Queen Victoria's Royal visit to Dublin, Ireland, 4th April - 26th April, 1900

College Green (Irish: Faiche an Choláiste) is a three-sided plaza in the centre of Dublin. On its northern side is a building known today as the Bank of Ireland which until 1800 was Ireland's Parliament House. To its east stands Trinity College Dublin. To its south stands a series of 19th-century buildings that are mostly banks. Streets leading onto College Green are Dame Street to the west, Grafton Street to the south, and Westmoreland Street to the north. College Green has been used as an assembly point for major political rallies.

Now aged 80, Queen Victoria paid her last visit to Dublin, on what was nicknamed the "Boer War Tour" as army recruitment was down and new blood to fight the war in South Africa was needed. The Catholic hierarchy opposed the visit. However, the public was delighted by a general holiday, and trams were "crammed to suffocation" according to reports.

From April 4 to 26, Victoria, two daughters plus grandchildren visited schools and hospitals. The spectacular Phoenix Park military review on The Fifteen Acres was watched by 200,000 people, and the park deer added their own march past.

Entry from Queen Victoria's Diary

"We had a perfectly smooth crossing, without the slightest motion, & I slept the greater part of the time. Came up on deck for tea. The Fleet left us just outside Holyhead. — I felt quite sorry that all was over, & that this eventful visit which created so much interest & excitement, had, like everything in this world, come to an end, though I own I am very tired & long for rest & quiet. I can never forget the really wild enthusiasm & affectionate loyalty displayed by all in Ireland & shall ever retain a most grateful remembrance of this warm hearted & sympathetic people. Even when I used to go round the ground in my pony chair & the people outside caught sight of me, they would at once & cheer & sing "God save the Queen". — "Thursday 26th April 1900