to share them all for fear that you won't make the trip out to Marino! It really is well worth visiting but you must do it soon as The Casino closes for the winter at the end of October. Before then it's taking part in Open House which is coming up soon and would be the perfect time to visit and learn more about the architecture of the building.
The Casino at Marino
Cherrymount Crescent
off The Malahide Road
Dublin 3
01 833 2636
